Jayu Park, Incheon

The whole of Eungbongsan hill above Incheon Port is Jayu Park ("Freedom Park"). Laid out in 1888 by the foreign residents who settled here a few years after the port opened, it was Korea's first Western-style park. Its successive names, from the International Park to the West Park, Manguk Park and finally Jayu Park, trace Incheon's history from the open-port era to the Korean War. It sits directly above Chinatown, so the two are easy to combine.

History: from International Park to Freedom Park

After Incheon Port opened in 1883, foreign concessions for several countries were established here. The park opened in 1888 under the management of the foreign residents' council, and people called it Gakguk-gongwon, the "park of all nations". As Japanese power grew, the foreign concessions were abolished in 1914, management passed to the Incheon city authorities, and it was renamed the West Park. After the March First Movement of 1919, the founding of the Hanseong Provisional Government is said to have been proclaimed here.

After liberation it was called Manguk Park, and more than half of it was destroyed during the Korean War. On 15 September 1957, the seventh anniversary of the Incheon Landing, a statue of General Douglas MacArthur, who commanded the operation, was unveiled, and the park took its present name.

What to see

• Summit plaza: from the plaza near the MacArthur statue you look over Incheon, the port, Wolmido and the Yellow Sea. It is known for sunsets and night views of the harbour, and the port lights seen late at night have long made it a favourite spot for couples.
• Korea–US centennial monument: erected on the summit in 1982 to mark 100 years since the 1882 treaty of amity and commerce between Joseon and the United States.
• Seokjeongnu and Yeonojeong pavilions: traditional pavilions in the park, good resting points on a walk through the woods.
• Jemulpo Club: at the southern foot of the park, built in 1901 as a social club for Incheon's foreign residents and now a cultural heritage site of Incheon.
• Cherry blossom paths: every April the roads up to the park are lined with blossom and a cherry blossom festival is held.
• Small zoo and memorial: the park has a small zoo and an octagonal pavilion, and a memorial to the student volunteers who fought in the Korean War.

Nearby

• Incheon Chinatown: right below the park, the Chinese-Korean quarter famous for its restaurants and for jajangmyeon, the black-bean noodle dish. Easy to walk together with the park.
• Wolmido: the island you see from the summit, with a seaside promenade and amusement rides, about 10 minutes by car.
• Incheon open-port streets: below the south side of the park, old bank and warehouse buildings show the port town of the late 19th century.

Tripto tips

• Access: always open and free. There is a car park, but it gets busy at weekends.
• Getting there: from Incheon Station on Line 1, walk through the Chinatown lanes and up the hill, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Time needed: an hour for a loop of the park and the summit plaza; with Chinatown and the open-port streets, allow half a day.
• Best time: April blossom season and sunset. The paths are uphill, so wear comfortable shoes.