Recently, I wanted to check out the new section of Incheon’s subway system – a portion of the city that hasn’t been accessible via subway until recently. You may recall that Incheon lengthened their subway on June 1st, so that was all I needed to head over and see what I could see.
One observation I made rather quickly was how few people were riding the subway through this newer part. What, do they not know about it yet? I thought. If I can figure out what the signs meant without speaking the language, the locals can too… It wasn’t until we got off the subway that a Korean subway official tried telling us…something… he struggled with English until we simply said ‘thanks’ and walked up the stairs towards Incheon Central Park.
Wow. Just. Wow. After a few minutes the Korean subway gentleman came up to street level and tried to talk some more. This time, we eventually figured out that the park would not be complete until Incheon’s grand-opening 80-day-long Global Fair and Festival, starting in August.
There’s a park back there… somewhere… it’s surrounded by a number of new buildings that aren’t yet completed. Since I have very few clues as to what these buildings are supposed to be, I’ll just show off the pictures.
Anyone want to give odds on whether all of the buildings / central park areas will be done by the beginning of the festival (August 7th)?
After our forgivingly brief excursion on this road through a construction zone, we hopped back on the subway and got off near Incheon’s City Hall area; usually they at least claim an area that’s already been built. We found Jungang Park to be quite a wonderful park with the usual decorations and attractions.
Jungang Park is located quite near Incheon’s City Hall, and very close to the subway station of the same name. While fairly large and welcoming, it’s broken up by the roads to expect in one of Incheon’s downtown areas. Going from one section of the park requires facing the traffic, though that’s not too much to ask.
Late spring / early summer means the flowers are in full bloom.
A few kids and one ajumma playing a game I’ve yet to hear about outside of Korea – combine soccer and volleyball and you have an idea.
I believe at this point we entered ‘John Wesley Park’ – why a John Wesley park in the middle of Incheon?
There was a sign (in Korean, not pictured) explaining the man’s virtues, with several stones where several of his immortal quotes are engraved in stone.
An interesting sight, and a reminder that no matter how much you travel around Korea, there’s almost always something unusual to see just around the corner.
Directions to Jungang Park: Take line 1 of the Seoul subway system to Bupyeong. Transfer to line 1 of the INCHEON subway system, then go to the Incheon City Hall station. Take exits 6, 7, 8, or 9 to street level and you’ll be surrounded by the park.
Directions to Incheon Central Park: Take line 1 of the Seoul subway system to Bupyeong. Transfer to line 1 of the INCHEON subway system, then go to the Incheon Central Park station, one stop before the International Business District terminus. Take exit 4 to street level and look left.
