Incheon Metro Line 2 marks 10th anniversary, eyes 500 million riders

Incheon Metro Line 2 marked its 10th anniversary on Thursday.

Over the past decade, Line 2 has established itself as the backbone transit corridor linking Incheon's northwestern and southeastern districts. Launched as South Korea's first driverless urban railway, it has since built the country's first fully automated operating system, leading advances in urban rail technology nationwide.

The line opened on July 30, 2016, connecting Geomdan, Seo-gu, Gyeyang, Bupyeong and Namdong-gu, and has grown into a defining urban railway serving residents' daily commutes and everyday needs.

Since its debut as the country's first driverless light rail, the line has undergone continuous system improvements and last year completed a fully automated operating system across its entire route, setting another milestone.

The achievement has drawn national recognition. Incheon Transit Corp. received a presidential commendation at the 20th Korea Local Government Management Awards, citing its success in converting Line 2 to fully driverless operation — a first in the country.

The line has also excelled in customer service, ranking first in customer satisfaction among urban rail operators nationwide for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023, and earning a top-tier rating again in the 2025 survey. Cumulative ridership is expected to surpass 500 million in August.

Incheon Transit Corp. held a ceremony Thursday at Odyssey Plaza inside Incheon City Hall Station to mark the anniversary.

Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae said in a congratulatory address that Line 2 is "a core transport infrastructure that has connected the daily lives of residents and a foundation for urban development," adding that the city would "build Incheon into a transport city that residents can feel, through expanding the metropolitan rail network and strengthening urban railway competitiveness."

The transit corporation plans to use the 10th anniversary as a new starting point, pursuing upgrades to its digital-based smart operating systems, enhanced urban rail safety and expanded metropolitan rail connections as it seeks to lead innovation in future urban transport.