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Incheon’s wealth of history finds its roots dating back to the Neolithic
Period. It has held positions of importance in relation to the United
Nations efforts and international sports and economic projects.
Recognized to be a separate jurisdiction from Seoul, this bustling
metropolitan city still recognizes the preserved areas of historical
significance to the development of the city and its people.
So if it’s a tour of Incheon’s history you ‘d like to take, we recommend
the following spots to rank high on your itinerary:
1. Neungheodaeji Park
194-54, Ongnyeon-dong, Yeonsu-gu
 Once used as a ferry dock by government envoys who traveled to China
between 372, with the formation of diplomatic ties between the Baekje
Dynasty and East China, Neungheodae has experienced vast development as
a park in the years that followed.
While in olden times, the ferry dock used to be an observation and
farewell post turned toward the river, today, it is part of a bustling
downtown area, apartment complexes and amusement parks having been
introduced into the area. Development of the park was particularly
stepped up after the 1988 Olympic Games which was held in Seoul.
In celebration of the event, the City of Incheon constructed a new
pavilion, a pond, promenade lanes and park benches in addition to the
gambrel roofed guest house. A 7.5m-high artificial tiered waterfall was
built just below the pavilion. More than 5,000 trees and shrubs,
including pine trees, azaleas and forsythias, were planted around it to
offer the site as a recreational spot for local residents near the sea.
2. Yonggungsa Temple
667, Unnam-dong, Jung-gu
 Located at the northeastern foot of Mt. Baegunsan in Yeongjongdo Island,
the Yonggungsa Temple was founded in 670 by Wonhyo, an illustrious
Buddhist monk from the Silla Era. It was later expanded by Regent
Heungseon Daewon-gun, father of King Gojong, and given its present name
in 1854.
Various interesting structures maybe found within the temple grounds
such as the Bodhisattva Hall, the Hall of the Dragon King which is a
residential hall for Buddhist monks, and a recently erected 11m-high
statue of Maitreya.
The Bodhisattva Hall is a building with single-layered eaves and a
gambrel roof. On four pillars are plaques with verses that were hand
inscribed by Kim Gyu-jin, a famed Joseon-Era calligrapher. The living
quarters also feature single-layered eaves and gambrel roof. The
Temple’s name, as written on the hanging board across the façade, was
placed there by the Regent Daewon-gun himself.
 3. Incheon Hyanggyo
117, Gwangyo-dong, Nam-gu
Hyanggyo served two primary functions during the Joseon Era in Korea:
that of a shrine for Confucius and other Korean and Chinese sages, and
that of a regional educational institution.
When exactly Incheon’s Hyanggyo was established is not known. It has
however, been presumed by some factions that that the place was built
sometime before the reign of King Sejo. Indeed, passages relevant to the
expansion of the Hyanggyo have been found in the contemporary
compendium, the Donggugyeojiseungnam, on chapters discussing the human
geography of the Joseon era.
The Hyanggyo’s main features include the Main Shrine where Confucius’
memorial tablet is placed; the Eastern and Western Shrines, where the
tablets for Korean and Chinese sages are kept; and the Eastern and
Western Quarters, the residence for students. Except for Myeongnyundang
Hall, which has a hipped-and-gabled roof, all the other buildings are
topped with gambrel roofs.
4. Yong-dong Great Well
90-13, Inhyeon-dong, Jung-gu
What started out as a natural pond with clean, sweet water took
recognition and was transformed into the Great Well of Yong-dong in the
year 1883. Before the introduction of the modern tap water, residents of
Incheon obtained their daily water supply from the pond.
The inside of the well is built by pieces of both natural and carved
stones stacked up in a circular pattern. The upper part, exposed above
ground, is completed with a concrete pipe.
The hexagonal pavilion with a Korean-style tiled roof was built in 1967
to protect the well. The writing in Chinese characters on the hanging
board is by Park Se-rim, a famous calligrapher from the Incheon area.
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