Exploring the Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall from the southern slope of Cheongnyangsan Mountain

Cheongnyangsan Memorial Hall Built with Citizens’ Donations in 1984

The Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall was built in 1984 at the foot of the southern slope of Cheongnyangsan in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City. It is a facility established to commemorate and preserve the historical facts of the Incheon Landing Operation, which became a turning point in national defense during the Korean War, and is introduced as a war-history memorial hall honoring the spirit of veterans who sacrificed themselves to protect liberal democracy.

A total of 4.3 billion won was invested in its construction, combining 2.8 billion won from the Incheon municipal budget and 1.5 billion won in citizens’ donations. Because local businesspeople and ordinary citizens participated in the fundraising, centered around the Incheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the site reflects not only the military operation but also the memories and support of Incheon’s citizens.

The Objective of Operation Chromite on September 15, 1950

The Incheon Landing Operation took place on September 15, 1950, under the codename Operation Chromite. Its primary objectives were to make a surprise landing at Incheon in the central Korean Peninsula, recapture Seoul, and cut off the North Korean Army’s supply lines.

The landing force consisted of 75,000 ground troops and 261 vessels. The first assault objective, Green Beach, is present-day Wolmido. The landing took place at 6:33 a.m., and that afternoon the forces also landed at Red Beach, present-day Buksong-dong, and Blue Beach, present-day Yonghyeon-dong, securing beachheads.

Afterward, United Nations forces began the operation to recapture Seoul on September 18, 1950, and fully reclaimed the city on September 28. When viewing the exhibition, connecting the operation date, the three beaches, and the date Seoul was recaptured in sequence makes it easier to understand the reversal of the war situation that the memorial hall seeks to explain.

Exploring Indoor and Outdoor Exhibits Across a Site of Approximately 24,000㎡

The memorial hall occupies approximately 24,000㎡ and consists of an exhibition hall, video hall, outdoor exhibition area, Tower of Freedom and Defense, observatory, and other facilities. Around 730 artifacts and materials related to the Incheon Landing Operation are displayed indoors and outdoors, ranging from small documents and weapons to large equipment.

Inside the exhibition hall are a diorama that provides an overview of the operation and weapons and artifacts from the Korean War. A bust of General MacArthur, related materials, and a photo zone are also available, making it distinctive that the command of the operation and methods of commemoration are presented together in one space.

The outdoor exhibition area displays actual decommissioned military equipment, including amphibious armored vehicles, landing craft, naval guns, tanks, and reconnaissance aircraft. Reading the indoor explanations first and then viewing the outdoor equipment makes the transportation methods and firepower used in the landing operation feel more concrete than they would on an abstract map.

Open 09:00–18:00, with Entry Closing at 17:30

According to information from Yeonsu-gu, visiting hours are 09:00–18:00, and the admission cutoff is 17:30. Admission is free, so there is no ticket cost, but entry is not permitted after 17:30. Although the hall is open from morning until late afternoon, it is safer to arrive with plenty of time rather than just before closing if you want to see both the indoor and outdoor exhibitions.

The regular closing day is every Monday, and the hall is also closed on January 1, the day of Lunar New Year, and the day of Chuseok. The main telephone number is 032-832-0915, and the official website is http://www.landing915.com/. Operating hours and closing days are based on information for 2026, so excluding Mondays and the actual days of the major holidays from your itinerary in advance can help avoid a wasted trip.

• Address: 138 Cheongnyang-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City
• Admission: Free
• Visiting hours: 09:00–18:00
• Admission cutoff: 17:30

By Bus from Dongmak Station Exit 1 to Songdo Yuwonji

If you use Incheon Subway Line 1, you can take Bus 6-1 or 8 from Dongmak Station Exit 1; the recommended stop is Songdo Yuwonji. From Dongincheon Station, the suggested route is to take Bus 6 or 16 and get off at the Songdo Yuwonji stop.

When using the Suin Line, take Bus 16 from Songdo Station and get off at the Chukhyeon Elementary School·Incheon Metropolitan City Museum stop. Other approach buses listed in the materials are 8, 9, 111-2, 65-1, 523, and 9200. The main getting-off points are Songdo Yuwonji (Road Traffic Authority) and Chukhyeon Elementary School (Incheon Metropolitan City Museum).

Although Songdo Station and the memorial hall appear close on a map, review-based sources mention that the actual walking distance is not suitable. If you are a foreign visitor coming for the first time, it is better to plan a route including a bus ride rather than attempting to walk from the station. Since bus intervals were not separately confirmed, allow extra time for transfers.

Free Parking for 50 Vehicles and Wheelchair Routes

Parking is free, with space for 50 vehicles according to the available information. Visitors arriving by car can enter 138 Cheongnyang-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City as their destination, but because only 50 parking spaces are available, it is worth considering public transportation on weekends or event days.

Accessibility information states that a ramp is installed from the parking lot entrance to the indoor exhibition hall, allowing wheelchair access. Two wheelchairs can be borrowed to the right of the exhibition hall entrance, and an accessible restroom is available.

Accessible parking is listed as four spaces in the memorial hall parking lot and one space in the visitor parking lot. No separate information about stroller accessibility was found, and the exact walking distance and incline from the ticket office to the exhibition hall are not provided. Groups requiring mobility assistance should realistically inquire about the route in advance by calling 032-832-0915.

The Video Hall Is a Place to Check Conditions for Groups of 20 or More

The memorial hall has a separate video hall in addition to the exhibition hall, and tourist information materials introduce the LVT video room, where visitors can view the situation at the time of the operation through a diorama. However, a 2025 policy study found that use of the video hall was limited to groups of 20 or more, creating restrictions on its utilization.

Therefore, individual travelers and small groups should not assume that they can automatically watch a screening in the video hall. It is more accurate to treat the exhibition hall’s diorama and materials as the basic visit program. Since the conditions for using the video hall may change, groups should confirm them with the main number, 032-832-0915, before visiting.

Whether photography is prohibited, whether English information and audio guides are available, and whether payment is cash-only were not confirmed in the available information. Even though admission is free, foreign visitors should not assume that a passport or payment method is required, and it is safer to call ahead to ask about language support if needed.

Views of Palmido and 10,371 Foreign Visitors in 2024

The memorial hall, located on the slopes of Cheongnyangsan, overlooks the sea in front of Songdo, and it is said that Palmido can be seen in the distance on clear days. The observatory and Tower of Freedom and Defense offer a different perspective on Incheon’s coastal terrain from the indoor exhibition, allowing visitors to consider the landing operation together with the geography.

There were 95,061 visitors in 2024: 58,415 members of the general public, 22,492 children and teenagers, 10,371 foreign visitors, and 3,783 military personnel. It is a destination visited by foreign tourists in numbers large enough to be counted separately, but the availability of English information or an audio guide was not confirmed.

Visitor numbers changed from 179,970 in 2019 to 27,503 in 2020, 26,553 in 2021, 59,695 in 2022, and 109,569 in 2023. In 2024, the figure decreased by 13.2% from 2023 and by 47.2% from 2019. As of the end of December 2024, cultural tourism interpreters were found to provide three scheduled guided explanations per day, so visitors who want a guided explanation should inquire in advance about the time and whether the service is operating.