Incheon's First Modern Market 

[Sinpo International Market]            
 

 Incheon, once a small fishing village, has grown into the big city it is now thanks to the opening of its port in 1883. Its geographical location of being close to Hanyang, the capital of Joseon, and advantage of having both maritime and land transportation led it to open its doors to the rest of the world earlier than anywhere else on the peninsula and this made it the first port city to attract foreigners. Sinpo International Market, which is considered the first modern market in Incheon, began as a collection of small stalls which sold vegetables to Japanese, Chinese, and Westerners settled in the city. The owners of the stalls were all Chinese farmers, and Chinese cabbage, radish, onion, tomato, capsicum, carrot, burdock, Chinese yam, and lotus root were imported from Shandong Province to this market. In the 1970s, foreign goods from other countries came in through this port too. So there came a saying, "If you can’t find it in Sinpo-dong, you will never find it anywhere else." Spurred by the growth of international passenger terminals, this market with longer than 100 years of history has now become Incheon's representative market place drawing people from all over the country.            
 

[Sinpo International Market]

 Well-demarcated partitions help people easily recognize where to go to purchase vegetables, fruits, seafoods, and side dishes. The market offers fresh and delicious dishes such as chicken gangjeong (bite-sized sweet crispy chicken), dumplings, Korean noodle soup, jjolmyeon (thick spicy noodle), gonggal bread, sundae (Korean sausage), fried fish, and raw fish. Better to visit on an empty stomach. Go up to the second floor of Sinpo International Market to find the "Sinpo Old Road of Memories," where the pictures and paintings of the early days of the market are displayed. Walking along the narrow corridor, you will realize how dynamic the market was in those days. Visit the Sinpo International Market Support Center and get a map first if you want to look around each and every aisle.           
 

ⓒKorea Tourism Contents Lab 

Address: 11-5, Uhyeon-ro 49beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon        
Operating hours: Varies by shop        
Closed: Varies by shop        
* It takes 6 minutes on foot from Incheon Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 1. It takes 15 minutes on foot from Dong (East) Incheon Station (take the underground passage). It takes 3 minutes on foot from Sinpo Station (Seoul Subway Suin-Bundang Line), Exit 4.        
 

【TOP 3 Eateries at Sinpo International Market】

Dakgangjeong       
The most famous food in Sinpo International Market is definitely Sinpo Dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken). This bite-sized crispy fried chicken is flavored with spicy seasonings including hot red pepper. Different from other versions, this variation uses bone-in chicken. It tastes both sweet and spicy. Not used to spicy food? Then it’s better to have with the gonggal bread.  

Gonggal Bread      
There is a reason why you have to wait 30 to 40 minutes even though they bake this bread around the clock. This is because they strictly follow the recipe, which includes a wait-time of seven minutes, no matter what. People who have tried gonggal bread find the crispy, light and sweet taste irresistible and will gladly line up in front of Shandong Mandu for another bite. It’s so popular, purchases are limited to two pieces of bread per person on weekends.

Jjolmyeon (thick spicy noodle)      
Incheon is the place where jjolmyeon originated, quite by accident. One day, there was a mistake and they produced thick noodles instead of the usual thin ones. A chef came up with a new recipe of mixing the thick noodles with cabbage, bean sprouts, and sweet and sour sauce. Try the dish with a plate of dumplings or fried food.

【Places to Visit】

Wolmido Island      
 It is called Wolmido [‘Wol’ means the moon and ‘mi’ the tail] because the shape of the island resembles the tail of a halfmoon. This small island offers diverse activities. First, you can ride a Ferris wheel or eat fresh sashimi enjoying the view of the sea. Viking and Disco-pangpang amusement rides are also special treats of Wolmido Island. Walk along the lighthouse road at sunset to admire the red sea at dusk. You may board a cruise ship from the Wolmido dock to look around Yeongjongdaegyo Bridge, Ara Waterway Seohae Gapmun Gate, or Incheondaegyo Bridge. 

Address: 36, Wolmimunhwa-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon      
Operating hours: Open 24 hr      
Closed: N/A (open all year round)

Songdo Central Park    
 Songdo International City was built on land reclaimed from the sea. The tall skyscrapers here will remind you of a future city. Central Park, located in the middle of it all, offers a glimpse of grandiosity of the city. Boat riding between the high-rise buildings on both sides is highly recommended. After that, you may take a walk along the promenade.

Address: 160, Convensia-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon    
Operating hours: Weekdays 10:00-19:00 / Weekends 10:00-21:00    
Closed: N/A (open all year round)

 ⓒKorea Tourism Contents Lab 

Chinatown,   
 Incheon's Chinatown came into being as Chinese people started to settle in Jemulpo, which was designated as an extraterritorial area of the Qing dynasty when Incheon Port was open at the end of the Joseon dynasty. The unique culture and customs of these Chinese emigrants have been preserved for more than 120 years as clearly demonstrated in the streets decorated in red, evoking the illusion that you are in China. Home to Chinese-Korean noodle, jajangmyeon (black noodle), the area is abundant in restaurants offering the taste of the mainland China with white jajangmyeon, lamb skewers, sweet and sour pork, and oven dumplings. If you happened to be here in spring, take the emperor's stairs and pass Shenyangmun Gate to reach Jayu Park where you can take photos with beautiful cherry blossoms.

Address: 20, Chinatown-ro 59beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon  
Operating hours: Varies by shop  
Closed: Varies by shop