Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Decisions on where to live in Gyeonggi-do tend to be based on proximity to work and
budget, since a reasonable lifestyle can be had in any one of the province's major centers.
Expatriates who earn their money in Seoul but prefer to reside somewhere slightly more
sedate have flocked to the well-designed newer districts of bedroom communities like
Songdo, Goyang, and Seongnam, while those whose workplaces are in Incheon or Suwon
often prefer living in those cities rather than “reverse commuting” from Seoul, where hous-
ing tends to be far more expensive—especially as city authorities gear up to create more in-
ternational business zones and expatriate-friendly facilities. While much of the foreign pop-
ulation of Uijeongbu and Dongducheon isn't there by choice—the two communities repres-
ent one of the linchpins of the U.S. military presence in South Korea—they have attracted a
number of civilian residents who appreciate their relatively diverse populations and close-
ness to countryside.
A heaving harbor town of nearly three million, Incheon is South Korea's third-largest
city. Its metropolitan city status means it's administered independently from surrounding
Gyeonggi-do, although in practice it's still very much a part of the province and the greater
Seoul area. Its prime position on the Yellow Sea coast means it's been an important port for
centuries, and it quickly became home to some of Korea's earliest foreign settlements when
the country emerged from a long spell of isolation in the late 19th century.
Its position as an international gateway was restored by the opening of the country's
main airport here in 2001, and should be burnished further by a purpose-built international
leisure and business zone taking shape on the city's waterfront.
The districts nearest the harbor—Jung-gu, Dong-gu, and Yeonsu-gu—form the heart of
old Incheon, a lively but crowded tangle of relatively low-rise buildings that extend from
the coast to the hilltop enclave of Jayu Park. The city's old Chinatown and foreign quarter,
which contains several noteworthy turn-of-the-20th-century buildings, are also located near
the waterfront and lend the area some historic ambience, but most expatriates live in the
more affluent eastern Bupyeong-gu. Strategically located at the intersection of the Seoul
and Incheon subway lines, Bupyeong is a relatively new and rapidly developing area of
wide roads and orderly apartment blocks, prized for its convenience and abundance of fa-
cilities, which include the city's largest gym, a lively nightlife district, and a massive under-
