Seoul city to build airfield for urban air traffic near Gimpo Airport, aiming for completion in 2030 (South Korea)

The area around Gimpo Airport in South Korea is scheduled to be transformed into a new takeoff and landing site for urban air mobility (UAM) by 2030.
On the 8th and 9th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it would designate 350,000 square meters around Gimpo Airport in Gonggu-dong, Gangseo-gu as the Gimpo Airport Innovation District and will fully develop it into a transportation hub.
With the designation of the innovation district now providing a legal basis for project funding, the city plans to work with the developer, Korea Airports Corporation, to rapidly develop the area.
The Gimpo Airport Urban Renewal Innovation District is a complex consisting of four basement floors and eight aboveground floors, and will house the UAM takeoff and landing area and a complex transfer facility.
The first zone is scheduled for completion in 2030, and will have taxi, bus and subway stations from the second basement floor to the first floor.
A transfer facility will be installed. On the 5th to 7th floors above ground, there will be a takeoff and landing area for UAM, an urban transportation system that utilizes vertical takeoff and landing. In this area, a dedicated elevator will be used.
A multi-modal transfer system will also be developed, allowing passengers to transfer to other public transport services via the expressway, creating a transport hub that integrates air and land transport.
The two areas are scheduled for completion in 2033 and will include aviation facilities, educational, commercial and warehouse facilities, and a living SOC (infrastructure facilities for the convenience of daily life).
The three areas will attract cutting-edge industry companies and construct officetels and public facilities. The development of the Gimpo Airport Innovation Zone will be funded by 10 billion won from the national and city governments, the Korea Airports Corporation and other organizations.
A total of 2.964 trillion won (US$3.17 billion) is expected to be invested, including 49 billion won for public works and 2.905 trillion won for private works. The city plans to start construction next year to develop the site.
A master plan for the innovative district will be drawn up, and architectural design will begin in 2026. Construction will begin in 2027 once the project implementation plan has been approved.
"We aim to return the benefits of development to the residents around Gimpo Airport, who have experienced development restrictions and isolation from the surrounding area," he said. "The area around Gimpo Airport will be a transportation hub of the future and will be a center for cutting-edge industries.
"I would like to vigorously promote this project so that we can revitalize the area as an economically vibrant city with a strong sense of community."