If you are a fan of When Life Gives You Tangerines (WLGYT), you would definitely notice its retro vibes, especially in the 1960s scenes. From the vintage sets to the fashion styles, I kinda like the “old-school feeling” of those scenes, which I personally think is one of the most interesting aspects of the series. I even read an article that stated the fashion styles of Ae Sun (IU) and Gwan Sik (Park Bo Gum) during that “era” led to a resurgence of people searching online for similar looks, especially IU’s signature items like hairpins and dotted scarves. Yes, the hype around the series may have subsided, but WLGYT has left such an impact that many fans are still excited to visit its filming locations (most of which are in Jeju). However, my article this time isn’t about the glory of WLGYT. As I mentioned earlier, the series made me want to explore more of South Korea’s retro aura. I’ve already been to quite a number of Hanok-style spots that definitely offer that authentic “old Korea” atmosphere, but thanks to my Korean friend, Chloe, I was introduced to another place worth visiting, Incheon Chinatown, where there’s a different kind of “K-vintage” experience waiting to be discovered. Whenever we hear the word Chinatown, I believe some of you might think it feels the same as other Chinatowns around the world. Perhaps the Chinese cultural elements in terms of the architecture, temples, and food are mostly similar to other Chinatowns too, which I can’t deny. So, what is so special about Incheon, particularly its Chinatown? The word special may be a bit subjective, depending on the travelers themselves. As someone who is a regular traveler to Korea, I always wanted to explore new spots, and of course, another reason was because I wanted to delve more into the “K-retro” mood. (Left) Writer with her friends taking a photo at the entrance of Incheon Chinatown (Right) The Chinese cultural elements may be similar to those in many other Chinatowns, but Incheon’s is special in its own way So don’t worry. This article won’t be focusing on the historical aspects of Incheon Chinatown (you can easily find that information on Google). And well, I know not everyone enjoys history, but that doesn’t mean you should skip this place especially if you are a regular traveler to Korea looking to explore somewhere new. In fact, this area is accessible by subway from Seoul and takes around one hour to reach Incheon Station, which is the last station on Line 1. Chinatown is just the opposite of the station. However, the Chinatown is not near Incheon Airport, although they are in the same district. You can still go to Chinatown from the airport, but it may take around the same duration as from Seoul to reach there by subway. You can also opt for taxis or local buses from the airport too. Walk around Chinatown in a vintage outfit I remember there was a time when K-school uniforms were a “big thing,” where not only Koreans but also tourists were into that trend. I remember renting one in Hongdae and walking around the area in the uniform. Of course, even until today, you can still see people renting chic school uniforms, especially at Lotte World. If you haven’t tried it yet, why not go for it at least once? 🙂 Another outfit you can try to don is a vintage one inspired by the classic eras of Korea. When I went to Chinatown, I tried a retro school uniform from a rental shop there, called Jang Boutique , for about two hours and walked around the area. It’s a different kind of vibe walking around in that uniform with the label “Class President” on my left arm, especially since the area was a bit quiet as I was there on a Monday (yes, quite a number of shops, restaurants and cafes are usually closed on Mondays over there, so plan your trip properly if you’d like to visit this area). You can roam around Chinatown in a variety of Korean retro outfits, including vintage school uniforms Definitely you may feel a bit awkward if you happen to be the only one wearing such an outfit (like in my case), but you don’t have to worry as it’s quite common for tourists to roam around the area in these vintage outfits. There were even two lovely ahjummas who wanted to take photos with me, so yes, at least you feel welcomed 🙂 I also like the fact that the uniform complemented the Chinatown atmosphere very well. For those who don’t prefer the school uniforms, there are other 1900s style Korean costumes (of course for both men and women) that you can choose from. The rental fee usually costs around 20,000 won to 30,000 won depending on the rental duration and any additional items you want to rent too. I’m sure you will enjoy taking photos in these retro outfits (for girls, especially) because there are many spots around Chinatown that make you look like you are really from those classic eras. Along the streets you will come across many shops selling snacks, traditional Chinese goods and teas, which besides buying them as souvenirs, they make great photo spots too. Talking about having a different kind of photo collection from your Korea trip, right? 🙂 Having dessert in your vintage outfit can add even more retro vibes I saw some tourists walking in stylish vintage dresses in Ikseondong too as there are also a few rental shops there, but if you happen to be in Chinatown, give this a try as well. If you can walk around Gyeongbokgung Palace in a hanbok, there’s no harm in trying another style of outfit too, isn’t it? 🙂 Another spot to try is having dessert at one of the cafes around the area. The ambience of most cafes there will add even more retro charm to your photos. Enjoy the classical music playing in the background along with a bowl of shaved ice ( bingsu ), a simple activity but enough to make you feel like you are stepping back into past centuries. Explore attractions near Chinatown It was spring season when I went to Incheon. Slightly cold weather, but sunny, with a little bit of cherry blossom view, which made the “walking” session enjoyable. There are many attractions nearby, and one of the places I passed through was the Fairy Tale Village. It’s a mesmerizing view of murals and artworks inspired by classic fairy tales when you stroll around the village. Of course, I think this area itself took me more than half an hour to snap some good photos. It is just within walking distance from the entrance of Chinatown. Enjoy a stroll around Fairy Tale Village, surrounded by stunning murals and artworks Walking further up the area will bring you to Jayu Park, or Freedom Park which combines historical elements and scenic views. It was established to commemorate the end of the Korean War and you will also see a statue of General MacArthur in the park as a memorial to his leadership during the war. The park is a bit hilly, but you can enjoy a great view of downtown Incheon and the harbour from the pagoda-shaped observatory area. Jayu Park is a famous spot especially during the cherry blossom season. Chloe (my Korean chingu who guided me that day) said the area will be quite crowded on weekends especially when the cherry blossoms reach their peak! However, I was slightly early for it as the flowers hadn’t fully bloomed yet. Apart from these attractions, many tourists visiting Chinatown would normally try its jajangmyeon too as Incheon Chinatown is known as the birthplace of this famous Korean black bean sauce noodle. There are many jajangmyeon restaurants in this area (including a few famous ones like Sinseung Banjeom and Gonghwachun) and some offer vegan jajangmyeon too. In fact, there’s also a Jajangmyeon Museum if you want to learn more about the history of this famous comfort food among Koreans (which has now become a favourite for many non-Koreans too). Take in a stunning view of downtown Incheon and the harbour from the pagoda-shaped observatory at Jayu Park Too bad I couldn’t explore many other attractions that day, but after experiencing all those retro vibes and Chinese-Korean cultural elements around Chinatown, and if you have time, you can also hop onto the Wolmi Sea Train to enjoy a stunning view along the coastline of Wolmido Island. It’s a monorail connected to Incheon Station and with just 8,000 won (for adults) per ticket, there are a few stations you can choose to stop at, which are Wolmi Park Station, Wolmi Culture Street Station and Museum Station. I did Google some information about this and found out that each station offers a different panoramic view and attractions. My recommendation, if you are a fan of Running Man or other variety shows, you shouldn’t miss Wolmi Theme Park as it’s one of the famous filming locations for those shows. I would say, the funfair vibe looks even better at night! However, do take note that the monorail is closed on Mondays. But no worries, there are local buses and even taxis that can take you there. Hopefully, I will be able to visit these places soon and perhaps write more about them 🙂. In the meantime, you can always visit the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) website to learn more about Wolmi Park and nearby attractions because I personally feel you can spend an entire day to explore Incheon, covering both Chinatown and Wolmi Park too. *It was almost the end of autumn when the writer wrote this article and she is already planning for her 20 th visit to Seoul before the end of 2025. She hopes to share more interesting places and activities for travelers to explore in 2026!

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