Incheon holds a scene that is rare anywhere. A staircase with Qing China on the left and Japan on the right. Today you simply walk across that border.
The door that opened in 1883
Incheon port opened in 1883, following Busan in 1876 and Wonsan in 1880 Fact. Right after the opening, several countries’ ground was drawn side by side on this small hill. The 1883 treaty on the Japanese settlement established the Japanese concession, and the Qing and general foreign concessions followed the next year Fact. One neighbourhood ended up with several borders inside it.
A boundary left as steps
That boundary survives as the Qing-Japanese Concession Boundary Staircase. East of the steps was the Japanese concession, west the Qing, and following them uphill leads to Jayu Park, then called Manguk Park Fact. That is why this series calls Incheon the border that became a staircase. In most cities an old boundary survives only on maps; here you cross it with your feet Estimate.
A district full of firsts
The other thing that makes this district singular is how many Korean firsts happened here. Korea’s first Western-style hotel (Ep.5), first Western-style park (Ep.6), first railway (Ep.5) and jjajangmyeon (Ep.3) all began in this area Fact. It was the door the outside came through, so it was also where the new arrived first Estimate.
Why half a day
Starting from Incheon Station and walking the Gaehang Nuri-gil takes 3–4 hours Estimate. Many exhibition halls, like the Open Port Museum and the Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall, close on Mondays, so check the day first Fact. This series starts at the staircase.