Incheon, Korea
I finally made my way to the Far East.
Of course I have spent years in Southeast Asia.
But I feel like Korea and Japan are the far, Far East.
Forget about being far eastern Asia on the map. Being here steps one into the exotic, the different, a heavily layered culture rich with cutesy signs, adorable little cartoons and chuckle-worthy audio messages around town.
I expect to turn to my left on the subway and see Pokemon waving and smiling.
But Incheon is not just a life-sized version of an anime cartoon.
To date, this is the most “across the board”, heavily-infused culture I’ve observed during world travels.
Korean culture is meticulous in its detail. You will never *not* feel like you’re in Korea. Incheon is no exception.
From signs, to light posts, to buses, to crosswalks, to 7-11’s, to schools, everything here is 100% Korean.
Spending 5 minutes in the place instantly makes one realize: you’re in a far different country than you just left.
Almost every single driver waits for you to cross the street entirely here before even attempting to turn. From the split second you enter the crosswalk until stepping on to the sidewalk, literally, the driver does not move. I’ve not seen anything like it save 90 year old driving ladies back in the States who shouldn’t be driving, anyway.
I have heard 2 car horns over 6 days. Drivers are polite to a fault.
The Songdo District – where Kelli and I live for now – is a smart city. The town is technologically advanced, a seeming city of the future.
Songdo uses a pneumatic waste disposal strategy. Basically, I toss the garbage bag into a pipe which sucks it down underground for sorting and disposal. Imagine the ghost containment unit from “Ghostbusters” for a semi-accurate visual. Unlock the unit with a key, drop garbage into the pipe, shut and lock the door as it migrates into the subterranean lair.
Yeah; we’re “The Jetsons”.
I recorded the process here on YouTube:
Songdo Pneumatic Waste Disposal System
Check out my first impressions of Incheon, Korea.
Immaculately Clean
I could eat out of the sewer.
Ok; minus that reach, Incheon is impossibly clean.
I saw one cigarette butt after walking around town for 3 hours yesterday. Quite literally, that was the extent of “garbage” strewn about.
Locals and workers keep the city clean.
Roads, sidewalks and green spaces are spotless.
Technologically Advanced
Incheon feels like a futuristic city from a technological standpoint.
Every single traffic light in town includes:
- a crosswalk
- pedestrian signals on both sides
- a 20 second countdown (in most cases; sometimes less time at various intersections)
I mentioned the pneumatic trash system in our small district which feels trippy to think about. Imagine dropping trash down a tube? Imagine no rubbish bins, pick ups, scavengers tearing through trash, paper bags tumbling in the breeze, stinky produce, rotting meats or any headaches associated with traditional garbage collection?
Incheon erases many mindless problems with its practically-applied tech.
Cheap and Brilliant Subway
We rode for 90 minutes on the subway for $1 USD per person.
Incheon, Korea
Before you make the mistake of believing ya get what ya pay for, this is not the NYC subway system, folks (Sorry to my tri-state friends and fam).
The Incheon subway and rail system is squeaky clean, efficient, intuitive and intelligently designed. Kelli and I found our way around stations and trains easily as native English speakers.
The fact that it’s dirt cheap makes this subway system one of the world’s best.
Low Population in Songdo But Built for Scale
Note; this section only applies to the small Songdo section of town as the whole of Incheon is the 3rd most populous city in Korea after Seoul and Busan.
Walking around Songdo gives one “I Am Legend” vibes, minus the murderous zombies.
Songdo, Korea
Built for scale, this shiny, pristine section of the city can handle many folks but has yet to see the massive influx of business expected many years ago.
I ain’t mad at the town, though. I just came from Saigon, one of the most hectic, congested cities on planet earth. Contrast rocks.
I have Songdo pretty much all to myself.
Little to no foot and auto traffic, huge sidewalks, a rich collection of green space including parks, seaside strolls and walks through the peaceful business district make for a calm, serene experience.
Warning or Caution Signs Everywhere
Korea likes informing its citizens, expats and tourists alike.
Warning or caution signs pop up everywhere.
I mean it.
Bus stop shelters post “Watch Out” signs in case you might walk directly into a bus stop shelter.
Apparently, folks here tend to make stairs and paths their own personal Slip n’ Slides because a high ratio of stairwells and park paths come with a caution sign for slipping and/or sliding hazards.
Nothing is left to the imagination either. Bonus points on clarity.
I spied a panic button in the park. The button joined with a mural of a little kid being approached by a sinister man dressed like a burglar baby steps button pressers through the process of pressing said button, contacting dispatchers and police arriving to apprehend the criminal.
Conclusion
We plan to explore a bunch more.
Keep an eye out for more Incheon updates on Blogging From Paradise and through my social media.
