IFEZ Journal

Bringing the City’s Green Identity to Life Through Everyday Well-Being Written by Hwang Yezi / Photos by Lee Deok-jae

A well-maintained park is more than just a place to rest. It is one of the closest forms of everyday well-being, shaping both a city’s character and its residents’ quality of life. We met the Park Operations Team of the Parks and Green Spaces Division, the people responsible for adding vitality to urban infrastructure and transforming vast green spaces into welcoming places for everyday life.

From Park Development to Park Management: Delivering Proactive Welfare in Daily Life

Songdo International City in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) is known for its exceptional balance between urban development and nature, with green spaces accounting for 32.4 percent of the city. Once all parks currently under development are completed, the amount of park and green space per resident is expected to reach 90.6 square meters—one of the highest levels among Korea’s new towns.

The Park Operations Team is responsible not only for maintaining this extensive green infrastructure but also for creating meaningful experiences that residents can enjoy in their daily lives. While park administration once focused primarily on physical development—where and how many parks to build—the team’s current mission centers on how people can spend enjoyable, fulfilling time in these spaces.

To the team, parks and green spaces serve as a form of proactive welfare, offering opportunities to relieve stress before physical and mental fatigue take hold. Despite managing 12 major parks with limited personnel, the team has established a sustainable management model by operating revenue-generating facilities worth approximately KRW 4 billion annually, increasing financial self-sufficiency, attracting cultural events and festivals, and returning the public value of parks directly to residents.

Breathing Life into a Global Master Plan

The Park Operations Team’s role extends beyond maintenance. It is responsible for advancing the vision of Songdo’s globally recognized master plan and ensuring it continues to function as a sustainable urban ecosystem.

At the heart of Songdo lies Central Park, a landmark designed by the internationally renowned architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). The park was built around five core concepts: the geography of the Korean Peninsula, harmony between Eastern and Western cultures, ecology, seawater utilization, and pedestrian-oriented design.

The team enhances this vision through modern management practices that keep the park vibrant and relevant. From operating the Central Canal, an all-electric vessel, along Korea’s first seawater canal, to carefully managing an environment where deer coexist alongside the city’s skyline, the team transforms the master plan into a living reality.

Their work goes beyond preservation. It involves continuously aligning urban assets with residents’ lifestyles, ensuring that parks remain not merely scenic spaces but evolving expressions of the city’s identity and values.

Building a Future Waterfront City Where Nature and Life Coexist

Looking ahead, the Park Operations Team aims to preserve the public character of Songdo’s parks while enhancing their appeal with unique amenities, including destination cafés and stay-oriented facilities that leverage the surrounding landscapes.

A key opportunity lies in the ongoing Songdo Waterfront Project. Through close integration with the waterfront network, Songdo’s parks are expected to evolve into higher-level waterfront destinations where green spaces, water-based activities, and marine leisure experiences coexist.

The moment residents put down their smartphones and step into landscapes where greenery and waterways meet, they experience more than relaxation. They gain a deeper sense of pride in the city they call home.

Whether serving as an energetic jogging route on a weekend morning, a sunset promenade at dusk, or a quiet place for reflection after a long day, Songdo’s parks continue to enhance not only the city’s landscape but also the quality of life of those who live within it.

A Theme-Based Guide to Songdo Parks

The Park Operations Team has created a guide to Songdo’s parks based on different lifestyles and interests. Explore the characteristics of Songdo’s 12 major parks and discover the one that best suits you.

01. Reflection & Wellness 

Family-Friendly Retreats Offering Comfort and Healing

Haedoji Park, Michuhol Park, Saeachim Park, Sinsong Park, Global Park, and Landmark City Waterfront Park No. 3 bring together traditional aesthetics, the Tidal Flat Culture Center, the Songdo International Children’s Library, and the Silver Café (“Dreaming Café”), creating spaces that connect generations. In particular, Songdo’s barefoot walking trails—including 2,287 meters of red clay paths and decomposed granite trails—provide a perfect everyday wellness experience.

02.Tourism & Leisure

A Hub of Activity and Outdoor Energy

Central Park, Moonlight Park, and Landmark City Sports Park No. 1 offer an exciting mix of leisure activities, including seawater canals with electric boats and moon boats, 17 tennis courts, an 18-hole park golf course, and an international-standard RC sports stadium.

03. Culture & Festivals

A Global Venue for Cultural Events and Festivals

Home to major events such as the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival and the Songdo Beer Festival, Moonlight Festival Park is one of Korea’s leading venues for large-scale cultural events and K-pop showcases.

04. Coastal Views & Waterfront Scenery

Romantic Spaces Framed by the West Sea and Sunset Views

Solchan Park and Landmark City Waterfront Parks Nos. 1 and 3 offer panoramic views of the West Sea and the Incheon Bridge. Featuring waterfront seating areas and cultural facilities, these parks offer inspiring, scenic places to relax by the water.

Park is [                     ]to us

[ Cultural Energy Hub] 

A park is not simply a quiet place filled with trees. It is a giant cultural energy hub where enjoyment, art, and people’s laughter are constantly generated.

Our Park Operations Team works behind the scenes to keep that cultural energy alive for residents throughout the year.

It is a place where people can experience small but meaningful moments of happiness. From the Pentaport Rock Festival and Songdo Beer Festival at Moonlight Festival Park to traditional cultural programs at Michuhol Park, the energy these spaces create continues to make IFEZ a more attractive city.

Roh Seung-woon Team Leader

[ The Front Line ] 

Parks are living spaces that require constant care to ensure they remain safe and comfortable for residents.

Working in the field means responding to seasonal changes, weather conditions, and unexpected issues. There is never a moment when we can completely let our guard down.

But seeing people enjoy the parks comfortably makes all the effort worthwhile. To me, a park is the front line where I work every day to create a better environment.

Kim Dae-yeon Officer

[ Communication ] 

As a landscape architecture major, I see parks as a place to put my expertise into practice.

More importantly, they are spaces where residents respond directly to our work, which gives me a strong sense of responsibility.

We hear a wide range of opinions—from simple suggestions to long-standing complaints—but the most rewarding moments come when we solve issues through communication with residents.

A park is not complete once construction ends. It is a space that continues to be shaped together. That is why, to me, a park is a place of communication where I can connect most closely with citizens.

Son Ju-dong Officer