Places in Korea: Incheon's Jayu Park
A place I always visit every time I go to Incheon is the beautiful Jayu Park. The park is built on a hill in central Incheon near the train station over looking Chinatown and provides a great view of the Incheon harbor. This park has a long and colorful history. The park was the first built in 1888 by western immigrants mainly Chinese, Russians, and Americans, and was named Manguk Park (park of many countries) and is credited with being the first western style park in Korea.
The park’s name changed to Jayu Park (Freedom Park) after the Korean War and a large statue of American General Douglas MacArthur was constructed at the summit of the park. The MacArthur statue is widely considered Incheon’s most famous tourist site.
However, recently the statue has been a point of some contention in Korea.
Civic groups in Incheon have complained that local police are wasting manpower in guarding a statue of General Douglas MacArthur, who successfully led the amphibious counter-attack by U.S.-led UN troops here during the Korean War.
Since 2002, Incheon police have been guarding the statue in the city’s Freedom Park for fear of vandalism. Anti-U.S. demonstrations took place in the the park in 2002 and 2003, according to the police.
Three officers have been detailed to guard the statue around the clock. No actual damage has been reported.
Civic groups in Incheon want the statue to be moved to another location so police will not waste time and energy on the mission.
Conservatives in Incheon disagreed. Incheon should feel proud having the statue here, said Han Il-tae, 75.
I don’t think the people in Incheon will ever move that statue. Generally people seem pretty happy to have it there because every time I have been to the park it has been filled with people hanging out, having a good time, and taking pictures of the statue.
Also located inside of Jayu Park is the Centennial Monument that commemorates the Amity and Trade Treaty signed between Korea and the U.S. on May 22, 1882. The monument was built one hundred years later in 1982. America actually has the longest continuous friendly relations with Korea since 1882. Longer than any other country.
Another thing I like about the park is that there always seems to be something going on there. Recently the park had their annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival included many traditional Korean music groups, plays, Turkish belly dancers (yeah I thought that was a weird thing to for a cherry blossom festival), a North Korean dance troupe, and a fire works display.
If in Incheon definitely stop by and check out this park and appreciate the great views from the summit. From the park you can see the bustling Incheon harbor right below you, in the distance you can see the bridge running across the bay to the new Incheon International Airport, Wolmi-do Island, and other scattered islands out in the Incheon Bay. Last but not least make sure you visit and pay your respects at the Big Mac statue; if it is still there that is.
I'm curious — in your travels and research have you ever come across a statue, or a tribute of any sort (building name, street or place name, portrait hanging anywhere) to General Matthew Ridgeway?
ROK owes him eqully in my opinion, he stabilized the front, revitalized the 8th Army, and stopped the Chinese offensive in the beginning of 1951 right before the relief of MacArthur (April 1951). Remember they had taken Seoul again briefly (Feb?) At that time many questioned if the ROK could be held against the Chinese counteroffensive, indeed at one point MacArthur was pessimistic and thought an evacuation might be necessary.
I asked about this subject on one of the other blogs a year or so ago, never got an answer. Somebody did tell me about this statue of MacArthur at the time, thanks for the pics.
I think one key to Ridgeway's success was his orchestration of the overwhelming use of firepower against the Chinese, both concentrated artillery and airpower. That could be one reason that he might not be deemed as worthy of tribute from the ROK as MacArthur.
I suppose with talk of moving this statue there won't be any enthusiasm for erecting any new one for Ridgeway. Rather than dynamiting it, or hiding it in a warehouse someday after the old folks are gone, I'd prefer to see it brought back to US, even "ransomed" if necessary.
Paul,
At the War Memorial in Seoul Ridgeway is honored there along with the other US Generals from the War along with the names of all the casaulties from the war from all the countries enshrined on a wall much like the Vietnam War memorial. MacArthur however still looms large in Korea over all the other US Generals because he defeated the Japanese during World War II bringing freedom to Korea plus he was extremely anti-communist and believed in the reunification of Korea at any cost which ultimately cost him his job.
Ridgeway is not remembered as fondly because he didn't believe in reunification of the country. Granted he did get 8th Army back in an offensive mode and recaptured much of the South Korean territory but he began the policy of holding the front lines and beginning peace talks at Panmunjom which two years later led to the cease fire and not reunification. Since he is not remembered as fondly as MacArthur the only tribute to him is at War Memorial in Seoul. I haven't see anything anywhere else in the country commemorating him.
The MacArthur statue in Incheon will never be removed. It is a major tourist attraction plus they have an entire huge museum in Incheon dedicated to MacArthur. I few fringe leftist college students financed by North Korea to cause trouble will not be able to remove that statue.
Very nice site. I was part of the Korean War with the 7th Infantry Division. We were part of the Inchon invasion and most of the Division got their baptism of fire at Seoul. From there we went to Pusan and back on ships to North Korea and up to the Yalu River. Then the withdrawal at Hamnung-Hamhung and back to slugging it out again.
Keep up the good work.
RZ