GAMEON'ASIA 2015, March 25-27, 2015, Ghent University, Incheon, South-Korea, Conference Venue

Conference Location

Incheon literally 'kind river', formerly romanized as Inchon, and officially the Incheon Metropolitan City, is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seoul and Gyeonggi to the east. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.9 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan.

Click on the above Map for a closer look

While people have inhabited the area since the New Stone Age, the city's growth was assured in modern times with the development of its port due to its natural advantages as a coastal city and its proximity to the South Korean capital. It is part of the Seoul Capital Area, along with Seoul itself and Gyeonggi Province, forming the world's third largest metropolitan area by population.
Incheon has since led the economic development of Korea by opening its port to the outside world, ushering in the modernization of Korea as a center of industrialization. In 2003, the city was designated as Korea’s first free economic zone. Since then, large local companies and global enterprises have increasingly invested in the Incheon Free Economic Zone, including Samsung which chose Songdo International City as its new investment destination for its bio industry.

As an international city, Incheon has held numerous large scale international conferences, such as the Incheon Global Fair & Festival in 2009. The 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 was also held in Incheon on September 19, 2014. Incheon has established itself as a major transportation hub in northeast Asia with the world renowned Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port. The city is also home to the Green Climate Fund, an international organization addressing environmental issues.

History

The first historical record of the Incheon area dates back to 475 AD. during the reign of King Jangsu of Goguryeo by the name of "Michuhol," which is supposed to be located on today's Munhak Hill . The area underwent several name changes with successive kingdoms and dynasties. In Goryeo era, Incheon was called Gyeongwon or Inju. The current name was established in 1413. Later, Incheon County became Incheon Metropolitan Prefecture (dohobu). Old Incheon consisted of today's southern Incheon (i.e. Jung-gu, Dong-gu, Nam-gu, Yeonsu-gu, and Namdong-gu) and northern part of Siheung City. The city centre was Gwangyo-dong, where the prefecture office and the local academy (hyanggyo) were located. The "original" two remaining buildings of the Incheon prefecture office are located in Munhak Elementary School, while the newly built (in 2001) prefecture office buildings are right across from Munhak Baseball Stadium.

However, the name Jemulpo was not widely used until the opening of the port in 1883. After the opening of the Incheon port, the city centre moved from Gwangyo to Jemulpo. Today, either Jemulpo or Gwangyo-dong is considered "Deep Incheon). It was renamed as "Jinsen" during Japanese rule in Korean peninsula.
Incheon was the site of the Battle of Chemulpo Bay, where the first shots of the Russo-Japanese War were fired. In 1914, the Japanese colonial government merged outer parts of old Incheon (including the former centre of Gwangyo) with Bupyeong County, forming Bucheon County. Through 1936 and 1940, some part of Bucheon County was recombined into Incheon City, by which some part of "old" Bupyeong was annexed into Incheon.

Incheon was occupied by North Korean troops in 4 September 1950. On September 15, 1950, during the Korean War, Incheon was the site of the Battle of Inchon, when United States troops landed to relieve pressure on the Pusan Perimeter and to launch a United Nations offensive northward. The result was a decisive UN victory and it was recaptured in 19 September 1950. The USS Inchon was named after the tide-turning battle that ensued.
Incheon was originally part of Gyeonggi Province, but was granted Directly Governed (now Metropolitan) City status on July 1, 1981; the city officially separated from the province. In 1989, neighbouring islands and Gyeyang township of Gimpo County[5] were ceded to Incheon and in 1995 Geomdan township of Gimpo Country was annexed to Incheon Metropolitan City.
Incheon was known as Inchon prior to South Korea's adoption of a new Romanization system in 2000.

Ghent University Global Campus
Songdo Global University Campus
187 Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Korea

By Plane

When arriving by plane you will do so at Incheon International Airport. From there you can take a bus, taxi or subway to Incheon itself. (see below)

How to get from Incheon International Airport to SGUC
1) Take the Korean Air limousine bus (#6707) at Gate 4B on the first floor
- Fare: 7,000 Korean won (adults), 4,500 Korean won (children aged 6-12)
- Time of departure: Every hour from 5:00-22:00 (taking approx. 40 minutes)
- Bus route: Gate 4B, Incheon International Airport → Hyatt Hotel → Songdo Park Hotel → Songdo
Bridge Hotel → Songdo Sheraton Hotel
2) Get off at Songdo Sheraton Hotel and go to SGUC by taxi or bus
▪ By taxi
- Travel time: 5 minutes
- Fares: 4,000₩
▪ By bus
Take Bus #91 in front of The Sharp Apartment opposite Sheraton Hotel
- Travel time: 20 minutes
- Fares: 700₩

By Metro

How to get from Seoul to SGUC
Take Exit #1 of the Campus Town Station on Incheon Subway Line 1, take Bus #91 and get off at the Songdo Global University bus stop

By Bus

Get off at Songdo Sheraton Hotel and go to SGUC by bus
▪ By taxi
- Travel time: 5 minutes
- Fares: 4,000₩
▪ By bus
Take Bus #91 in front of The Sharp Apartment opposite Sheraton Hotel
- Travel time: 20 minutes
- Fares: 700₩

By Taxi

Get off at Songdo Sheraton Hotel and go to SGUC by taxi
▪ By taxi
- Travel time: 5 minutes
- Fares: 4,000₩

By Car

- Exit at Incheon IC (Gyeongin Expressway #1) Go in the direction toward Seoul/Mokdong → Take Gyeongin Expressway #1 → Exit at Incheon IC (end of Gyeongin Expressway #1) → Turn left (toward the Songdo New City) → Keep going straight (coastal road) → Cross the Songdo Bridge #1 → Turn left toward the Techno Park IT Center → Turn right in front of Yonsei University → Turn right at the POSCO R&D Center → Reach the Songdo Global University Campus
- Exit at Munhak IC (Gyeongin Expressway #2) Take Seoul Ring Expressway toward Anyang/Gwangmyeong → Take Gyeongin Expressway #2 → Exit at Munhak IC (toward Munhak Stadium) → Turn right at the Munhak Stadium Intersection → Go straight through the Yeonsu Boulevard (toward the Songdo New City) → Go straight through the underpass → Go straight through the overpass (with E-Mart seen on the right) → Keep going straight (coastal road) → Cross the Songdo Bridge #1 → Turn left toward the Techno Park IT Center → Turn right in front of Yonsei University → Turn right at the POSCO R&D Center → Reach the Songdo Global University Campus
- Exit at Mulwang TG (Gyeongin Expressway #3) Take Seoul Ring Expressway → Take Gyeongin Expressway #3 → Go to Mulwang TG → Go to Gojan TG → Exit toward the Songdo International City → Turn left under Songdo Bridge #1 toward the Campus Town Station → Turn left toward the Techno Park IT Center → Turn right in front of Yonsei University → Turn left at the POSCO R&D Center → Reach the Songdo Global University Campus