TAKE-OFF AND TRANSFORM: THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF INCHEON ART PLATFORM

After the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1882 was signed, modern civilization began to filter into the small port of Incheon. Japan, China and the Western powers, including the United States and Britain, flocked to the open port, while the settlements housed foreign residences, international consulates, police stations and post office. Trade and financial-related facilities – the Rice Exchange, International Customs and the Bank – clubs and hotels, as well as foreign villas, also took their place. Behind the modern and exotic landscapes that captivated Koreans of that time, the economic exploitation of the Japanese Empire and the eviction of existing residents prevailed.

After Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War, the port area flourished, but after the period of industrialisation and the relocation of principal government offices, it became so dilapidated that by the early 2000s it became extremely difficult for residents to continue living there. The Incheon Art Platform (IAP) was designed