On the afternoon of 24th, when I came out of exit No. 1 of Geomdan Sageori Station on Incheon Subway Line No. 2, I immediately saw the shuttle bus stop operated by "Shin Geomdan Royal Park City 2" at about 10-minute intervals. After riding the shuttle bus for about five minutes, I arrived at Shin Geomdan Royal Park City 2, which has risen in Wanggil-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon.
Shin Geomdan Royal Park City 2 was built with 15 buildings ranging from two basement levels to 29 stories above ground, totaling 1,500 households. With the concept of "resort special city," it is a pilot complex of "Royal Park City," which real estate developer DK Asia is creating. Completed at the end of last year and now occupied, this complex was supplied for the first time in Incheon through a post-sale method, allowing buyers to choose a home after viewing the actual units.
From the entrance of the complex, with landscaping of 1 million flowers and trees, it looked more like a resort than an apartment. Samsung C&T's resort division handled everything from landscaping design to construction and maintenance.
Inside the complex, various community facilities are in place. Residents can use them after making reservations through a dedicated app. For the first time in Incheon, a two-story indoor golf practice range was built as a community facility within the complex. It has a duplex layout with hitting bays on the first and second floors, and the range extends 50 meters. A second-division tour professional is stationed there and offers free lessons.
The indoor swimming pool with European-style chandeliers looked worthy of being called a resort-grade amenity. It also has an indoor sauna and a fitness center equipped with Technogym-brand exercise machines.
Near the apartments, the "Geomdan Buckwheat Flower and Hwangto Ten-li Trail," which opened on 20th, stood out. The Geomdan Buckwheat Flower and Hwangto Ten-li Trail consists of five courses boasting different lengths and varied scenery, with a total length of 4.5 kilometers. Although it had been raining continuously since the afternoon, people could be seen walking on the red-clay path under umbrellas. A DK Asia official said, "Not only residents but also many outside visitors come," and noted, "Performances are also held on the stage installed in the center."
A three-meal service provided by Shinsegae Food is also in operation. The day's menu was grilled mackerel and soft tofu stew, and residents returning from work were eating at dinner time. A sales representative said, "Including outsiders, an average of about 300 people use it per day, and resident satisfaction is high."
A private yacht service that lets residents enjoy the scenery of the Incheon Ara Waterway on a newly built yacht is also provided. DK Asia built the 66-foot (ft) yachts "Royal Park City No. 1" and "Royal Park City No. 2" on the Ara Waterway for the first time in Korea. Operated every weekend, the yachts will be run by DK Asia for five years for the residents.
A "Royal Train" service is also being offered for the first time as a residential service. The Royal Train is a trackless, wheeled train—a type of content previously seen only at large amusement parks such as Samsung Everland.
Shin Geomdan Royal Park City 2 presents a resort concept as a high-end brand, but it is considered reasonably priced. The list prices for the complex (based on the highest price) are set at: exclusive area ▲59㎡ in the mid-540 million won range ▲74㎡ in the mid-667 million won range ▲84㎡ in the mid-737 million won range ▲99㎡ in the mid-878 million won range. These prices include options such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and engineered stone, and the practical sale price is assessed to be in the 600 million won range for the 84㎡ exclusive type.
In addition, a sales representative said, "Even though it is a high-end apartment, we leveraged the advantages of a large complex to keep maintenance fees low, and community usage fees are currently free."
There are also favorable transport developments that could improve access to Seoul. With a transfer at nearby Geomam Station, it is possible to reach Seoul Station in the 40-minute range. Expansion of the transport network, including extensions of Incheon Lines No. 2 and No. 3 and Seoul Line No. 9, is also being pursued. Shuttle buses to and from Geomam Station operate during commuting hours. There are also shuttle buses running to and from Geomdan Sageori and Wanggil Elementary School at 10-minute intervals.
Near the complex, the "Eco Metacity" promoted by the Incheon city government will be created. With the vision of a "healthy and sustainable city" and a "future city everyone dreams of," it is a large-scale project blending residential, commercial, cultural, and green spaces on a site of 1.96 million square meters (about 590,000 pyeong). The Eco Metacity development adjoins Shin Geomdan Royal Park City II and other areas that DK Asia will further develop.