Incheon or Inchon
[key], city, Gyeonggi (Kyonggi) prov., NW South Korea, on the Yellow Sea
(or West Sea). The country's second largest port, Incheon has an ice-free
harbor (protected by a tidal basin) and is the port and commercial center
for Seoul. Incheon's economy is heavily dependent on shipping and the
transshipment of goods. Incheon is one of South Korea's major industrial
centers: iron, steel, coke, light metals, plate-glass, textiles, chemicals,
and lumber are among its manufactures. Fishing is also an important
industry. Large salt fields have been developed in the tidal flats off
Incheon. Increasing urbanization and subway and expressway links with
Seoul have made
Incheon and Seoul into one large urban region, and the city is the site of a
new international airport (2001) serving the area. The city was opened to
foreign trade in 1883. It was called Jinsen by the Japanese, who ruled Korea
from 1905 to 1945. During the Korean War, U.S. troops landed at Incheon
(Sept. 15, 1950) to relieve pressure on the Busan (Pusan) perimeter and to
launch the subsequent UN drive northward. Incheon has several universities,
including Inha Univ. The city was formerly called Chemulpo.
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