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AMCHAM questions Incheon bridge toll exemption policy that excludes foreign residents
Vehicles travel across Cheongna Sky Bridge linking Yeongjong Island, home to Incheon International Airport, with Cheongna International City in Incheon, Jan. 5. Yonhap
By Park Ung
US chamber warns exemption gap could dent IFEZ's global appeal
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) raised concerns Thursday over the toll exemption policy of the newly opened Cheongna Sky Bridge in Incheon, which excludes foreign residents.
In a statement, the chamber warned that unfair and inconsistent policy measures across several similar cases may weigh on Incheon's ability to maintain a competitive business environment and attract foreign residents.
The controversy, first reported by The Korea Times last December, has prompted questions about the use of nationality — rather than residency or economic contribution — to determine access to public benefits in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), one of Korea's most globally engaged business hubs.
Opened in January, the 4.68-kilometer bridge links Incheon International Airport, Korea's main international gateway, with Cheongna International City, a major business hub. Vehicles registered to residents of Yeongjong Island, Cheongna and the islands of Bukdo Township qualify for unlimited toll exemptions, and starting next month, the policy will be expanded to all Incheon residents.
Their foreign neighbors and family members, however, are not eligible for the exemption, because the city ordinance limits eligibility to addresses registered under the Resident Registration Act, while foreign residents' addresses are recorded separately under the Immigration Act.
“Clarity and consistency in public policy are critical for businesses,” AMCHAM Korea Chairman and CEO James Kim said in a statement. “A predictable policy environment is especially important in places where global professionals live and work. Policies that shape daily living conditions extend beyond convenience — they influence regional investment attractiveness and business confidence.”
Workers conduct an inspection at the Cheongna Sky Bridge observation deck in Incheon, Wednesday, ahead of the scheduled opening of the deck in late April. The observatory is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's highest on a sea bridge. Yonhap
The chamber noted that the policy stands in contrast to the approach taken for the two older bridges in the region — Yeongjong Grand Bridge, opened in 2000, and Incheon Grand Bridge, opened in 2009.
The city's ordinance on toll exemptions for the two older bridges also defines eligible beneficiaries as residents who have completed “resident registration,” which effectively excludes foreign residents.
In practice, however, foreign residents are eligible for a one-time round-trip toll exemption on the two older bridges under the same conditions as Korean nationals, as another ordinance on support for foreign residents and multicultural families guarantees equal access to public facilities and benefits unless stipulated otherwise by law.
Kim added that the policies are also closely tied to the government's broader goal of strengthening regional economic vitality and Korea's competitiveness as a business hub in Asia, particularly at a time when regional investment and balanced growth are receiving increased national attention.
The concerns carry particular weight given the bridge's location. Cheongna Sky Bridge serves the IFEZ encompassing Songdo, Yeongjong and Cheongna — areas that have evolved into internationally connected communities drawing Korean and foreign professionals across logistics, aviation and advanced industries.
AMCHAM noted that “the way local policies are designed and implemented can shape broader perceptions of the region's living and working environment.”
From a business perspective, the chamber added, companies tend to weigh policy clarity and consistency over immediate financial impact, and uneven application of benefits across residents in similar circumstances can factor into workforce and operational decisions.
The chamber acknowledged the fiscal and administrative context surrounding the Cheongna Sky Bridge toll exemption policy. Local authorities have indicated that compensation arrangements related to existing bridges and other structural considerations limit the scope of toll support measures.
While recognizing these constraints, AMCHAM noted that the region's international demographics and long-term competitiveness also merit consideration in how such policies are designed and implemented.
The Korea Times has contacted Incheon city officials about the toll policy multiple times since December. Representatives from the city government and city council said they would review the issue, but no review results or policy plans have been released yet.