Reflecting on Earth Day after my recent trip to South Korea, Incheon, and Songdo, I thought I would share some insights into Green and Sustainability that extend back in time and continue to this day.
Most recently, APAC, the City of Incheon, and Songdo have served as global models for urban sustainability and innovation, not to mention their ties to wellness and well-being.
Developed as a global model for urban sustainability, Songdo was envisioned as a green, high-technology city of the future. At that time, it was one of the world’s most significant foreign real estate development projects in Korea.
Built on reclaimed land and in collaboration with partners such as Kohn Pederson Fox, Cisco, and United Technologies, the forward-thinking project showcased the first LEED-certified buildings in South Korea and Asia.
In conjunction with the Songdo project and Hyundai Motor Group, early on, we collaborated with Hyundai Motor’s R&D and their first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). I’d add that Songdo’s leadership was very interested in FCEV buses powered by hydrogen for the district.
A few years later, while visiting Hyundai Motor’s Eco Lab, we had the opportunity to test-drive their 3rd Gen FCEV, a first-of-its-kind production SUV, which was soon launched in Korea and California.
Most recently, I have also been happy to see the newly released 2025 Hyundai NEXO FCEV.
Visiting Songdo in the past weeks, I enjoyed casual walks through Central Park and its native gardens and blossoming greenery. I’d add, most recently APAC, the City of Incheon, IFEZ, Smart City Songdo, Cheongna International City, and Yeongjong International City at the airport, each has a renewed Green and sustainability agenda.
Finally, as we reflect on Earth Day, embracing green technologies requires the support of government and private funding, driven by public interest in sustainability wellness.
