The Korean Grand Prix was dropped from the F1 circuit 13 years ago due to costs and a lack of local interest, just three years after its debut. Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeoing-bok explained at a press conference at City Hall that the green light had been given to pursue a new race destination. Songdo International City is being looked at as a potential destination for a future race.
Should plans be approved, a street circuit would be used near the Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, with existing public roads utilized. The circuit would be 4,960 meters long, allowing drivers to hit speeds of up to 209 mph, in line with modern Formula 1 standards. The layout design is being led by Hermann Tilke's firm, which has previously created circuits in Sepang and Shanghai, as well as street tracks in Las Vegas and Baku.
Hermann Tilke's firm also had a major part in creating the Korea International Circuit which held F1 events between 2010 and 2013. Officials in Incheon city claim that the event will bring money to the locality, as they hope to bring in up to 400,000 visitors over a three-day race weekend. Formula 1 is currently enduring a month-long lay-off after events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.