Jeff Hwang and I had been hiking for several hours, heading toward Baegundae, the highest peak in Bukhansan National Park. A clear blue sky that had blessed our morning turned suddenly dark as heavy gray clouds rolled in above the granite summit, sending sporadic raindrops through the canopy of maples.
We pressed on despite the threatening weather and arrived at a steep rock face where hikers traverse using a steel cable anchored by metal poles. At one point we were horizontal against the rock with a sheer drop of about 2,600 feet below. Then the skies opened: a hard rain swept through and gusting winds lashed at us and the peak just ahead.
When we finally hauled ourselves to the summit, we were exhausted and soaked, minds already on the slick descent. A Korean flag whipped violently in the wind. Yet the climb left us exhilarated, hardly believing that the modern city of Seoul — its glass skyscrapers, fashionable shopping streets and the calm Han River — lay only a short distance beyond the nearby ridgelines. On a clear day the Seoul skyline would have been faintly visible; the city is close enough that we reached Bukhansan from Seoul by subway.
If Seoul were the hole of a doughnut, the surrounding, meaty ring would be Gyeonggi Province, known locally as Gyeonggi-do. Home to about 10 million people, Gyeonggi is South Korea’s most populous province and is easily accessible from Seoul in an hour or less. Yet despite that proximity, Gyeonggi retains a distinct cultural and psychological identity apart from Seoul’s intense urban energy.
Gyeonggi stretches from the northern DMZ and the border with North Korea to the Deokjeok Islands in Gyeonggi Bay on the west coast, and down to the “ceramic” city of Icheon and the provincial capital of Suwon. The province encompasses mountains, coastal areas, industrial parks and agricultural plains.
Long recognized as business-friendly, Gyeonggi offers incentives through a Foreign Investment Incentive System that grants qualified international firms tax reductions or exemptions. Recent developments include a memorandum with India’s United Phosphorous Limited to build a manufacturing plant in Hwaseong for environmentally oriented crop protection agents. Multinational firms such as 3M, Siemens and ProLogis operate in the province, alongside major Korean conglomerates including Samsung Electronics, LG Display and Hynix.
Universal Parks and Resorts and a group of Korean partners signed an agreement to develop a large theme park complex in Hwaseong, a project projected to be one of the largest in Asia when completed. Gyeonggi also serves as a hub for Korea’s IT sector, accounting for a significant share of national IT production, exports and professionals.
Infrastructure and development projects underway include the modernization of Pyeongtaek Port, a strategic shipping point for the Seoul-Gyeonggi region that is expected to grow in importance as U.S. military forces relocate to Pyeongtaek City. The adjacent Godeok International City, backed by significant investment, aims to become a center for international high-tech businesses. Goyang City is expanding the Korean International Exhibition Center and adding hotels, shopping and leisure facilities to strengthen its appeal for conferences and trade events. The Hallyuworld project in Goyang focuses on developing and exporting Korean cultural content such as film, television and music.
High-tech office parks and the Yellow Sea Free Economic Zone continue to shape Gyeonggi’s industrial landscape, creating clusters for research and development linked to the growth of Pyeongtaek Port as a major transport hub.
Despite rapid development, agriculture remains important in Gyeonggi. Fertile plains south of Seoul still support thousands of small family farms producing grass-fed Korean beef, Hatsalderi grapes, agaric and pyogo mushrooms, radishes and pears. Coastal fishing villages supply clams, oysters and octopus to local markets.
One of the province’s most beloved traditional products is makgeolli, a milky rice wine brewed in northeastern Gyeonggi. In Pocheon, more than a dozen breweries ferment rice with quality water and malt to produce a drink around 7 percent alcohol. Pocheon makgeolli has enjoyed renewed popularity among younger Koreans, who often buy it in plastic containers, shake the bottle to mix the sediment, then pour it into wooden bowls. On chilly, rainy days, drinking makgeolli with pajeon (green onion pancakes) is a cherished local pastime.
Info To Go
Seoul’s Incheon Airport (ICN) sits on reclaimed land in Gyeonggi Bay, west of Seoul, and serves as the major international gateway for the province. Since opening in 2001, Incheon has received numerous awards for its facilities, which include an expansive terminal shopping area, a golf range and a casino. Rail and bus services connect the airport to Seoul and several cities across Gyeonggi.
Just The Facts
Time Zone: GMT+9
Phone Code: +82 South Korea, 31 Gyeonggi Province
Currency: Won
Entry/Exit Requirements: U.S. citizens must have a valid passport. Visits longer than 90 days or purposes other than tourism or temporary business require a visa. Visitors staying beyond 90 days must apply for an Alien Registration Card after arrival.
Official Language: Korean. English is commonly spoken in hotels, shops, Western-style restaurants and business districts.
Key Industries: Automotive manufacturing, biotechnology, renewable energy manufacturing and research, high-tech R&D, tourism, IT industries and organic agriculture.
Diversions
Gyeonggi is a blend of high-tech corporate parks, small factories, farms and natural attractions — mountains, rivers and coastal areas — often within short travel times of one another. Many towns feature both modern cultural venues and traditional hanok architecture. While the sophistication of Seoul is nearby, Gyeonggi offers visitors a chance to experience Korea’s smaller towns and fishing villages without long journeys.
Bukhansan National Park is easily accessible by car or subway from Seoul and offers extensive hiking trails, mountain-side eateries and hidden temples. Namhansanseong Provincial Park, southeast of Seoul, is known for its historic fortress wall and scenic hills and rivers. Suwon, the provincial capital, features the restored 18th-century Hwaseong Fortress and palace, and the nearby Korean Folk Village showcases traditional dwellings and customs.
For contemporary art in a tranquil setting, the Ellen Kim Murphy Art Center in Yangpyeong sits on the Namhan River. The glass-and-iron gallery displays eclectic works, offers river views and houses a restaurant on the second floor; the owners are often present to welcome visitors.
Though Incheon is administratively separate from Gyeonggi, ferries from Incheon’s Yeonan Pier serve islands such as Deokjeok and Ganghwa. Deokjeok offers beaches and elevated viewpoints, while Ganghwa is known for ginseng, rice fields, ancient ruins and a scenic coastal bike trail. Seasonal specialties include grilled eel and herring sashimi.
Gyeonggi’s coastal islands and rural landscapes are often overlooked by international tourists, but organized motorcoach tours to the northern border region provide a chance to view the DMZ and Panmunjom. DMZ tours must be reserved in advance and are subject to cancellation based on political or weather conditions.
Lodging
Hyatt Regency Incheon Airport
Near the airport, convenient for coastal island exploration; amenities include a pool, fitness center, Internet access and multiple restaurants. 2850-1 Woonseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon
Ibis Suwon Ambassador
A modern high-rise in Suwon’s commercial district with a fitness center, sauna, free WiFi, restaurants and business facilities. 1132-12 Ingye-dong Paldal-gu, Suwon
Miranda Hotel, Icheon
Located in Icheon’s ceramics district, this contemporary property adjoins the Miranda Hot Spring Spa. 408-1 Anhyung-dong, Icheon City
Dining
Gomijeong
Traditional paper screens, lotus-patterned walls and floor seating complement a menu that highlights local rice dishes. Near Ceramics Village, Icheon
Murphy’s Terrace
A Western-style restaurant on the second floor of a rural home-gallery; in warm weather the outdoor Korean-style pork barbecue is recommended. Ellen Kim Murphy Art Center, Yangpyeong
Yeongjonghoesenta
Buy fresh fish, prawns or crabs at Yeongjongdo Wharf Market and have them prepared at this nearby restaurant. Yeongjongdo
Checkining Inin With Kim Myung Soo
CEO EO, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization
Are international leisure and business travelers discovering Gyeonggi’s attractions? Gyeonggi-do is both a tourism destination and a business-friendly province. Tourism draws notable international visitors to sites such as the DMZ, Suwon’s Hwaseong Fortress, the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, Korean Folk Village and the ceramics centers in Icheon, Gwangju and Yeoju.
Which Korean companies operate in Gyeonggi? Major Korean firms are based here: Samsung’s semiconductor operations in Suwon; Hyundai and Kia assembly lines and research centers; and LG’s LCD facilities in cooperation with international partners. Some 3,600 foreign companies have invested in the province.
Why do high-tech firms choose Gyeonggi? Proximity to Incheon Airport and Seoul, well-developed highways and rail links including KTX, and convenient access to major Northeast Asian markets make Gyeonggi attractive. The region’s abundant labor force further draws foreign investment, especially in high-tech sectors.
What new projects are planned? The Universal Studios Korea Resort will include a water park, shopping mall, hotels, condominiums and golf course, and is expected to draw millions of visitors when completed. Kintex’s expansion aims to boost business travel to the region. Plans also include significant investment in a high-technology medical complex in Gwanggyo, featuring research institutes, medical device development and clinical facilities.