Incheon
Coordinates: 37°29′N 126°38′E / 37.483°N 126.633°E / 37.483; 126.633
Incheon 인천 仁川 |
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— Metropolitan City — | ||
Korean name transcription(s) | ||
• Hangul | 인천광역시 | |
• Hanja | 仁川廣域市 | |
• Revised Romanization | Incheon Gwang-yeoksi | |
• McCune-Reischauer | Inch'ŏn Kwang'yŏkshi | |
Korean name short form transcription(s) | ||
• Hangul | 인천 | |
• Revised Romanization | Incheon | |
• McCune-Reischauer | Inch'ŏn | |
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Coordinates: 37°29′N 126°38′E / 37.483°N 126.633°E / 37.483; 126.633 | ||
Country | South Korea | |
Region | Sudogwon | |
Founded | 1883 as Chemulpo | |
Subdivisions |
List
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Government | ||
• Type | Metropolitan City | |
• Mayor | Song Young-gil | |
• Council Chairman | Ryu Su-yong | |
Area | ||
• Total | 1,029.43 km2 (397.47 sq mi) | |
Population (2011) | ||
• Total | 2,710,579 | |
• Density | 2,600/km2 (6,800/sq mi) | |
Time zone | Korea Standard Time (UTC+9) | |
Dialect | Seoul | |
Flower | Rose | |
Tree | Tulip tree | |
Bird | Crane | |
Website | incheon.go.kr (English) |
The Incheon Metropolitan City (인천, 仁川, literally 'wise river' - formerly romanized as Inchon; named Jinsen during the time of Japanese rule) is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City. While people have inhabited the area from the New Stone Age, the city’s growth was assured in modern times with the development of its port due to its natural advantages as a coastal city.
Incheon has since led the economic development of Korea by opening its port to the outside world, issuing in the modernization of Korea as a center of industrialization. In 2003, the city was designated as Korea’s first free economic zone. Since then, large local companies and global enterprises have increasingly invested in Incheon Free Economic Zone, including Samsung which chose Songdo International City as its new investment destination for its bio industry.
As an international city, Incheon has held numerous large scale international conferences, such as the Incheon Global Fair & Festival in 2009. The 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 will also be held in Incheon from September 19, 2014. Incheon has established itself as a major transportation hub in northeast Asia with the world renowned Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port.
Read more about Incheon: History, Major Events, Education, Climate, Free Economic Zone, Administrative Divisions, Sports, Points of Interest, People From Incheon, Sister Cities