11/09/2012

Incheon Chinatown - China in Korea


Hi, Guys! 
I just start to post something again at my blog. but actually I need to dig something to post.
Actually it's kinda hard to find, but I will try to do this to give more information
and fun to all readers of my blog. 

It's a time to introduce another unique town to guide a travel to Seoul Metro Area.
That's why I will post here about Incheon Chinatown.


There is Incheon Station. It's the last station at Incheon bound of Seoul Metro Subway Line No.1,
located to Incheon Metropolitan City.


This is Chinatown gate in front of the exit gate of Incheon Station.
If you arrive there, just go out from the subway station and cross the road!
Then you may see this beautiful gate. That's it! Just go into this gate, 
Then Chinatown will welcome to you.

Incheon Chinatown is built in 1884 by some chinese immigrants 
from Shandong Province, Mainland China. They had been immigrated to
Incheon in the era of between the end Qing Dynasty and early R.O.C.
(Republic of China, under the president Chiang Kai Shek in Mainland)

Shandong Province of Mainland China is very close to west sea of South Korea.
That's why it's easy to come and go around between Shandong and Incheon.


Chinatown flags also welcome to you. lol


Incheon Chinatown is kinda larger area like Toronto's Chinatown.
You may refer to this street map for your tour. Enjoy it!


Wow, Chinese traditional clothes looks so gorgeous.
I wanna buy it to give her as a beautiful gift.


There is town council center building in Chinatown.
Exteriors of this building seems to be referred from traditional chinese architecture. 




You can feel the chinese culture and atmosphere in Incheon Chinatown.
Wow, Chinese Church Mission Center is located there! 

Actually, the detail atmosphere of Incheon Chinatown is totally different to
other chinatown in North America. Because.....

1. Chinatown in North America (New York, San Francisco and etc.) is built by 
Southern Chinese People whose came from Guangdong, Fujian and etc.
But Incheon Chinatown is more optimized for Northerner. So, Chinese people
in America speaks Cantonese but chinese people in Incheon, South Korea speaks
Mandarin and some of Shandong dialect. 

2. Chinatown business is not optimized well in Korea. A lot of 
mainland chinese immigrants came into Incheon Chinatown after the establishment of
P.R.C (People's Republic of China) in 1949, and they tried to corner the food market of
korea after the end of Korean War. The ex-president of Korea named Park Jeong Hee
decided to crack down the cornering of food market, That's why all of economical
activity of Chinese Community in Korea was under controlled and persecuted. 
Korean Government prohibited to owe all of real estate, any business model to Chinese
People except Restaurant until 1992. So, Business expanding in Korea's Chinatown is impossible,
A lot of Chinese Immigrants left Incheon Chinatown. But some chinese people still remain to 
open their own restaurant business to get paid. 


Chinatown Community Center. You can see the trademark of R.O.C
(Republic of China) government. They chinese still respect R.O.C government (Kuomintang Party)
but not for P.R.C government. (China Communist Party)


This is flag of R.O.C China. Actually some of Chinese Immigrants lives here has
the citizenship of R.O.C (Republic of China) before 1949, but it's not recognized
the present government of R.O.C (Taiwan). That's due to sad history of China.


There is Chinese School in Incheon Chinatown. They still keep their own traditional chinese cultures
and languages through the education by Chinese School.


There is Korea-China Cultural Exchange Center.
Some of Chinese traditional performance and event is held there.
If you are interested in Chinese Culture of Incheon Chinatown, Just visit!


All of Chinese people admires their own big master named Confucius.
(Kong-Zi, He was philosopher and politician)


There is a famous restaurant named GongHuaChun (공화춘 共和春).
A chef of this restaurant developed "Korean Style Soy Bean Paste Noodle" at first.
This noodle is also known as 'Jja jang myeon 짜장면.


Actually, This noodle is also originated from Chinese Soy Bean Paste Noodle
(Zha Jiang Mian 炸醬麵). This food is came from northern district of China
like Beijing, Shandong and Hebei Province. The taste between Korean Soy Paste
Noodle and Chinese Soy Paste Noodle has totally different taste even though this food
is originated from China. Because some of chinese chef re-made it to adapt for the tongue of
Korean People's Taste. So, Korean Customer was satisfied when it's adapted like that.

That's why I can say Jja jang myeon 짜장면 is a kinda korean cuisine
invented and reformed for Korean's tongue by chinese immigrants live in Incheon Chinatown.


How beautiful is the nightview of Incheon Chinatown?
Looks so attractive! I wanna go there again to eat some delicious 
Chinese food that is mixed with Korean fusion taste. 


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