How South Korea Built a City Out of The Sea

Master-planned cities are nothing new, but these days we’re building them faster than ever. Can the design of South Korea’s Songdo, a model “smart city,” offer a quick template for urban developments of the future?

#Asia #CityLab #BloombergQuicktake

--------

QuickTake Originals is Bloomberg's official premium video channel. We bring you insights and analysis from business, science, and technology experts who are shaping our future. We’re home to Hello World, Giant Leap, Storylines, and the series powering CityLab, Bloomberg Businessweek, Bloomberg Green, and much more.

Subscribe for business news, but not as you've known it: exclusive interviews, fascinating profiles, data-driven analysis, and the latest in tech innovation from around the world.

Visit our partner channel QuickTake News for breaking global news and insight in an instant.

[ericpaulgoldie]

The South Korean story is nothing short of inspirational. Congrats from Australia

[ButteryBao]

As a civil engineer who designs and constructs infrastructure in old dense cities, this sounds like a dream

[ArcticPrimal]

A city that's a work in progress is not a bad thing at all bc every existing city/town in the world has been a work in progress since they were founded.

[JonSmith-wzvl]

South Korea is one of the safest country in the world great people culture and food

[citadel_vr]

The fact that it is safe in the earthquake is a great blessing

[dariustbutler]

I miss Korea man…. One of my favorite countries to temporarily live in.

[solfh]

Being from Argentina, I know my place in the world is in korea. I lived in a gorgeous place close to seoul, close to the mountain, with a huge shopping mall nearby, a lot of cute shops, convenient subway and bus stations and the river with bike lanes that reached seoul and beyond. Honestly south korea is a paradise in earth. I am talking about infrastructure and design. There are places I do not like but I would sell my soul to live in that place.

[DisasterxUs]

Songdo is awesome, but a lot of things they mention in this aren't unique to just there in Korea. All the high tech stuff is in Seoul too.

[DanielRichards]

Fun fact about this city, The Bay they filled to create it used to have Tide changes of 20 FEET between high and low tide, it's also where General MacArthur Landed during the Invasion of Korea in 1950 as part of the Korean War.

I also work for an Architect that is designing a house for the Director of Risk Management & Transportation that built out the Chadwick International School in Songdo

[wassupcuhwatchumeancuh]

Pedestrian-friendly cities are better than car-centric cities, period.

[kierkharriscaliliw]

And now, Songdo has more than 600, 000 residents. It could said that South Korea managed to become the first country to successfully pull off a smart city project and with a city built from scratch at that

[markan]

I actually live here! It’s a perfect place for people who want to get away from the noisiness of a metropolis but with the convenient perks of it.

[loganmarr]

Having spent this summer in Songdo, the infrastructure is certainly not designed for foot traffic. There is phenomenal shopping, yet a lack of any nightlife or historical attractions. Overall, this is a smart city which is based around research and academics yet all local and international students I interacted with were unsatisfied with Songdo. I’d say it’s only appealing for wealthy middle aged individuals looking to get away from the bustle of Seoul and Incheon.

[tomcat]

South Korea is the greatest country in the world, we created the miracle of the world, can lead the direction of the world, South Korea will stand at the highest point in the world！

[hhydar]

I personally think that the smart city concept does not have that much of a soul. Traditional architecture, art-deco style buildings are so rare in these concepts. Smart city should be technologically smart, yes, but it should have the fabric of local customs, culture, traditions weaved in it. I hope this concept matures with time.

[mikecontreras]

Lost my interest as soon has they said it had to have an 8-10 lane highway running through it. We need to evolve past that for cities.

[TitiniusAndronicus]

7:20 the automobile orientation of South Korean society, like most other things, is a direct consequence of embracing American culture out of necessity to survive in the political heat of the 1950s. For an American to criticise it as a South Korean idiosyncrasy is soul-churningly ironic.

[iamojh]

My parents live there, overlooking the golf course Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. Amazing place! 엄마 아빠 보고 싶다!

[orojackson]

the traffic-related solutions mentioned that are being exported to the Philippines might have been delayed cause the traffic is just getting worse here.

[kingcohen]

My family and I are planning to visit Korea in 2023 and we are looking at staying somewhere in Songdo.
Can't wait!!!