'Arkmer Dongtan' draws crowds on opening day as Samsung Electronics workers eye walkable commute

The model home for Arkmer Dongtan in Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, was packed with visitors on Friday, the first day it opened to the public. Despite it being a weekday, the line of people waiting to enter stretched beyond the waiting tent and out onto the street. Visitors ranged from newlywed couples carrying infants to office workers in their 40s and 50s.

The model home showcased four unit types — 84-square-meter (exclusive use area; all measurements below on the same basis) A and C, 116-square-meter A, and 129-square-meter B. All units feature 2.5-meter ceiling heights, 20 centimeters higher than a standard apartment, giving the interiors a noticeably open feel. Visitors inspected storage cabinets, kitchens and utility rooms, exchanging remarks such as "the layout is solid" and "the finishes look premium."

Developed by KB Real Estate Trust and built by Posco E&C, Arkmer Dongtan will rise on lots 95 and 99 in Bansong-dong, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The complex will span seven buildings of up to 49 stories above ground and seven below, for a total of 1,808 units. Arkmer Dongtan 95 (Block M1-1-2) will comprise three buildings with 812 units, while Arkmer Dongtan 99 (Block M1-2-2) will have four buildings with 996 units.

The complex's prime location is widely cited as its biggest draw. Situated in the heart of Dongtan 1 new town, it sits within an already well-developed residential area. Samsung Electronics' Hwaseong campus is about a 10-minute walk away, and a shuttle bus stop stands directly in front of the complex. "The reaction has been that people can't believe a site like this was still available in Dongtan 1 new town — it's that symbolic a location," a sales official said. "There are many apartments in the surrounding area that are more than 10 years old, so demand for a new build here is strong."

Samsung Electronics employees were among the visitors at the model home on Friday. A newlywed couple in their early 30s, browsing the walk-in closet of the 84-square-meter A unit, said they work at the company's Pyeongtaek campus but find the commute manageable thanks to the well-organized shuttle bus service. "If we win the lottery, we plan to use bonuses and other income to put together the funds by the move-in date," they added.

Another Samsung Electronics employee, surnamed Choi, visited the model home with a five-month-old child. "Dongtan home prices have risen a lot, so I've been watching the subscription closely," Choi said, while noting that the pre-sale price appeared reasonable relative to the recent upward trend in Dongtan. "But I still need to look more carefully at option costs and other extras," Choi added.

Transport links are also set to improve. A test ride on the GTX-A line from Suseo Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to Dongtan Station on Friday took just 21 minutes. Once the GTX-A line is fully extended to Paju Unjeong Jungang Station, access to major Seoul destinations including Seoul Station will become even more convenient. A new station on the Dongtan-Indeokwon Line — tentatively named Bansong Station — is planned directly in front of the complex, one stop from Dongtan Station. An underground passage connecting Arkmer Dongtan 95 to the new station is also under consideration.

Pre-sale prices are set at 1.65 billion to 1.72 billion won ($1.27 million) for the 84-square-meter units, 1.86 billion to 1.91 billion won for the 99-square-meter units, 2.11 billion to 2.21 billion won for the 116-square-meter units, 2.35 billion to 2.44 billion won for the 128-square-meter units, and 2.39 billion to 2.48 billion won for the 129-square-meter units.

"It is difficult to make a straightforward comparison with prices of older nearby complexes," a sales official said. "As the first new supply in the heart of Dongtan 1 new town in a long time, we believe it offers strong price competitiveness." According to the Korea Real Estate Board's weekly apartment price survey as of Monday, Dongtan apartment prices have risen 20.14 percent so far this year. Analysts expect strong buyer interest given that the complex is a new pre-sale offering in one of the region's fastest-rising markets.

A visitor in his 40s, surnamed Choi, who moved from Seoul to Dongtan 2 new town, said outsiders may struggle to understand why Dongtan is so popular, but living there makes it clear. "Dongtan Station Lotte Castle prices have gone up a lot, and I think people are expecting a similar effect from this complex," he said.

A resident of Dongtan 1 new town, surnamed Lee, waited an hour to enter the model home on Friday. "The pre-sale price is not cheap, but considering that a new subway station will open by the time residents move in five years from now, it seems worth it," Lee said, adding that the 84-square-meter units are expected to be highly competitive and that larger floor plans are also under consideration. "I thought a mixed-use residential tower would feel cramped, but the layout came out just like a regular apartment, and you can definitely tell premium finishes were used," Lee added.

Arkmer Dongtan is marketed under a "Pent Standard" design concept, which extends specifications typically reserved for penthouse units in luxury apartments to every unit in the complex. The kitchens feature Italian cabinetry brand Cucine Lube and German faucet brand Hansgrohe. Italian premium hardwood flooring covers the floors, while Italian ceramic tiles are used on kitchen walls and countertops. Sound-dampening materials certified at Grade 1 for light-impact noise and Grade 2 for heavy-impact noise will also be installed to reduce noise between floors.

"We set out to build a product worthy of the location, which is why we introduced premium finishes valued at around 200 million won at market prices," a sales official said. "We believe it can serve as a 'trophy house' — something that gives owners a sense of pride simply by owning it."

The model home also drew attention with a 3D furniture-placement simulation station and a demonstration area for an electric vehicle fire-suppression system. Visitors can select a unit type, arrange furniture and get a sense of how they would move through the actual space.

Apartment subscriptions open with special supply on Oct. 26, followed by first-priority applications on Oct. 27 and second-priority on Oct. 28. The owner-occupancy requirement does not apply to initial buyers, and the resale restriction period is three years. Winners for Arkmer Dongtan 95 and 99 will be announced on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, respectively. Formal contracts are scheduled to be signed over three days from Nov. 16 to Nov. 18.