The Memorial Hall for Incheon Landing Operation

There are many interesting cities in South Korea outside of Seoul. You may have heard of Incheon if you have flown through Incheon International Airport. But do you actually know anything about the city? Before visiting, I also knew nothing of Incheon besides the airport. But it’s a remarkable city in terms of its history - Incheon Bay is the site of the Battle of Chemulpo Bay (February 9, 1904), the Battle of Incheon (September 10-19, 1950), and others. The Battle of Incheon was a turning point in the Korean War. The victory of the U.S. resulted in a strategic reversal in favor of the United Nations forces.

As someone who is very interested in Korean history, I decided to take the time to learn more about the Korean War and the Battle of Incheon, so I headed to the Memorial Hall for the Incheon Landing Operation.

As usual, I used the Kakao Maps application to find my way to the museum. I strongly recommend using either this application or Naver Maps in Korea, as they both show bus schedules in real-time. However, as both applications require an Internet connection and cannot be downloaded or accessed offline, I suggest that you buy a SIM card or mobile internet contract if necessary, or rent a Wi-Fi egg device. These services can be acquired at the airport or any tourist destinations, such as Myeong-dong or Dongdaemun, where most staff can communicate in many languages.

Tank in front of the Memorial Hall for Incheon Landing Operation

Miniature layout of the landing operation

Upon arrival at the museum, I found that it has both indoor and outdoor exhibitions. The open-air portion of the museum exhibits military equipment such as tanks and artillery, as well as sculptural depictions of battle scenes.

Incheon Landing operation statue

The indoor exhibit tells the story of Operation CHROMITE, the code name for the Incheon Landing Operation, of which General Douglas A. MacArthur was the hero. The exhibit describes in detail the planning and initiation of the operation, and you can see the official plan, equipment, and military uniforms. This museum is a must-see for anyone interested in Korean history and especially for those interested in the Korean War.

Korean history in the Incheon Open Port Modern Architecture Museum

Miniature port and city layout that portray the city in the beginning of 20th century

Incheon holds an important place in history not only in terms of its military history and strategic location, but also as the main port of immigration to Korea. In the 19th century, while China and Japan were opening their borders to the world, Korea remained conservative, not signing any international treaty until the 1876 treaty with Japan. Under Japanese influence, in 1883 Incheon Port was opened in Chemulpo Bay. The history of the port is exhibited in the Incheon Open Port Modern Architecture Museum, which features a miniature port and a historical layout of the city. It’s fascinating to see how Incheon has changed since then.

Incheon Landing Operation
Memorial Hall

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First church founded by missionaries

“Prayers” monument in honor of first missionaries

Some of the foreigners arriving at the port were Christian missionaries. Historically, missionaries played a crucial role in developing an educational system in Korea, organizing schools, activities, and churches for locals. Thanks to their efforts, many people who could not afford formal education - as it was generally only available to the children of aristocratic families - were able to learn to read and write, and had a greater chance to increase their social status. Missionaries also went on to establish two of the three top universities in Korea. A monument in honor of the missionaries stands in Incheon, depicting three Christians standing among Korean people and praying for them.

Gates to Incheon Chinatown

In addition to missionaries, Incheon became home for many Chinese immigrants. Korea began official trade with China with the China-Korean Treaty of 1882, and since then many Chinese people came to Korea via Incheon Port, with many of them deciding to reside permanently in Incheon, forming the largest Chinatown in Korea.

Jjajangmyeon

The ability to live comfortably in a foreign country and maintain their traditions enabled Chinatown to develop a unique culture, making it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.

However, Chinatown is most famous for its food, notably its innovative Korean-Chinese dishes such as jjajangmyeon, or black-bean noodles, derived from Shandong zhájiàngmiàn. It has even become a tradition to eat these noodles on April 14th, the last day of the “love cycle” days. (February 14th is Valentine's Day, when girls give candy to boys; March 14th is White Day, when boys give candy to girls; and April 14th, Black Day, is for single people to eat black bean noodles). Jjajangmyeon is also popular among students, as it tends to be cheap and filling.

Incheon’s position as a “gate to Korea”, initially by sea and now by air, has afforded it a very unique history, imbued with the mixed culture of travelers and immigrants from all over the world who enriched both the city and Korea with their traditions, ideologies, and tastes.

Incheon Chinatown

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The hotel sign

I decided to stay in a high-quality yet affordable hotel near the coastal area. In Seoul, it’s quite difficult to find a hotel with a good price yet a nice view, interior, and location. But in Incheon, hotel prices are relatively cheaper. I chose the Stellar Marina Hotel for its location and its nice view of the port area.

Getting to the hotel by subway is quite easy, as it is located just a five-minute walk from Hogupo Station. There are also many cafes nearby, some of which are open for 24 hours, a welcome treat after a day-long city exploration, whereas many cafes close at 11 pm.

My room was on the highest floor, and had the best view in the hotel. The room itself was quite large and had everything I needed - a nice bed, an air conditioner that also doubled as a heater, a fridge, a shower, and a TV. It was a comfortable place to relax at the end of the day.

Stellar Marina hotel room view

Oustanding view from the room window

The hotel also has a small gym and a breakfast buffet. You can also find a convenience store at the entrance, which was a nice bonus. The staff could also speak decent English and were very friendly and helpful.