Incheon's Three Faces Compared: Modern Architecture of the Open Port, the Future City of Songdo Central Park and Ganghwa's Thousand-Year-Old Jeondeungsa Temple
From brick buildings of the 1883 port opening to a skyscraper park plied by water taxis and the Samnangseong forest paths steeped in the Dangun myth
Comparison table at a glance
| Area | Signature sights | Era atmosphere | Recommended travel style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jung-gu Open Port area | Open Port Street, Former Incheon Post Office, Jayu Park | Modern port-opening era, 1880s–1920s | Car-free on subway Line 1, retro architecture snapshots |
| Songdo area, Yeonsu-gu | Songdo Central Park | Cutting-edge 21st-century waterfront city of the future | Couples' night-view dates, Moon Boats, stroller picnics |
| Southern Ganghwa-gun | Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa (Samnangseong) | A thousand-year-old temple spanning the Three Kingdoms period to the Joseon royal court | Drives with parents, mountain temple strolls |
| Namdong-gu coastal area | Sorae Port | Traditional West Coast fish market port | Seasonal seafood feasts linked with the eco-wetlands |
1. A Street Where Time Stopped in the 19th-Century Port-Opening Era: Open Port Street & the Former Incheon Post Office, Jayu Park
After Jemulpo opened as a port in 1883, foreign concessions (foreign residential areas), banks and trading companies moved into what is now Open Port Street in Jung-gu, Incheon, making the whole neighborhood a roofless museum of modern architecture. Walk down the museum street lined with the former branch buildings of Japan's 1st, 18th and 58th Banks, and the antique corner entrance of the 'Former Incheon Post Office,' a Renaissance-style brick building built in 1923, catches your eye.
From Open Port Street, climb the hill past Hongyemun Gate and up the Jemulpo Club stairs to reach Jayu Park, Korea's first Western-style modern park. In the shade of plane and cherry trees more than 100 years old, look down at the cranes of Incheon Port and the sea, and soak up the atmosphere of a port-opening city.
Gaehangjang (Open Port Area) Street · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip Buy the combined ticket covering the Incheon Open Port Museum, the Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall and other sites on Open Port Street, and you can tour the indoor exhibits too at a bargain.
2. A Waterfront City of the Future, a Leap Across a Hundred Years: Songdo Central Park
Travel by car or subway from the red-brick alleys of the Open Port, and Songdo International City unfolds as if you'd been teleported into the city of the future in a sci-fi movie. At its center, Songdo Central Park is a premier park where geometric skyscrapers and a traditional hanok village form a dramatic contrast along a 1.8 km seawater canal created by drawing in water from the sea.
By day, cruise the canal on a water taxi or family boat; after sunset, ride a Moon Boat glowing with crescent-shaped lights or walk the waterside promenade. The dazzling media facades of the skyscraper forest and the eave lights of Gyeongwonjae, a hanok hotel, flickering on the water create the most exotic night view in the Seoul metropolitan area.
Songdo Central Park · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip Exit 3 of Central Park Station on Incheon Line 1 connects directly to the boathouse (East Boathouse) and the waterside promenade, so it's very easy to reach without a car.
3. Korea's Oldest Surviving Temple, Embraced by the Walls of Samnangseong: Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa
If you want deep history and the quiet of the forest, away from buildings and ports, it's time to cross Chojidaegyo Bridge to Jeondeungsa at the southern tip of Ganghwado Island. Set within the walls of Samnangseong Fortress (Jeongjoksanseong), which legend says was built by the three sons of Dangun, Jeondeungsa is Korea's oldest surviving temple, founded during the reign of King Sosurim of Goguryeo, and a temple of national protection that holds the history of the Jeongjoksan Archive, where the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were stored.
Pass through the fortress gates (South Gate, East Gate) and climb the forest path of massive pines and ginkgos to find Daeungbojeon Hall (a Treasure), famous for the mysterious carved naked-woman figures (nabusang) holding up the roof at the four corners of its eaves. Rest over a cup of jujube tea at 'Jungnim Dawon,' the traditional teahouse inside the temple, and worldly worries quietly settle.
Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip At Jeondeungsa, parking at the 'East Gate parking lot' rather than the South Gate lot means a shorter steep climb, which makes the walk up a little easier with parents or kids.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q. Can you combine Open Port Street and Songdo Central Park in one day by public transportation?
Yes. Tour Open Port Street and Jayu Park near Incheon Station by day, then take the Suin-Bundang Line (Sinpo or Incheon Station → transfer at Woninjae Station) and Incheon Line 1 to Central Park Station, and you can fully enjoy the evening night views.
Q. Can you ride the Moon Boat (Dal Boat) at Songdo Central Park on the spot without a reservation?
On weekdays, on-site tickets are easy to get, but on weekends the line grows long from sunset into the night, so it's best to put your name on the waitlist at the East Boathouse kiosk as soon as you arrive at the park and then go for a walk.
Q. What should I see at Jeondeungsa in Ganghwa?
Walk up from the East or South Gate, tour Daeungbojeon Hall, Yaksajeon Hall and the site of the Jeongjoksan Archive, and take a break with a cup of tea at Jungnim Dawon.
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