Incheon’s Bukseong Pier (북성포구) is a pilgrimage site for Korean nighttime photographers.
At one time, Bukseong Pier was home to a major fish market and, accordingly, a pretty busy place. In the 1980s, however, most of the action moved elsewhere, and the area fell into decline. It’s still got a massive timber mill, though, and at night, the smoke pouring out of the stacks and the reflections off the water can make for some dramatic photographs.
Incheon Landing Marker
The nice thing about Bukseong Pier is that it’s a short walk from Incheon Station, Line 1. Just stroll five minutes in the direction of Wolmi-do, and you’ll spot a sign for the pier, which is hidden behind the giant Daehan Flour Mill.
Just in front of the Daehan Flour Mill is a monument reminding visitors that this was, in fact, the location of Red Beach during the legendary Incheon Landing of the Korean War. Red Beach was a particularly nasty beach to take, with sea walls one American journalist at the time wrote “seemed as high as the RCA Building.” Red Beach was where Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Baldomero Lopez was killed shortly after this dramatic photo was taken.
As you’ll no doubt notice when you visit, Red Beach is no longer a beach. Post-war land reclamation turned Wolmido Island into a peninsula and put Red Beach in the middle of an industrial zone.
Bukseong Pier
Truth be told, you probably want to visit Bukseong Pier in summer, when there are more clouds in the sky and the reflections are more dramatic.
The sunsets are always nice all year round, though. Set the white balance for cloudy or shade (can’t remember which one) for a bit more warmth.
You’ll know you’re at the right spot when you see all the photographers with their tripods set up.
One day, I’ll pick a white balance and stick with it. Long exposures give you the cool effect with the smoke coming out of the stacks.
Map
큰 지도에서 Buseong Pier 보기
The pier pictures have a nice industrial-meets-nature feel to them. And they look vaguely familiar. Did you once link to this venue before?
Anyway, imagine how differently the GIs might have felt about Korea had this been what greeted them at Red Beach instead of the muddy tidal flats and the odd tile structure. Anyway, it’s a monument to their sacrifice that this is what’s there now.
Great pictures (and if my comment sounds a little incoherent, it’s because I’m terribly groggy after several nights of minimal sleep due to deadlines from back in Korea).
Actually, Incheon was pretty industrial when the Marines landed ashore, too—one of the big objectives was a massive Asahi brewery near Red Beach.
I know Inchon was a pretty significant place, industry-wise, but from the pictures I’ve seen of the landing itself, it was nothing like what it is today.
Funny that they’d be taking over the brewery. Not sure if that’s a good way or a bad way to win hearts and minds.
Lovely set of pictures. The moving smoke gives the final picture a dynamic feel. I’ll be in Seoul next weekend. My goal is to hunt out as many of these spots as possible.
Cheers for the map.
Glad you liked the photos, and hope you make it here when you come up to Seoul.