The height of the ultra-high-rise tower scheduled to be built as a landmark in Songdo International City is expected to be significantly reduced from its original plan due to aviation safety concerns.

According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ) and the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation today (July 31), two flight safety review studies regarding the 103-story, 420-meter-tall tower pursued in Songdo were recently completed.

The reviews concluded that constructing the building according to the existing plan could affect the safety of aircraft operating to and from nearby Incheon International Airport.

Consequently, an opinion was presented that a plan to lower the tower height to 365 meters, which is around the 90-story level, is appropriate.

An official from the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation explained, "We conducted a verification study on the results of the study carried out by the project developer, and the conclusion was that it is appropriate," adding, "We did not determine the specific height ourselves."

The IFEZ plans to review whether to adjust the tower height downward based on the study results.

However, it was reported that the IFEZ showed differences in opinion with the project developer and the research institution regarding the necessity of height adjustment during the study process.

Back in 2007, after the plan to build a 151-story ultra-high-rise tower in Songdo fell through, the plan was scaled down to 103 floors, which sparked fierce backlash from some residents who demanded sticking to the original plan, including staging head-shaving protests.

In response, former Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok expressed the view that it was necessary to build South Korea's tallest building in Songdo, surpassing the country's current tallest Lotte World Tower (123 floors and 555 meters).

The IFEZ stated, "As we raised objections to the height reduction during this study process, we will finalize the final height through additional consultations with related agencies moving forward."

(Photo provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, Yonhap News)