| Incheon bridge, Korea's longest bridge, connects Yeongjongdo and Songdo (Photo: yonhap news) |
Cutting-Edge City
I’m sitting at Heungnyunsa, a temple on Mount Cheongnyangsan. This is the perfect spot to look over the Yellow Sea. The dying embers of the sunset hit everything here- the trees, the grass, the rice fields. The same is not true in the city. With most people locked up in offices all day, urban dwellers aren’t afforded the same chance to watch the sun go down. It’s ironic that it’s only humans who can’t feel the sun and the wind, and embrace such a beautiful sunset when every other creature on the planet can.
Incheon is a city of sunsets and beaches, while not being very far away from Seoul. Off the coast of Incheon, the sun sets on an endless horizon, capturing everyone’s attention as they stop and turn towards the west. People living here are able to savor that enchanted moment every day.
Visitors from both Incheon and Seoul swarm to Soraepogu to relish in the vibrant sea life and port market. Many people choose to eat the fish raw, which is called hoe in Korean. Indeed, there are few other things as delicious as hoe wrapped in lettuce with gochujang (hot pepper paste), which is available right next to the market.
Autumn in Soraepogu is the season for saeujeot (salted and fermented shrimp), which is one of the most important ingredients in kimchi. Saeujeot is made by fermenting shrimp caught between May and June for five to six months, then salt is added and it is sealed in a big tin drum. The longer the fermenting period, the higher the price it will fetch.
Saeujeot has a unique taste that adds a delicate flavor to kimchi when fermented. Merchants at Soraepogu are often very generous, allowing market visitors to freely sample any of their numerous products.
Lying west of Seoul, Incheon is Korea’s second biggest port city. Sailors leave through Incheon port when heading to the Pacific Ocean via the Yellow Sea, while the city’s airport serves as a gateway to the rest of the world.
Incheon’s geographical location has historically made it the first Korean city to be exposed to outside influences and adopt new items: daily necessities (matches, glass and soap), foreign food (cider and jajangmyeon, or black bean noodles), and other things like baseball.
For that same reason, Incheon has been chosen by the Korean government as the optimal place to launch a Free Economic Zone (FEZ). Incheon’s FEZ is a special area which aims to attract foreign investment with government support, based on the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. Foreign businesspeople are given various incentives here, including financial support, prime industrial locations and tax benefits.
The city designated the three districts of Cheongna, Yeongjong and Songdo as part of FEZ. Of these three areas, Songdo International Business District is the fastest growing.
Heaven on Earth
You can ride a water taxi and travel a two-kilometer road created in Songdo’s Central Park while taking in the exotic views of this new city. Skyscrapers are going up all around and will remind visitors of international business centers in Asia like Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore. And the skyline, when seen against the backdrop of a pure blue sky, is nothing less than dazzling.
The most impressive building hereis undoubtedly the Northeast Asia Trade Tower, a 68-floor building with an observatory on the 65th floor that commands a spectacular view of the sea and the city. Once all the work is completed on this landmark manmade city in 2018, Songdo will certainly attract the attention of the world, and the Northeast Asia Trade Tower will play a key role as a global business hub.
Then there’s Songdo Convensia, the Compact/Smart City, the Tri-Bowl, the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club and the many luxury hotels, some of which have completed construction. When all is said and done, this international city will come at a cost of more than 1.4 trillion won (US$1.2 billion) and cover an area of 53.4sqm. It will be a global business hub that embraces the IT and biotechnology industries with a knowledge-based industrial complex, a bio-industrial complex and cutting-edge industrial clusters.
| A night view of Songdo |
The current site of Incheon International Airport was created by reclaiming the land between two surrounding islands, Yongyudo and Yeongjongdo. Part of Korea’s excellent construction reputation stems from its vast experience in reclamation projects that take advantage of its unique ria coast.
Today, Incheon International Airport is positioning itself as a major global hub and has been ranked one of the top airports by the SKYTRAX WorldAirport Quality Audit for six straight years. Currently, it is the second largest handler of international freight and the eighth busiest for international passenger transportation.
Beyond the airport is a series of islands that feature pristine natural beauty. Two sites everyone should visit are Eurwangni Beach and Angel’s Rock Beach on Yongyudo. Lovers on the stretch of the sandy beaches, seagulls up above, and small restaurants dotting the waterline add to a quiet, beautiful scene of relaxation.
Incheon will soon host the 2014 Asian Games, and is preparing for the prestigious event. Incheon is certain to become one of the most popular coastal cities once Songdo is completed and after hosting the Asian Games.
| (left) Incheon's Chinatown, (middle) Seafood at Soraepogu Market (right) A ferry at Songdo IBD |
(Car) There are a number of routes from Seoul to Incheon, including three different Gyeongin Expressways. Choose the one nearest to your final destination in Incheon. Drivers can go over the Incheon Bridge from the airport when going south, or drive over the Yeongjong Bridge when heading north.
(Bus) There are numerous buses that go from Seoul to Incheon. You can board a bus at Seoul Station, Gangnam Bus Terminal or Sinchon Rotary. An airport limousine also runs from the airport to downtown Incheon.
(Train) You can get to Incheon Station by transferring to Subway Line 1 on the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. At the airport, you can take the Incheon International Airport Railway and get off in the northern part of the city. You can also take a city tour by subway.
Where to Stay
As one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country, Incheon offers a wide range of accommodation, from five-star hotels to more affordable places. You can make a reservation online for the Sheraton Incheon Hotel and the Hyatt Regency Incheon Hotel. Muui Island Family Hotel (+82 32 752 5114) and Hotel Pi (+82 32 428 0314) are also nice places to stay. You could also try staying at one of the newer hotels in Songdo like the Songdo Park Hotel (+82 32 210 7250) or the Songdo Bridge Hotel (+82 32 210 3000).
What to Eat
On top of its coastal location, Incheon has a special place in Korean history as it was the first city to open up to the outside world – and thus has a great selection of cuisine. Famous restaurant streets include East Incheon’s Samchi, Bukseong-dong Jajangmyeon, Hwapyeong-dong Naengmyeon, and Bukseong-dong’s Chinatown, to name a few. If you want to try some special Korean food outside the city, try the grilled shellfish at Eurwangni Beach.
Article adapted from Korea Magazine
