'National Registered Cultural Heritage' Old Incheon Customs Warehouse to Open to Citizens Early Next Year... Customs History Park to Be Created

Old Incheon Customs Warehouse
Photo by Incheon City

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The old customs warehouse at Incheon Inner Port Pier 1 will be opened to the public early next year, and the area around the warehouse will be developed into a Customs History Park.

Incheon City and the Incheon Main Customs Office announced on the 20th that they have signed a basic business agreement to utilize the old customs warehouse, a nationally registered cultural heritage site, as a Customs Museum and to develop the surrounding 3,300㎡ area into a Customs History Park.

The two organizations plan to promote the history of Incheon Port, which holds the history of Korea's modern opening to foreign trade, and the role of customs, while providing a healing cultural space (approximately 1,000 pyeong) in the city for citizens weary from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Built in 1911, the old customs warehouse preserved over 100 years of Incheon Port's history. It was dismantled in 2012 due to the construction of the Suin Line and restored the same year 40 meters away from its original location, next to Exit 2 of Sinpo Station on the Suin Line.

In 2013, it was designated as National Registered Cultural Heritage No. 569 and is highly valued as a port heritage site that showcases the history of Incheon Port's opening and modern customs and tariff administration.

Following the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' 3rd Basic Port Plan revision, the city prepared for phased priority opening before the redevelopment project of Incheon Inner Port Piers 1 and 8. The Incheon Main Customs Office formed a cultural heritage utilization task force in May and has been closely consulting with the city to open the historically valuable old customs warehouse to the public.

Currently, access is difficult for the general public as it is located within the port area, but the two organizations plan to form a working-level consultative body and promote the Customs History Park project aiming for public opening early next year.

Especially, being adjacent to Sinpo Station on the subway, the site has excellent accessibility for citizens. When linked with existing courses such as the Open Port Historical and Cultural Street and the Incheon Modern Architecture Exploration Course, it is expected to create a strong synergy effect as a representative cultural tourism attraction of Incheon.

Mayor Park Namchun said, "It is significant that central administrative agencies and local governments collaborate to provide citizens with a historical and cultural space," adding, "We will actively inform citizens about the history of Incheon Customs, which has been with the opening of Incheon Port, by establishing a Customs History Museum utilizing the old customs warehouse."