Incheon is a city located in northwestern

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

, bordering

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

and

Gyeonggi Province Gyeonggi Province (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Seoul, the nation's largest city and capital, is in the heart of the area but has been separately administered as a provincial-level ''special city'' since 1946. Incheon, ...

to the east. Inhabited since the

Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...

, Incheon was home to just 4,700 people when it became an international port in 1883. As of February 2020, about 3 million people live in the city, making it South Korea's third-most-populous city after

and

Busan Busan (), officially Busan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's second list of cities in South Korea by population, most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economi ...

. The city's growth has been assured in modern times with the development of its port due to its natural advantages as a coastal city and its proximity to the South Korean capital. It is part of the

Seoul Metropolitan Area The Seoul Metropolitan Area (Sudogwon; , ) or Gyeonggi (region), Gyeonggi region (), is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-western South Korea. Its population of 26 million (as of 2024) is ranked ...

, along with Seoul itself and

, forming the world's fourth-largest metropolitan area by population. Incheon has since led the economic development of South Korea by opening its port to the outside world, ushering in the modernization of South Korea as a center of industrialization. In 2003, the city was designated as South Korea's first free economic zone. Since then, large local companies and global enterprises have increasingly invested in the

Incheon Free Economic Zone The Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), located in Incheon, South Korea is a Korean Free Economic Zone that consists of the three regions of Songdo, Cheongna, and the island of Yeongjong and has a total area of . The goal of the IFEZ is to trans ...

, including

Samsung Samsung Group (; stylised as SΛMSUNG) is a South Korean Multinational corporation, multinational manufacturing Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in the Samsung Town office complex in Seoul. The group consists of numerous a ...

which chose

Songdo Songdo (), officially known as Songdo International Business District (Songdo IBD), is a smart city built on of reclaimed land along Incheon's waterfront, southwest of Seoul, South Korea. It is connected to Incheon International Airport by a r ...

International City as its new investment destination for its bio industry. As an international city, Incheon has held numerous large-scale international conferences, such as the Incheon Global Fair & Festival in 2009. The 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 was also held in Incheon on 19 September 2014. Incheon is also a major transportation hub in northeast Asia, with

Incheon International Airport Incheon International Airport is the main international airport serving Seoul, the capital of South Korea. It is also one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. This airport opened for business on 29 March 2001, to replace the old ...

and Incheon Port. The large volume of port traffic makes Incheon a Large-Port Metropolis using the Southampton System of Port-City classification.

History

The first historical record of the Incheon area dates back to 475 AD, during the reign of King Jangsu of

Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...

, by the name of Michuhol, which is supposed to be located on modern Munhak Hill (). The area underwent several name changes with successive kingdoms and dynasties. In

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...

era, Incheon was called Gyeongwon () or Inju (). The current name was turned to Incheon in 1413. Later, Incheon County became Incheon Metropolitan Prefecture (dohobu, ). Old Incheon consisted of modern southern Incheon (i.e. Jung-gu, Dong-gu, Nam-gu, Yeonsu District, and Namdong District) and the northern part of

Siheung Siheung (; ) is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The city has a population of 511,807 people, where 508,646 are residents out of 218,846 households as of August 2021. Siheung acquired its cu ...

. The city center was Gwangyo-dong, where the prefecture office () and the local academy (hyanggyo, ) were located. The "original" two remaining buildings of the Incheon prefecture office are located in Munhak Elementary School, while the newly built (in 2001) prefecture office buildings are right across from

Munhak Baseball Stadium The Incheon SSG Landers Field () is a baseball stadium located in Incheon, South Korea. Formerly named the Munhak Baseball Stadium, it is the home of the KBO League team SSG Landers. The stadium has been remodeled with Shinsegae affiliate brands, ...

Modern history

Another historical name of the city, Jemulpo (alternatively Romanized as Chemulpo), was not widely used until the opening of the port in 1883. It was frequently used until the Japanese annexation. After the opening of the Incheon port, the city center moved from Gwangyo to Jemulpo. Today, either Jemulpo or Gwangyo-dong is considered "Original Incheon" (). It was internationally known as Jinsen during Japanese rule, based on the Japanese pronunciation of Incheon's Sino-Korean name. In 1914, the Japanese colonial government merged outer parts of old Incheon (including the former center of Gwangyo) with Bupyeong County, forming

Bucheon Bucheon (; ) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Bucheon is located away from Seoul, of which it is a satellite city. It is located between Incheon and Seoul. Bucheon is the second most densely populated city in South Korea after Seo ...

County. Between 1936 and 1940, some part of Bucheon County was recombined into Incheon, by which some part of "old" Bupyeong was annexed into Incheon. Incheon was originally part of

, but was granted ''Directly Governed'' (now Metropolitan) City status on 1 July 1981; the city officially separated from the province. In 1989, neighboring islands and Gyeyang township of Gimpo County were ceded to Incheon and in 1995 Geomdan township of Gimpo County and two counties of Ganghwa and Onjin were annexed to Incheon. Incheon was known as Inchon prior to South Korea's adoption of a new Romanization system in 2000. City attacked with tear gas 1987-05-10

Major events

The city was the site of the

Battle of Chemulpo Bay The Battle of Chemulpo Bay was a naval battle in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), which took place on 9 February 1904, off the coast of present-day Incheon (then called Chemulpo), Korea. Background The opening stage of the Russo-Japanese ...

, where the first shots of the

Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War (8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905) was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and the Korean Empire. The major land battles of the war were fought on the ...

were fired. During the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

, Incheon was occupied by North Korean troops on 4 July 1950. Incheon was the site of the

Battle of Inchon The Battle of Inchon (), also called Inchon landing, was an Amphibious warfare, amphibious invasion and a battle of the Korean War that resulted in a decisive victory and strategic reversal in favor of the United Nations Command (UN). The opera ...

when the United States troops landed to relieve pressure on the

Pusan Perimeter The Battle of the Pusan Perimeter, known in Korean as the Battle of the Naktong River Defense Line (), was a large-scale battle between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces lasting from August 4 to September 18, 1950. It was one ...

and to launch a United Nations offensive northward. The result was a decisive UN victory and it was recaptured on 19 September 1950. was named after the tide-turning battle that ensued. Prior to and during the June Democratic Movement in 1987, Incheon was the site of several pro-democracy protests. Incheon has also hosted a series of major international events. The Global Fair & Festival 2009 Incheon was held in the Songdo District in August 2009. It was open from 7 August to 25 October for a period of 80 days. It was a comprehensive international event with global institutions and corporations as participants. Various musicians and artists performed during the event. The city hosted a meeting of the

G20 The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU). It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stabil ...

Finance Ministers in February 2010. Incheon was the site of the third Global Model United Nations Conference, held from 10 to 14 August 2011. It first hosted the

Incheon Women Artists' Biennale The Incheon Women Artists' Biennale, held in Incheon, South Korea, and inaugurated in 2004, subsequently had editions in 2007, 2009, and 2011 that focused on the work of contemporary art, contemporary Female artists, women artists. It is the first a ...

in 2004 which expanded into welcoming international artists in its subsequent 2007, 2009 and 2011. Incheon hosted the

Asian Games The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years for athletes of Asia. The Games were regulated by Asian Games Federation from the 1951 Asian Games, first Games in New Delhi, India in 1951, until ...

in 2014. It hosted the 6th

OECD The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD; , OCDE) is an international organization, intergovernmental organization with 38 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and international trade, wor ...

World Forum in 2018. Incheon was designated as the

World Book Capital The World Book Capital (WBC) is an initiative of UNESCO which recognises cities for promoting books and fostering reading for a year starting on April 23, World Book and Copyright Day. Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital carry out acti ...

for the year 2015 by

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

Education

On 27 February 2007, Incheon declared itself an "English City", and inaugurated the "Incheon Free English Zone" program. The goal of the program is to make the city as proficient in English as

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

. This is for the ultimate purpose of establishing Incheon as a commercial and business hub of northeast Asia (see Free Economic Zone below). The official slogan of the program is "Smile with English".

Higher education

Incheon is home to a number of colleges and universities: *

George Mason University George Mason University (GMU) is a Public university, public research university in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., the university is named in honor of George Mason, a Founding Father ...

Korea Campus *

Ghent University Ghent University (, abbreviated as UGent) is a Public university, public research university located in Ghent, in the East Flanders province of Belgium. Located in Flanders, Ghent University is the second largest Belgian university, consisting o ...

Global Campus *

Gyeongin National University of Education Gyeongin National University of Education (GINUE) () is a teacher training institution for future public elementary school teachers in South Korea. It was founded on May 23, 1946 under the name of Gaeseong School of Education in Gyeonggi-do (). ...

Incheon campus *

Inha University Inha University () is a private research university located in Incheon, South Korea. Known traditionally for research and education in the engineering and physical sciences, the university was established by the first president of South Korea, S ...

(formerly Inha Institute of Technology) *

Gachon University Gachon University () is a private university located in South Korea. The current structure of Gachon university is the result of a merger between four existing universities. Gachon University of Medicine and Science and Gachon-gil College merged ...

Medical·Ganghwa campus * Gyeongin Women's College * Inha Technical College *

Incheon Catholic University Incheon Catholic University () is a private university located in the Yeonsu District of Incheon, South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, ...

* Incheon City College * Incheon National University * Jaineung College *

University of Utah The University of Utah (the U, U of U, or simply Utah) is a public university, public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret (Book of Mormon), Deseret by the General A ...

Asia Campus * SUNY South Korea * Anyang University Ganghwa campus *

Yonsei University Yonsei University () is a Private university, private Christian university, Christian research university located in Seoul, South Korea. Yonsei is one of the three most prestigious universities in the country, part of a group referred to as SK ...

International campus * Korea Polytechnics II * Seongsan Hyo University * Juan International University

Climate

Incheon has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

: ''Cwa'') using the isotherm, and

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...

(

''Dwa'', respectively) using the isotherm. Like other metropolitan cities, Incheon has a strong

urban heat island Urban areas usually experience the urban heat island (UHI) effect; that is, they are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas. The temperature difference is usually larger at night than during the day, and is most apparent when winds ar ...

effect. Incheon's climate is about average compared to the rest of Korea, with 8 locations being cooler and 10 locations being warmer, and with 9 locations being wetter and 9 locations being drier. Incheon experiences each of its four seasons, distinctly feeling the rise and fall of temperature and humidity. The temperature however, never rises to an extreme, and the climate of the city is essentially mild. Incheon is swept by the seasonal winds as the northwesterly winds strike the city in the winter and the summer in Incheon is affected by gusts of the warm southwesterly winds.

Economy

Incheon forms the heart of Capital Industrial Region. During the industrialization of South Korea, several industrial complexes were built throughout the city, and as a result, the city was largely dependent on manufacturing industry. But with the designation of

in 2003, the city is now making an effort to foster new growth industries. Major industrial parks include Bupyeong industrial complex, which hosts GM Incheon plant(formerly a GM Daewoo Incheon plant), Juan industrial complex, and Namdong Industrial complex. In recent years, bio industry is emerging as a new growth industry of the city. Currently, with the total production capacity of 330kℓ per year, the city ranks 2nd in the world by production capacity along with

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

, United States. The capacity is under expansion, and after completion in 2018, the city will rank 1st with the production capacity of 510kℓ. Also,

logistics industry The transport/transportation and logistics industry is a category of companies that provide services to transport people or goods. The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) lists transport below the industrials sector. The sector consist ...

is also experiencing a rapid growth, thanks to

Incheon Airport Incheon International Airport is the main international airport serving Seoul, the capital of South Korea. It is also one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. This airport opened for business on 29 March 2001, to replace the old ...

, which was ranked fourth in the world by cargo traffic, and the expansion of Incheon Port.

Transportation

Incheon is a major domestic and international transport hub for Korea.

Air

is South Korea's primary international airport and a regional air hub. In 2015, it was the world's 22nd busiest airport by passenger traffic, with 49,412,750 passengers. There were a total of 305,446 flights (300,634 international, 4,812 domestic) to and from Incheon International Airport in 2015, an average of 837 flights (824 international, 13 domestic) daily. Korea's two main carriers,

Korean Air Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. (KAL; ) is the flag carrier of South Korea and its largest airline based on fleet size, international destinations, and international flights. It is owned by the Hanjin, Hanjin Group. The present-day Korean Air tra ...

and

Asiana Airlines Asiana Airlines Inc. ( ) is a South Korean airline headquartered in Seoul.Home
." Asiana Airlines. Retrieved 13 September 2 ...

, serviced 50.9% of flights, while low-cost and foreign carriers serviced the remaining 49.1% of flights. The airport is experiencing a rapid increase in passengers, and the opening of Terminal 2 in December 2017 spurred additional traffic. The airport was also featured in the Korean drama series, ''Air City''. Incheon International Airport ranked "5th in the world" among international airports in late 2018.

Sea

Incheon's sea port is the second largest port in Korea after

Busan Port The port of Busan is the largest port in South Korea, located in the city of Busan, South Korea. Its location is known as Busan Harbour. The port is ranked sixth in the world's container throughput and is the largest seaport in South Korea. The ...

. The International Passenger Terminal located at the port offers

ferries A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus. ...

to five cities in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

Dalian Dalian ( ) is a major sub-provincial port city in Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, and is Liaoning's second largest city (after the provincial capital Shenyang) and the third-most populous city of Northeast China (after Shenyang ...

Qingdao Qingdao, Mandarin: , (Qingdao Mandarin: t͡ɕʰiŋ˧˩ tɒ˥) is a prefecture-level city in the eastern Shandong Province of China. Located on China's Yellow Sea coast, Qingdao was long an important fortress. In 1897, the city was ceded to G ...

Tianjin Tianjin is a direct-administered municipality in North China, northern China on the shore of the Bohai Sea. It is one of the National Central City, nine national central cities, with a total population of 13,866,009 inhabitants at the time of the ...

Dandong Dandong ( zh, s=丹东 , t=丹東 , p=Dāndōng; lit. "Red East"), formerly known as Andong, is a coastal prefecture-level city in southeastern Liaoning province, in the northeastern region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest ...

, and

Weihai Weihai ( zh, t=, p=Wēihǎi), formerly Weihaiwei ( zh, s=, p=Wēihǎiwèi, l=Mighty Sea Fort, first=t), is a prefecture-level city and major seaport city in the easternmost Shandong province of China. It borders Yantai to the west and the Yellow ...

. There are also ferries to Incheon's outlying islands as well as

Baengnyeongdo Baengnyeongdo (; ), sometimes Baekryeong Island, is an island in Ongjin County, Incheon, South Korea. It is an inhabited island located near the Northern Limit Line, and is closer to North Korea than it is to the South. Since the 1945 division ...

inside of the

Northern Limit Line The Northern Limit Line or North Limit Line (NLL) – 북방한계선 (in ROK) – is a disputed maritime demarcation line in the Yellow (West) Sea between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the north, and the Republic of Kore ...

Buses

Incheon Bus Terminal, located at its eponymous subway stop, offers express bus transportation to all parts of Korea. Many city bus lines offer transportation within city limits as well as to the neighboring cities of

Gimpo Gimpo (; ) is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It borders Incheon, with which it shares the South Korean side of the Han River (Korea), Han River estuary, as well as Seoul and the lesser cities o ...

, and

. File:인천공항T1 버스매표소 2024.jpg, Incheon Air Bus Terminal File:인천버스터미널.jpg, Bus Terminal File:Cheongna GRT Bi-modality tram stop at Cheongna International City Station.jpg, Cheongna GRT File:Incheon City Tour 1289.JPG, Incheon City Tour Bus File:Incheon City Bus No 30.JPG, Incheon City Bus No 30

Trains

Local service to Guro,

Cheongnyangni Cheongnyangni-dong () is a '' dong'' (neighborhood) of Dongdaemun District, Seoul, South Korea. At this dong, there are many convenient buildings like many kinds of financial companies and banks, a branch of Lotte Department Store, and Cheongny ...

Uijeongbu Uijeongbu (; ) is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It is the tenth-most populous city in the province and a suburb of Seoul within the greater Seoul Metropolitan Area. History Uijeongbu was estab ...

and Soyosan is offered by Seoul's subway Line 1. The line has 11 stations within Incheon and connects to the Incheon Subway at Bupyeong and Juan stations. Rapid service on the same line to Yongsan station in Seoul depart from Dongincheon station and stops at major stations. The Airport Express (

AREX AREX (Airport Railroad Express; ) is an airport rail link and commuter rail line in the Seoul Metropolitan Area of South Korea, linking Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport with Seoul Station. The section between the ...

) line runs from

Seoul Station Seoul Station () is a major railway station in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The station is served by the Korail Intercity Lines and the commuter trains of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. Services KTX Seoul Station is the terminus of m ...

via

Gimpo International Airport Gimpo International Airport , sometimes referred to as Seoul–Gimpo International Airport but formerly rendered in English as Kimpo International Airport, is located in the far western end of Seoul, some west of the Jung District, Seoul, cen ...

. The Incheon-Gimpo section was opened in March 2007 and was extended to Seoul station in December 2010. Passengers can choose a high-speed service stopping only at Incheon airport and Seoul, which takes 43 minutes but departs only every half-hour; or the all-station service which takes 53 minutes but leaves every six minutes. KTX service was introduced on the AREX line on 30 June 2014, with stops at

Incheon International Airport station Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 station is a railway station on AREX and the Incheon Airport Maglev. It is in Incheon International Airport's transport center near Terminal 1. Both commuter ("All-stop") and express services stop at thi ...

and

Geomam station Geomam station is a railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail tran ...

. There are additional plans to use the newly built

Suin Line The Suin Line (Suwon-Incheon; ) was a metro line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway serving the Seoul Capital Area. The original route, abandoned in 1995, was one of the few narrow-gauge railways in South Korea. Opened by the privately owned Cho ...

to bring KTX service to

Incheon station Incheon Station () is the western terminus railway station of the Suin–Bundang and Gyeongin lines of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The station is in the Bukseong neighborhood of the Jung District, Incheon, South Korea and is approximate ...

by 2021.

Subway

The Incheon Subway has two subway lines serving the city. The first line connects to the

Seoul Metropolitan Subway The Seoul Metropolitan Subway () is a urban rail transit, metropolitan railway system consisting of 23 rapid transit, Medium-capacity rail transport system, light metro, commuter rail and people mover lines located in northwest South Korea. T ...

system at

Bupyeong station Bupyeong station () is a subway station located in Bupyeong District, Incheon, South Korea. This station is on the Seoul Subway Line 1 and Incheon Subway Line 1. It is one of the busiest stations on the Incheon line because of its central loca ...

(

Seoul Subway Line 1 Seoul Subway Line 1 (dubbed ''The Dark Blue Line'') of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a rapid transit and commuter rail line which links central Seoul, South Korea to Yeoncheon station, Yeoncheon in the northeast, Incheon in the southwest, an ...

), and

line at

Gyeyang station Gyeyang station is the northern terminus of Line 1 of the Incheon Subway. It is also a railway station on AREX, a railway linking Seoul Station and Incheon International Airport Incheon International Airport is the main international a ...

. It connects International Business District station in

to Gyeyang station. The line has 28 stations on of track. The line also has transfer stations with the

at Woninjae station, with the

Incheon Subway Line 2 Incheon Subway Line 2 () is a driverless, medium-capacity subway line running from Oryu-dong in Seo-gu to Incheon Grand Park, with 27 stations, part of the Incheon Subway system. The line is also included as a part of the overall Seoul Met ...

at Incheon City Hall station, and with

Seoul Subway Line 7 Seoul Subway Line 7 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway was built from 1990 to 1996 (Jangam- Konkuk Univ.) and was completed on August 1, 2000 (central section . Konkuk University to Sinpung); the western section between Sinpung and Onsu was pu ...

at Bupyeong-gu Office station.

opened in July 2016 and runs from Geomdan Oryu station to Unyeon station. The automated line is long, and has 27 stations, including transfer stations at

with the

line, Juan station with

and

at Incheon City Hall station. The Incheon subway is operated by the Incheon Rapid Transit Corporation (IRTC).

Korail The Korea Railroad Corporation () is the national railway operator in South Korea. It is branded as KORAIL () and changed its official Korean name () in November 2019. Currently, KORAIL is a public corporation, managed by Ministry of Land, ...

has also constructed a new commuter rail line named

. The line opened in 2012 from

Oido station Oido station () is a subway station on Seoul Subway Line 4 and the Suin–Bundang Line in Siheung, South Korea. It is the current southwestern terminus of Seoul Subway Line 4 located almost 30 kilometers southwest of Seoul, connecting Oido ...

to Songdo station in Incheon. It was then extended in 2016, and now reaches

where passengers can transfer to

. In 2020, the line was extended from

to Suwon Station. SMRT (one of three operating companies of Seoul Metropolitan Subway) has extended Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 7 to Bupyeong-gu office by 2011 and provided transfers to the Incheon Subway system. It has 3 stations within Incheon. By 2020, the line will further be extended westwards to Seoknam station where it will be possible to transfer to Incheon Subway Line 2.

Free Economic Zone

The

(''IFEZ'') comprises the regions of

Cheongna Cheong-na International City (also pronounced Cheongla) is a development project in Seo District, Incheon, South Korea. The city is built on a nearly two million square foot plot of land (5.38 million Korean pyong) that expects a maximum populat ...

, and

Yeongjong Yeongjong Island () is an island in Jung District, Incheon, South Korea. It contains Incheon International Airport as well as small villages, farms, and beaches. The previously separate Yongyu, Sammok, and Sinbul Islands have been joined to Ye ...

Island, covering a total area of 51,739 acres (20,938 hectares). IFEZ was established to develop these areas into centres for logistics, international business, leisure, and tourism, aimed primarily at the Northeast Asian region. The designation of "''Free Economic Zone''" refers to efforts to enhance the business environment for foreign enterprises and improve living conditions for expatriates. It was the first zone of its kind in South Korea, formally designated in August 2003. The region includes infrastructure for air and sea transportation, logistics, international business, financial services, and residential facilities, alongside educational, medical, and leisure amenities.

New Songdo City

Development of Songdo International City began in 1994 on

reclaimed land Land reclamation, often known as reclamation, and also known as land fill (not to be confused with a waste landfill), is the process of creating new land from oceans, seas, riverbeds or lake beds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamatio ...

and has been intended as a centre for international business, trade, technology, and environmentally conscious urban living. Initially projected to be completed by 2020, some areas continue to be under development, with evolving projects and adjustments to the original master plan. Songdo houses various multinational companies and hosts several international institutions, including the

Green Climate Fund The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a Funding, fund for climate finance that was established within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Considered the world's largest fund of its kind, GCF's objective ...

. The city is also recognised for its smart city technologies and eco-friendly design, featuring extensive green spaces, smart infrastructure, and advanced waste management systems. * Development area: * Planned population: 252,000 persons

Yeongjong Island

As of 2012, Yeongjong International City, centred around

, has been under development as an eco-friendly airport city. Originally scheduled for completion by 2020, certain projects are still ongoing as the area continues to evolve. The development aims to combine logistical facilities with residential, business, and tourism sectors, leveraging its proximity to the airport. * Development area:

Cheongna

, located on the mainland near

Island, is designed to focus on entertainment and leisure. It includes residential zones, sports facilities, and a business district catering to international finance. Although initially slated for completion by 2008, development timelines have since been extended, with some projects, such as the theme park, still in the planning or early construction stages. * Development Size: * Planned population: 90,000 persons File:Dwppp.png,

District File:South Korea, Incheon, Songdo, the Sharp Central Park Towers and Prugio Central Park Towers.jpg, Songdo International City File:Yeongjong Bridge2.jpg,

Bridge

Administrative divisions

Incheon is divided into 8 districts (''gu'') and 2 counties (''gun''). *

Bupyeong District Bupyeong District () is one of the 10 administrative divisions (eight municipal districts and two counties) that comprise Incheon, South Korea. Bupyeong District comprises an area of 12.35 square miles (31.98 square km), and has a population of 5 ...

() * Dong District () *

Gyeyang District Gyeyang District (, IPA: /kje.jaŋ.ɡu/) is a ward in Incheon, South Korea. History The first historical record of Gyeyang District goes back to the Goguryeo kingdom in 470 AD under the name of Jubuto-gun. It was renamed to Bupyeong-dohobu in 1 ...

() *

Jung District Jung District (), meaning "Central District", is the name of a ''gu'' (district) in several South Korean cities: *Jung District, Busan *Jung District, Daegu *Jung District, Daejeon *Jung District, Incheon *Jung District, Seoul *Jung District, Ulsan ...

() *

Michuhol District Michuhol District () is a municipal district in Incheon, South Korea. This district was called Nam (South) District until July 1, 2018.Namdong District Namdong District () is a municipal district of Incheon Incheon is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to the east. Inhabited since the Neolithic, Incheon was home to just 4,700 people when it be ...

() * Seo District () *

Yeonsu District Yeonsu District () is a district in southern Incheon, South Korea. To the east is Namdong District (Namdong District), on its north border is Nam District (Nam District), and the Yellow Sea is on the west and south sides. Munhak Mountain (Munha ...

() *

Ganghwa County Ganghwa County () is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, county in Incheon, South Korea. The county is composed of Ganghwa Island and the minor islands around it. History Ganghwa County contains some of the most important historical sites ...

() *

Ongjin County Ongjin County may refer to: * Ongjin County, Incheon, South Korea * Ongjin County, South Hwanghae Ongjin County () is a county in southern South Hwanghae Province, North Korea. It is located on the Ongjin Peninsula, which projects into the Yello ...

()

Demographics

According to the 2015 census, 32.6% of the population follow

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

(23.1%

Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

and 9.5%

Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

) and 8.7% follow

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

. 57.9% of the population is irreligious. 0.8% of the population follow other religions including

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

Muism Korean shamanism, also known as () is a religion from Korea. Religious studies, Scholars of religion classify it as a folk religion and sometimes regard it as one facet of a broader Korean vernacular religion distinct from Buddhism, Taoism, Dao ...

, and

Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...

Sports

Incheon is home to the following professional and semi-professional sports teams: ;Association football The

K League 2 The K League 2 () is the men's second-highest division of the South Korean football league system. It is contested between thirteen professional clubs and operates on a promotion and relegation system with K League 1. History In 2011, the or ...

team

Incheon United FC Incheon United FC () is a South Korean professional association football, football club based in Incheon that competes in the K League 2, the second tier of South Korean football league system, South Korean football. Founded in 2003, the club is ...

was founded in 2003. The club was known to have a rivalry against former

Bucheon SK Jeju SK FC () is a South Korean professional football club based in Jeju Province that competes in the K League 1, the top division in South Korea. In the past, the club has been known as the Yukong Elephants, Bucheon SK, and Jeju United. Hist ...

(now

Jeju SK FC Jeju SK FC () is a South Korean professional football club based in Jeju Province that competes in the K League 1, the top division in South Korea. In the past, the club has been known as the Yukong Elephants, Bucheon SK, and Jeju United. Hist ...

) due to the teams' close geographical relationship. The

K4 League The K4 League is the fourth-highest division in the South Korean football league system. It is regarded as the successor to the K3 League Basic, the second division of K3 League (2007–2019), amateur K3 League founded in 2017. Since 2021, Kore ...

team

FC Namdong FC Namdong was a South Korean association football, football club based in the Administrative divisions of South Korea, district of Namdong-gu in the city of Incheon. The team was founded in 2019 and last played in the K4 League, a semi-professio ...

is based in the

Namdong District Namdong District () is a municipal district of Incheon Incheon is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to the east. Inhabited since the Neolithic, Incheon was home to just 4,700 people when it be ...

of Incheon. The

WK League The WK League (Hangul: WK리그) is a semi-professional women's football league, run by the Korea Football Association (KFA) and the Korea Women's Football Federation (KWFF), which represents the sport's highest level in South Korea. Icheon D ...

women's team is called the Hyundai Steel Red Angels. ;Baseball The

KBO League The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...

team

SSG Landers SSG Landers () are a South Korean professional baseball team. The team was originally established as the SK Wyverns but was renamed as the SSG Landers in 2021 after Shinsegae acquired the team from SK Group. They are a member of the KBO League. B ...

. The first Incheon-based professional baseball team were

Sammi Superstars The Hyundai Unicorns () were a South Korean professional baseball team based in Suwon. They were a member of the KBO League. The Unicorns won the KBO championship four times (1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004). The Unicorns were dissolved after the 20 ...

. ;Basketball The WKBL team Incheon Shinhan Bank S-Birds is based in Incheon. Between 1997 and 2021, Incheon hosted the KBL team

Incheon Electroland Elephants The Daegu KOGAS Pegasus () is a professional basketball club in the Korean Basketball League (KBL). Founded in 1994, the team has been playing in the KBL since the inaugurate 1997 season. Since 2021, the club is based at Daegu Gymnasium in Daegu ...

. ;Volleyball The V-League teams are

Incheon Korean Air Jumbos Incheon Korean Air Jumbos () is a South Korean professional volleyball team. The team was founded in 1969 and became fully professional in 2005. They are based in Incheon Incheon is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seou ...

(men's) and

Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders Incheon Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders () is a South Korean women's professional volleyball team. The team was founded in 1971 and became fully professional in 2005. They are based in Incheon Incheon is a city located in northwestern ...

(women's). ;Munhak Sports Complex The Munhak Sports Complex houses both a football stadium and a

baseball stadium A ballpark, or baseball park, is a type of sports venue where baseball is played. The playing field is divided into two field sections called the infield and the outfield. The infield is an area whose dimensions are rigidly defined in part ba ...

. The football stadium was Incheon's venue for the 2002 Football World Cup, and is also the home venue for Incheon United. The baseball stadium is the home venue for the SSG Landers. In April 2007, Incheon was selected as the host city for the

2014 Asian Games The 2014 Asian Games (), officially known as the 17th Asian Games () and also known as Incheon 2014 (), were a pan-Asian multi-sport event held from 19 September to 4 October 2014 in Incheon, South Korea. On 17 April 2007, Incheon was awarded ...

, beating out

New Delhi New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Parliament ...

. ;Yeonhui Cricket Ground

Yeonhui Cricket Ground Yeonhui Cricket Ground is a cricket stadium in Incheon, South Korea built for Cricket at the 2014 Asian Games. Both the men's and women's cricket matches in the 2014 Asian Games were played on this ground. It has been reported that the crowd ...

is a purpose-built cricket stadium in Incheon built for cricket events at the 2014 Asian Games. The 2014 Asian Games featured cricket for both the men's and the women's event and this ground was used for the scheduled cricket matches played at the games. It is the first cricket stadium in South Korea. ;Incheon Football Stadium (Sungui Arena)

Incheon Football Stadium Incheon Football Stadium, a.k.a. the Sungui Arena Park, is a football-specific stadium in Incheon, South Korea, and is the home ground of Incheon United of the K League. The stadium was designed with a capacity of 20,891 spectators. It replaced t ...

is the first football-only stadium in Incheon. It was built in 2012 with a capacity for 20,891 spectators.

Points of interest

Incheon administers several of Korea's western islands, including

Ganghwa Island Ganghwa Island (), also Ganghwado, is an island in Ganghwa County, Incheon, South Korea. It is in the Yellow Sea and in an estuary of the Han River. The island is separated from Gimpo (on the South Korean mainland) by a narrow channel spanned ...

Yeongjong Island Yeongjong Island () is an island in Jung District, Incheon, South Korea. It contains Incheon International Airport as well as small villages, farms, and beaches. The previously separate Yongyu, Sammok, and Sinbul Islands have been joined to Yeon ...

, and

, with Baengnyeongdo being South Korea's westernmost point. Key points of interest in Incheon include: *

Bupyeong Station Bupyeong station () is a subway station located in Bupyeong District, Incheon, South Korea. This station is on the Seoul Subway Line 1 and Incheon Subway Line 1. It is one of the busiest stations on the Incheon line because of its central loca ...

: A major transport hub where

and Incheon Subway Line intersect. Bupyeong is known for its vast underground shopping centre, featuring 1,408 stores over 31,692 square metres (as recorded by the National Archives of Korea). This centre was recognised by the American World Record Academy in 2014 for having the largest number of stores in the world. Above ground, Bupyeong offers a lively mix of restaurants, shops, and a Lotte Mart. * Jayu (Freedom) Park: Located near Incheon's port, this park is home to a statue of General

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He served with dis ...

and a memorial marking the centennial of U.S.-Korea relations. *

Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...

: Korea's only official Chinatown, situated across from Incheon Station, close to Jayu Park, offering a taste of Chinese culture and cuisine. * Incheon Bus Terminal Area: Centred around the city's bus terminal, this area also features a subway station and a performance venue. The bustling Rodeo Street in Guwol-dong is lined with restaurants, department stores, and shops. *

Wolmido Wolmido () is an island off the coast of Incheon, South Korea. It was connected to the mainland by a highway in 1989, and was later connected by a monorail which opened in late 2019. It is a weekend destination and tourist area, with restaurants ...

: A former military site at Green Beach, used during the Incheon Landing. It is now a popular tourist destination with a

boardwalk A boardwalk (alternatively board walk, boarded path, or promenade) is an elevated footpath, walkway, or causeway typically built with wooden planks, which functions as a type of low water bridge or small viaduct that enables pedestrians to ...

amusement park An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...

, and seafood restaurants. Ferries to Yeongjongdo and Jakyakdo depart from here. * Jakyakdo Island: A small island located between Wolmido and Yeongjongdo. Visitors can enjoy scenic walks, picnic spots, a restaurant, and seasonal accommodation. * Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall: This site commemorates the Incheon Landing with a plaza and museum displaying weapons and artefacts from the operation and the Korean War. * Incheon Dohobu Cheongsa: The former government complex of Incheon, dating back to at least the reign of King Sejong in the 15th century. It is located near Munhak Stadium. *

Ara Canal The Ara Canal or Gyeongin Ara Waterway () is a canal in South Korea linking the Han River to the Yellow Sea, bypassing the Korean Demilitarized Zone that the river's estuary lies in. It extends from the Seo-gu district in Incheon to the Gang ...

: A waterway linking the Han River to the Yellow Sea. The canal is bordered by parks and a popular bike path. * Korean-Chinese Cultural Centre: Built by the Jung-gu District, this centre promotes cultural exchange and understanding between Korea and China. * Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village: Created as part of a renovation project, this vibrant village is now a popular attraction for children and young visitors. * Baedari Secondhand Bookstore Alley: Historical space in Dongu-gu housing multiple bookstores. File:Korea-us100.jpg, Monument to 100 years of friendship between Korea and the US in Jayu Park File:Jayuwalkway.jpg, A walkway in Jayu Park File:Korea-Incheon-Chinatown-01.jpg, The only official Chinatown in South Korea File:Peking opera wall chinatown.jpg, Peking Opera wall Chinatown, Incheon, South Korea File:Korean-Chinese Cultural Center.jpg, Korean-Chinese cultural center Chinatown in South Korea File:Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village.jpg, Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village in Incheon in South Korea File:Incheon-port.jpg, Port of Incheon File:Incheon bridge 2009.jpg, Incheon Bridge File:Jakyakdo.jpg, The tiny island of Jakyakdo File:Walmido promenade.jpg, Wolmido promenade File:Seoul Incheon Airport (27833094934).jpg, Incheon International Airport File:SSG 랜더스 문학경기장 문학스타디움 전경 2024.jpg, Incheon Munhak Stadium File:인천버스터미널 택시타는곳.jpg, Lotte Department & Incheon Bus Terminal File:박태환수영장 2024.jpg, Park Tae-hwan, Park Taehwan Swimming Stadium File:SSG 랜더스 문학경기장(문학스타디움) 2024.jpg, Incheon Munhak Stadium (SSG Landers Baseball Team Home) File:인천로데오거리 스타벅스.jpg, Guwol Rodeo Street File:구월아시아드근린공원 환영의장 2023.jpg, Guwol Asiad Park at Night (2014 Asian Game Park) File:인천대공원남문 2023.jpg, Incheon Grand Park File:소래해넘이전망대 야경 2024.jpg, Sorae Bridge File:남동소래아트홀 야경 2 2024.jpg, Sorae Art Center & Halls

Notable people

*Lee Je-no, member of NCT (group), NCT and its subunit NCT Dream *Cho Mi-yeon, Miyeon, (G)I-dle *Hapkido Grand Master Han Bong-soo *Hangzoo, Rhythm Power *Han (musician), Han Ji-sung, Stray Kids *Kim Ryeo-wook, Super Junior *Hyoyeon, Kim Hyo-yeon, Girls' Generation *Choi Min-ho, Shinee *Kang Ki-young *Michaela Dietz, voice actress *Kim Gu-ra *Kim Nam-il, footballer *Cho Yong-hyung, footballer *Shin Ji, Koyote *Yoon Chae-kyung, April (band), April *Kang Hye-jung, actress *Kwon Nara, actress *Go Kyung-pyo, actor *Lee Sung-hyun, kickboxer *Choi Ji-man, baseball player (New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays) *Ku Hye-sun, actress *Hyolyn, Sistar *Roh Ji-hoon, singer *Ryu Hyun-jin, baseball player (Hanwha Eagles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays) *Park Cho-a, soloist and former member of AOA (band), AOA *Bang Min-ah, Girl's Day *Nam Ji-hyun (actress), Nam Ji-hyun *Kyung Soo-jin *Kim Young-kwang (actor), Kim Young-kwang *JinJoo Lee, DNCE *Ong Seong-wu, former member of Wanna One, actor and soloist *Yoo Seung-ho, actor *Lee Kang-in, footballer *Kim Sung-joo (entertainer), Kim Sung-joo, singer, actor, Uniq (band), UNIQ *Sung Dong-il, actor *Kim So-hee (singer, born 1999), Sohee, singer and member of Alice (South Korean girl group), Alice *Park Nam-choon *Kim Do-yeon (singer), Doyeon, singer, actress and member of Weki Meki and WJMK (group), WJMK *Young Kim *Hong Soo-hyun, actress *Peggy Gou, DJ *Wonpil, Kim Won-pil, singer-songwriter, keyboardist and member of Day6 *Do Han-se, rapper and member of Victon

International relations

Tianjin Water Park Tianjin and Incheon Friendship City Memorial Sculpture

Incheon is Sister city, twinned with: * Alexandria, Egypt (2000) * Anchorage, Alaska, Anchorage, United States (1986) * Banten, Indonesia (2009) * Burbank, California, Burbank, United States (1961) * Chongqing, China (2007) * Haiphong, Vietnam (1997) * Honolulu, United States (2003) * Kitakyushu, Japan (1988) * Kobe, Japan (2010) * Kolkata, India (2007) * Manila, Philippines (2008) * Mérida, Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico (2007) * Panama City, Panama (2000) * Philadelphia, United States (1983) * Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2009) * Seattle, United States * Shenyang, China (2014) * Taoyuan, Taiwan, Taoyuan, Taiwan (2009) * Tel Aviv, Israel (2000) *

, China (1993） * Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (2017) * Veneto, Italy (2010) * Vladivostok, Russia (2012) * Yekaterinburg, Russia (2009) * Gödöllő, Hungary (2023)

Notes

References

External links

*
National Institute of Biological Resources on Google Cultural Institute
{{Authority control Incheon, Seoul Metropolitan Area Special Cities and Metropolitan Cities of South Korea Port cities and towns in South Korea

History

Modern history

Major events

Education

Higher education

Climate

Economy

Transportation

Air

Sea

Buses

Trains

Subway

Free Economic Zone

New Songdo City

Yeongjong Island

Cheongna

Administrative divisions

Demographics

Sports

Points of interest

Notable people

International relations

See also

Notes

References

External links