If you want to live somewhere peaceful and quiet, then Incheon is the place for you! Although it is one of South Korea’s biggest cities it’s quiet, calm, and serene. Incheon isn’t a very popular tourist destination. It’s located close to Seoul and it tends to be hidden under the shadow of Seouls bright, vibrant atmosphere. Here are some the top reasons why you should move to Incheon – or at least visit.
Universities in Incheon
You have probably heard about South Korea’s relentless and hyper competitive education system. The good news is that if you are considering moving to South Korea to study, you are probably at least a university undergrad student. University is an entirely different matter than K-12 education. While it has its difficulties, it doesn’t even begin to compare. Coming to Incheon to pursue higher education is a decent option.
While Incheon National University and Inha University are major universities in the region. There are several campuses of international universities in the Songdo area of Incheon. There are four institutions located there; George Mason University, the University of Utah, The State University of New York (SUNY) and Ghent University. Yonsei University also has a satellite campus located there. In addition, you can also find many international organization’s research institutions located in Songdo, such as the Green Climate fund, Samsung biologics, Celltrion, and the UN.
Health facilities in Incheon
The leading hospitals in Incheon are state of the art. There are lots of hospitals in Incheon, but some of the best include; Gachon University Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea Hospital, Nassaret International Hospital and the Inha University Teaching Hospital. They have translators available for English, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian, with some having additional language options available.
You can also stay fit, thanks to Incheon’s many sports and health facilities. Every neighborhood has fitness facilities available. Where I live, I have seen a basketball court, public gym equipment, a running track, even a football field. All of these options are open for the public to use for free.
Shopping
Shopping in Incheon is great! With a mixture of traditional markets and department stores, the options are endless.
Places, such as Sinpo International Market and Incheon Complex Fish Market capture the historical feel of the city. Sinpo International Market is particularly traditional and with an underground shopping mall right next door, it is the perfect place to shop any time of year. The Incheon Complex Fish Market is one of the oldest wholesale fish markets in Incheon – and maybe in Korea. It is the premier place to get fresh seafood.
For cheap finds, you can’t forget to stop by the Bupyeong Station Underground Shopping mall. It is among the largest underground shopping centers in the world. It has over a thousand stores and more than 30 entryways and exits. You could find a variety of items from cosmetics to fashion and electronic gadgets, all at a discounted price.
If markets aren’t your thing – not to worry! Incheon has a lot of modern shopping malls. An upscale shopping mall in Songdo- NC Cube Canal Walk is the perfect place to go for some retail therapy. There is a canal that flows through the middle of the facility providing a breath of fresh air and a scenic atmosphere. Incheon also hosts several other state-of-the-art department stores such as the Hyundai Outlet, Triple street, Lotte Departmental Store, and the E-mart complex.
Landmarks
There are cultural and historical landmarks located all over the city of Incheon. If you are interested in Korean history then you definitely won’t be disappointed.
There are a decent number of museums and galleries that have either low or no entry fees. Some outstanding places worth a visit are the jjajangmyeon Museum, the Incheon City Museum, and the Incheon open port museum. All of which will give you a glimpse of how important a city Incheon has been throughout the long history of Korea.
Entertainment
There is an incredibly diverse and fun entertainment scene here in Incheon.
One of the most well-known is Paradise City. It is a resort complex with hotels, a casino, a theme park, spas, swimming pools, and a shopping arcade. There are a lot of activities you can do around the clock. It is a great place to rest both mind and body.
Another must-see Incheon destination is the Terminal 2 PR observatory. It is located on the 5th floor of the terminal with one side made of glass, making it easy to view the strip below. The PR zone enables you to take a glance at the past and future of the airport. While the VR zone enables you to virtually experience airplanes and the mystery of the universe.
One of my personal favorite Incheon activities is taking a day trip to Ganghwa Island. You can have a thrill-seeking day taking the cable car over and racing in a luge. A luge is a small go-cart that you can drive down the winding 1.8 km track located on the island. Luge racing is enough to warrant a trip over to the island. However, the island is also home to one of the oldest temples in Korea, a North Korea lookout point, multiple hiking spots, and probably much more.
The Sunset
Incheon has the mThe orange glow of sunsets in Incheon is one of my favorite parts of living here. Each sunset is prettier than the last. I enjoy sitting on the beach and watching as the sun disappears over the horizon. Places like Eurwangni beach and Masian beach are great places to sit and the last light of the day.
How to Get There
You can easily travel to Incheon from Seoul for a day trip. From Seoul station, you can take line one straight to Incheon station. The ride is only 1hour and 11 minutes.
Other parts of the city, such as Incheon terminal 2 and Paradise City, are also located about one hour outside of Seoul. They can be accessed from the airport railway line.
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