The Academy of Chinese Studies at Incheon National University (Director: Jang Jung-a) conducted a field trip program to Incheon Chinatown on the morning of May 12 for approximately 30 participants of the “2025 INChina Civic Academy”, co-organized with the Incheon Institute (INChina Forum) and the Incheon Lifelong Education Promotion Agency.

Vice Director Lee Jung-hee of the Academy of Chinese Studies delivered a lecture at the Korean Modern Literature Museum and then guided the participants through Incheon Chinatown. Vice Director Lee led the tour by comparing black-and-white photographs taken by the Incheon Police Station in 1943 during the incident involving Il-donghoe, an anti-Japanese organization of ethnic Chinese in Incheon, with the current state of the same locations more than 80 years later. The tour followed this route: Daebul Hotel Exhibition Hall (formerly the Chinese restaurant Jung-hwa-ru) → Stairway at the Qing-Japan Concession Border → Jeon Seo-gyeong’s Residence → Former Deokheungho General Store Building → Jajangmyeon Museum → Olympus Hotel (site of the former British Consulate in Incheon).

In particular, this field trip program drew greater attention through the use of the newly released Incheon Chinatown map jointly created by the Academy of Chinese Studies and students of Incheon National University. The Academy launched the Incheon Chinatown Map Production Team with INU students in October 2022 and carried out the project for about two and a half years, releasing the physical version of the map to the public for the first time through this program.

Students from the Department of Design, Department of Fine Arts, and Department of Chinese Language and Culture at Incheon National University participated in the project. Professor Lee Jung-hee of the Academy of Chinese Studies supervised the students, while the Academy’s professors handled the Chinese translations. The map released on this day was published not only in Korean, but also in Traditional Chinese, used in regions such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, and Simplified Chinese, used in mainland China.

Moon Kyung-sook, a citizen who participated in the field trip, said, “Through this on-site tour, walking through the historical spaces of the past gave me an opportunity to reflect once again on Korea-China relations. I truly realized the meaning of ‘you see as much as you know.’” She also added, “The Incheon Chinatown map created step-by-step by INU students was designed in a way that makes it easy for anyone to navigate Chinatown at a glance. It will surely serve as a helpful guide for future visitors to Incheon.”

Director Jang Jung-a of the Academy of Chinese Studies stated, “Following the recent release of the first-ever Incheon Chinatown map in both Korean and Chinese, we also plan to produce English and Japanese versions. When you visit renowned Chinatowns around the world, you’ll often find unique maps that reflect the character of each location. Incheon Chinatown now finally has one of its own.”

She added, “The Academy of Chinese Studies will continue to collaborate with the City of Incheon, the Incheon Institute, the Incheon Lifelong Education Promotion Agency, and the local community to return the intellectual assets we have accumulated back to the citizens through various outreach initiatives.”