Incheon's Open Port Area and Living Museum: What To See

Incheon, Korea has some really cool things to see and there are a number of them all in one place. You can easily see Incheon Chinatown, Fairytale Village, and Wolmi Island all in one day if you want to. Nestled between them though, is the quieter but very intriguing Open Port Area that is accessible right from the subway station but somehow very overlooked by most visitors.

Incheon's Open Port Area, Incheon, Korea

It’s easy to walk along this collection of historic buildings and think you just want to get to the Chinatown restaurants for some jjajangmyeon or over to the rainbow steps in Fairytale Village, but trust me, you should stop and take a gander in what the buildings have on offer to see.

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A Collection of Historical Buildings in Incheon

The Open Port area is a place that not only played a vital role in shaping the city as Korea’s first international port in the late 19th century but also witnessed a crucial moment in Korean War history. In September of 1950, General Douglas MacArthur led the daring Incheon Landing Operation, a move that shifted the balance in favor of South Korea and the United Nations forces.

Fast forward to today, and the Open Port area is a an ode to Korea’s past blending historical charm with modern influences. If you’re interested in history, the Open Port area is a great place to explore Incheon’s past specifically. Situated near Chinatown, it’s not only intriguing as it offers architectural styles from the late 1800s to see, but tells the stories of the area that really make visiting the other neighborhoods nearby better.

What To See In Incheon’s Open Port Area

The Open Port Area is easy to navigate. There’s a map of the buildings at the ends of the street where the buildings are lined up. Since the part of the area was created by bringing in various buildings from the area, you can basically building hop along Sinpo-ro 23 beon-gil and see everything.

Daebul Hotel Museum (대불호텔), Incheon Open Port Museum (인천개항박물관), Incheon, Korea

Daebul Hotel Museum (대불호텔) / Jung-gu Life History Museum (중구생활사전시관)

Daebul Hotel was Korea’s first western hotel. Built in 1901, today, you can step in to be transported back to Incheon in the 1960s and 1970s. There are three floors and you can see a retro movie theater, pub, and coffee house. If you’ve visited the Donuimun Museum Village in Seoul, it’s similar to that with spaces and facades created to relive the past.

Address: 101 Sinpo-ro 23 beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon (인천광역시 중구 신포로23번길 101)
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
Admission: Adults: W1,000; Teenagers: W700; Children: Free

Incheon Open Port Museum, Incheon, Korea

Incheon Post Office (인천우체국), Incheon, Korea

Incheon Open Port Museum (인천개항박물관)

Another striking building you’ll find is the former First Bank of Japan that now houses the Incheon Open Port Museum. The First Bank of Japan took charge of purchasing gold bars and alluvial gold produced in the Joseon Dynasty and collected marine taxes from merchants visiting Incheon Port. It’s a striking space with four exhibition halls.

Address: 89 Sinpo-ro 23 beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon (인천광역시 중구 신포로23번길 89)
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
Admission: Adults: W500, Children: Free

Incheon Open Port Museum (인천개항박물관), Incheon, Korea

Incheon Open Port Modern Architecture Museum (인천개항장 근대건축전시관)

Located in the former Incheon branch of Japan’s 18th Bank, step inside this building built in 1890 to find a collection of materials related to western modern architectural buildings that have been established in Incheon since the opening of the port.

You’ll immediately notice this building because the exterior is so striking with cement and sand stones. The vault and vault door have been kept intact which you can see along with four exhibition spaces.

Address: 77 Sinpo-ro 23 beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon (인천광역시 중구 신포로23번길 77)
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
Admission: Adults: W500; Children: Free

Incheon Art Platform (인천아트플랫폼), Incheon, Korea

Incheon Art Platform (인천아트플랫폼)

Walk along the historical architecture that now holds museums promoting the past of the area and walk just one street down to find a vibrant art area. This street is filled with restored historic buildings that now hold cultural complexes and art galleries.

Whenever you visit, stop in to see what exhibitions, performances, and workshops are being hosted. The main road through this area is almost always quiet when we’ve been, but step inside to find some fantastic installations.