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.
