Mysterious foul smell haunts island of Songdo

Many Songdo residents have complained about bad smells of different kinds. Korea Times

By Jung Min-ho

Songdo, an island metropolis built on reclaimed land in southern Incheon, has been haunted by a mysterious foul smell over the past three years.

According to the Yeonsu District Office last week, its officials have received complaints about unpleasant smells since 2015, but the cause remains elusive.

“This year alone, we have received hundreds of complaints,” an environmental health official told The Korea Times. “Sometimes it smells like trash. At other times, it's like a smell of gas.”

The official said there are no facilities that would cause such odors. Inspectors have looked into suspected places nearby, including a sewage treatment center, landfills and the offices of the Korea Gas Corporation, but failed to determine the cause.

“The most difficult part of investigating smells is that they come and suddenly disappear,” the official said. “It is hard to say with confidence that something is linked to a certain smell at a certain time.”

But not all residents share the same experience. A resident, surnamed Lim, who has lived in the southwestern part of the island for a few years, said she has not smelled it in her area.

Inspectors have not found anything dangerous to public health. “But some people seem to feel uneasy about the phenomenon,” the official said.

“We think the smell most likely came from outside the island, perhaps further away than we expect. We will continue to make every effort to figure it out.”