Songdo 'European-Style Resort' Project Advances Toward 2030 Opening

The "European-style spa and resort development project" planned for Golden Harbor in Songdo International City's District 9 is gaining momentum after completing the selection of both a project manager and architectural design firm.

Therme Group Korea (TGK) held a signing ceremony on Wednesday at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, with Sunjin P&I and Haeahn Architecture for the "Golden Harbor Wellbeing Spa & Resort Official Architect of Record (AoR) Agreement." Attendees included TGK Chairwoman Kim In-sook and Vice President Han Yun-jin, Sunjin P&I CEO Lee Sang-hak and Executive Director Lee Sang-hwa, and Haeahn Architecture CEO Yoon Se-han.

Under the AoR agreement, Haeahn Architecture will collaborate with international design firm MVRDV to develop the project's design blueprint. Haeahn Architecture is recognized for its industry-leading capabilities in adapting designs to local conditions.

Drawing on its extensive experience in hotels, resorts, residential, commercial, research, and hospital projects, Haeahn Architecture plans to deliver a development blueprint for the Golden Harbor Wellbeing Spa & Resort promptly.

TGK will invest 850.8 billion won ($630 million) to develop the glass dome-designed Golden Harbor Wellbeing Spa & Resort on two plots totaling 99,041.6 square meters within the Golden Harbor site. The project was officially announced with a memorandum of understanding signed with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority at an investment roadshow in Frankfurt on November 17, 2022. A basic project agreement was signed with IFEZA on September 29, followed by submission of a performance bond of 8.5 billion won, representing 1% of the project cost.

Targeting a 2030 opening, TGK plans to establish a special purpose company in January next year and subsequently sign a land lease agreement and main project contract with IFEZA. Prior to selecting the AoR, TGK appointed Sunjin P&I as project manager to oversee the entire development process.

Therme Group, headquartered in Austria, currently operates wellbeing spa and resorts in Romania and Germany. Therme wellbeing resorts feature indoor dome-style spa spaces integrated with botanical gardens, offering year-round operation in an eco-friendly environment. Equipped with advanced water purification, air purification, and ozone treatment systems, the facilities house more than 1,500 palm trees and 800,000 plants, establishing them as urban healing destinations. Therme Bucharest in Romania, which opened in 2017, reportedly welcomed 1.7 million visitors this year.