What is Incheon City's Registered Cultural Heritage No. 1? ... The 1901-built Songhakdong Old Market Official Residence

No. 2 is the 130-year-old 'Jayugongwon Platanus'
Suin Line Narrow Gauge Passenger Car and Narrow Gauge Steam Locomotives No. 3 and 4 Registered

Songhak-dong Former Incheon Mayor's Official Residence
[Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The 'Songhak-dong Old Mayor's Residence' has been designated as Incheon City's first registered cultural heritage.

The city announced on the 9th that, after expert on-site investigations and review by the Cultural Heritage Committee targeting modern cultural assets over 50 years old, four sites including the Songhak-dong Old Mayor's Residence in Jung-gu have been officially registered as Incheon City registered cultural heritage.

This is the first time Incheon City has selected registered cultural heritage since the related system was implemented in December 2019.

The Songhak-dong Old Mayor's Residence, the first registered cultural heritage, was built in 1901 as a villa for a Japanese businessman but was used as a Western-style restaurant called 'Dongyangjang' and a social club called 'Songhakjang' after liberation.

In 1966, the existing building was reconstructed and was used by 17 mayors, including the first elected mayor Choi Gi-seon. From 2001 until last year, it was utilized as the city's historical archive.

Last month, marking 40 years since Incheon separated from Gyeonggi Province, the city opened the Songhak-dong Old Mayor's Residence to the public.

After a public naming contest, the mayor's residence was given the new name 'Incheon Citizen Ae(jib)'. The main building operates as a citizen rest area with exhibition rooms, a video room, and a book lounge, while the management building serves as an observatory and shared kitchen, and the outdoor garden functions as a small wedding hall and a small concert hall, forming a complex historical and cultural space.

The second registered cultural heritage is the 'Freedom Park Platanus', estimated to be over 130 years old. It is the oldest existing Platanus tree in Korea and was selected as an Incheon City registered cultural heritage considering its symbolic value as a natural heritage that has steadfastly endured through the opening of the port and the Incheon Landing Operation's bombardments.

Incheon City Registered Cultural Heritage
Photo by Incheon City

The third registered heritage is the 'Suin Line Narrow-Gauge Passenger Car', which was manufactured in 1969 at the Incheon Workshop, Korea's first railway factory, and operated on the Suin Line. After service ended in 1995, it was restored through preservation efforts in 2018.

The fourth registered heritage, the 'Narrow-Gauge Steam Locomotive', is estimated to have been assembled in 1952 at the Suwon Locomotive Office and operated on the Suin Line until 1978. After maintenance in 2008, it is displayed near Sorae Station and Sorae Railroad Bridge, where it was originally operated.

An Incheon City official stated, "Since the introduction of the city and provincial registered cultural heritage system in 2019, we have played a leading role in establishing the registered cultural heritage system, second only to Seoul," and added, "We will actively promote the publicity, discovery, and utilization projects of registered cultural heritage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.