Coordinates: 37°29′N 126°38′E / 37.483°N 126.633°E / 37.483; 126.633

Incheon 인천 仁川 Inchon
—  Metropolitan City  —
Korean name transcription(s)
• Hangul	인천광역시
• Hanja	仁川廣域市
• Revised Romanization	Incheon Gwang-yeoksi
• McCune-Reischauer	Inch'ŏn Kwang'yŏkshi
Korean name short form transcription(s)
• Hangul	인천
• Revised Romanization	Incheon
• McCune-Reischauer	Inch'ŏn
Top: View of night in Incheon Bridge from Songdo area, Middle left: Night in New Songdo area, Middle right: Incheon International Airport, Bottom: View of Incheon Port
Flag of Incheon Flag Official logo of Incheon Emblem of Incheon
Map of South Korea with Incheon highlighted
Coordinates: 37°29′N 126°38′E / 37.483°N 126.633°E / 37.483; 126.633
Country	South Korea
Region	Sudogwon
Founded	1883 as Chemulpo
Subdivisions	List 8 districts ("gu") Bupyeong-gu (부평구; 富平區) Gyeyang-gu (계양구; 桂陽區) Jung-gu (중구; 中區) Nam-gu (남구; 南區) Namdong-gu (남동구; 南洞區) Seo-gu (서구; 西區) Yeonsu-gu (연수구; 延壽區)   2 counties ("gun") Ganghwa-gun (강화군; 江華郡) Ongjin-gun (옹진군; 甕津郡)
Government
• Type	Metropolitan City
• Mayor	Song Young-gil
• Council Chairman	Ryu Su-yong
Area
• Total	1,029.43 km2 (397.47 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	2,710,579
• Density	2,600/km2 (6,800/sq mi)
Time zone	Korea Standard Time (UTC+9)
Dialect	Seoul
Flower	Rose
Tree	Tulip tree
Bird	Crane
Website	incheon.go.kr (English)

The Incheon Metropolitan City (인천, 仁川, literally 'wise river' - formerly Inchon; named Jinsen during the time of Japanese rule) is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City. While people have inhabited the area from the New Stone Age, the city’s growth was assured in modern times with the development of its port due to its natural advantages as a coastal city.

Incheon has since led the economic development of Korea by opening its port to the outside world, issuing in the modernization of Korea as a center of industrialization. In 2003, the city was designated as Korea’s first free economic zone. Since then, large local companies and global enterprises have increasingly invested in Incheon Free Economic Zone, including Samsung which chose Songdo International City as its new investment destination for its bio industry.

As an international city, Incheon has held numerous large scale international conferences, such as the Incheon Global Fair & Festival in 2009. The 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 will also be held in Incheon from September 19, 2014. Incheon has established itself as a true hub of Northeast Asia with the world renowned Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port.

History[link]

Downtown Songdo, Incheon

The first historical record of the Incheon area dates back to 475 CE. during the reign of King Jangsu of Goguryeo by the name of "Michuhol". The area underwent several name changes with successive kingdoms and dynasties. The current name was established in 1413. However, the name Jemulpo was not widely used until the opening of the port in 1883.^[2][3]

On September 15, 1950, during the Korean War, Incheon was the site of the Battle of Inchon, when United States troops landed to relieve pressure on the Pusan Perimeter and to launch a United Nations offensive northward. The result was a decisive UN victory.^[4] The USS Inchon was named after the tide-turning battle that ensued.

Incheon was originally part of Gyeonggi Province, but was granted Directly Governed (now Metropolitan) City status on July 1, 1981.

Incheon was known as Inchon prior to South Korea's adoption of a new Romanization system in 2000.

Major events[link]

Incheon was the site of the Battle of Inchon during the Korean War.

Incheon hosted a series of major international events. The Global Fair & Festival 2009 Incheon, Korea was held in the Songdo District in August 2009. It was open from August 7 to October 25 for a period of 80 days. It was a comprehensive international event with global institutions and corporations as participants.Various musicians and artists performed during the event.

The city hosted a meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers in February 2010.^[5]

Incheon will also be the site of the third Global Model United Nations Conference, held from 10th to the 14th of August 2011.

Incheon has also won the bid to host the Asian Games in 2014.

Education[link]

On February 27, 2007, Incheon declared itself an "English City," and inaugurated the "Incheon Free English Zone" program. The goal of the program is to make Incheon as much an English speaking city as Hong Kong and Singapore are.^[6] This is for the ultimate purpose of establishing Incheon as a commercial and business hub of northeast Asia (see Free Economic Zone below). The official slogan of the program is "Smile with English."

Higher education[link]

Incheon is home to several colleges and universities:

• Gyeongin National University of Education Incheon campus
• Gachon University Medical·Ganghwa campus
• Gyeongin Women's College
• Inha Technical College
• Inha University
• Incheon Catholic University
• Incheon City College
• University of Incheon
• Jaineung College
• SUNY South Korea
• Anyang University Ganghwa campus
• Yonsei University International campus
• Korea Polytechnics Ⅱ
• Seongsan Hyo University
• Juan International University

Climate[link]

Incheon has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dwa). Incheon's climate is about average compared to the rest of Korea, with 8 locations being cooler and 10 locations being warmer, and with 9 locations being wetter and 9 locations being drier.^[7]

Incheon experiences each of its four seasons, distinctly feeling the rise and fall of temperature and humidity. The temperature however, never rises to an extreme, and the climate of the city is essentially mild. Incheon is swept by the seasonal winds as the northwesterly winds strike the city in the winter and the summer in Incheon is affected by gusts of the warm southwesterly winds.^[8]

Transportation[link]

Incheon is a major domestic and international transportation hub for Korea.

View of the station at Incheon International Airport

Air[link]

Incheon International Airport, a regional air hub, is South Korea's primary international airport.

There were a total of 160,843 flights (157,134 international, 3,709 domestic) to and from Incheon International Airport in 2005, an average of 441 flights (431 international, 10 domestic) daily. 59.7% of the flights were serviced by Korea’s two national carriers, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, with foreign carriers servicing the remaining 40.3%, which breaks down as follows: China 45,125 flights {28.1% of total}, Japan 32,352 {20.1%}, Southeast Asia 30,567 {19%}, Americas 27,916 {17.4%}, Europe 11,082 {6.9%}, Domestic 3,709 {2.3%}, Oceania 2,811 {1.7%}, others 7,281 {4.5%}.

Also featured in the Korean drama series, "Air City."

Sea[link]

Incheon's sea port is the second largest port in Korea after Busan's sea port.

The International Passenger Terminal located at the port offers ferries to four cities in China: Dalian, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Weihai. There are also ferries to Incheon's outlying islands as well as Baengnyeong Island inside of the Northern Limit Line.

Buses[link]

Incheon Bus Terminal, located at its eponymous subway stop, offers express bus transportation to all parts of Korea. Many city bus lines offer transportation within city limits as well as to the neighboring cities of Bucheon, Gimpo, Seoul, and Siheung.

Many BRT lines offer transportation between Seoul and Incheon.

Train[link]

The main square on Rodeo street, Guwol-dong, a two minute walk from Art Centre station

Local service to Guro, Seoul, Cheongnyangni, Uijeongbu and Soyosan is offered by Seoul's subway Line 1. The line has 11 stations within Incheon and connects to the Incheon Subway at Bupyeong station.

Rapid service on the same line to Yongsan Station in Seoul depart from Dongincheon station and stops at major stations.

The Airport Express (AREX) line runs from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The Incheon-Gimpo section was opened in March 2007 and was extended to Seoul station in December 2010. Passengers can choose a high-speed service stopping only at Incheon airport and Seoul, which takes 43 minutes but departs only every half-hour; or the all-station service which takes 53 minutes but leaves every six minutes.

Subway[link]

The Incheon Subway has a single subway line serving the city. It connects to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system at Bupyeong station, and AREX line at Gyeyang station. The line has 28 stations on 29.4 km of track. The Incheon subway is operated by the Incheon Rapid Transit Corporation (IRTC).

Planned extensions and additions: IRTC has a plan to construct a second line, Line 2. It will extend from Oryu, Seo-gu to Incheon Grand Park, and will have 27 stations on 29.2 km of track. Line 2 is under construction from June 26, 2009 to 2014.

Korail is constructing a new subway line from Incheon station to Suwon station by 2013. It will have 10 stations within Incheon.

SMRT (one of three operating companies of Seoul Metropolitan Subway) will also extend Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 7 to Bupyeong-gu office by 2011 and provide transfers to the Incheon Subway system. It will have 3 stations within Incheon.

Free Economic Zone[link]

The Incheon Free Economic Zone consists of the three regions of Songdo, Cheongna, and the island of Yeongjong, and has a total area of 51,739 acres (20,938 ha). The goal of IFEZ is to transform these three areas into hubs for logistics, international business, leisure, and tourism for the Northeast Asian region. The term 'Free Economic Zone' applies to the development in these three areas with the aim of improving the business environment for foreign-invested enterprises and the living conditions for foreigners. The zone is a specially designated area to create the most favorable business and living environment where foreign nationals can live and invest freely and conveniently. Incheon's Free Economic Zone, the first in Korea, was officially designated by the Korean government in August 2003. IFEZ is planned to be a self-contained living and business district featuring air and sea transportation, a logistics complex, an international business center, financial services, residences, schools and hospitals, and shopping and entertainment centres.

New Songdo City[link]

New Songdo City

Songdo International City began development in 1994 and is being built on reclaimed land. It is designated to become a center of diverse international businesses, a hub for international trade, an area for knowledge-based technologies, and a place for eco-friendly urban living. Construction is due to be completed in 2020.

• Development size: 13,162 acres (53.26 km²)
• Planned population: 252,000 persons
• Construction duration: 1994~2020

Yeongjong Island[link]

As of 2012, Yeongjong International City’s 34,183 acres (13,833 ha) centering on the Incheon International Airport is being developed as an eco-friendly airport city scheduled to be completed by 2020.

Cheongna[link]

The Cheongna district, on the mainland adjacent Yeongjong Island, will focus on entertainment and will feature a world class theme park. It will also be a residential area with sports facilities, a floriculture complex, and a business area specially designed for international finance.

• Development Size: 4,394 acres (1,778 ha)
• Planned population: 90,000 persons
• Duration: 2004~2008

Administrative divisions[link]

Administrative divisions of Incheon

Incheon is divided into 8 wards ("gu") and 2 counties ("gun").

• Bupyeong-gu (부평구; 富平區)
• Dong-gu (동구; 東區)
• Gyeyang-gu (계양구; 桂陽區)
• Jung-gu (중구; 中區)
• Nam-gu (남구; 南區)
• Namdong-gu (남동구; 南洞區)
• Seo-gu (서구; 西區)
• Yeonsu-gu (연수구; 延壽區)
• Ganghwa-gun (강화군; 江華郡)
• Ongjin-gun (옹진군; 甕津郡)

The northwestern islands of Baengnyeong Island, Yeonpyeong Island, Daecheong Island, and the much smaller Socheong Island are part of Ongjin.

Sports[link]

Incheon is home to the following professional and semi professional sports teams:

Football (Soccer)

K-League team Incheon United.
The Incheon team was known to have a popular rivalry against former Bucheon SK, (now Jeju United) due to the teams' close geographical relationship.

The National League team Incheon Korail.

Baseball

The successful KBO team SK Wyverns.
The first Incheon-based pro-baseball team was Sami(one of major steel companies in 1980s) Superstars.

Basketball

The KBL team Incheon ET Land Elephants.

Munhak Sports Complex

The Munahk Sports Complex houses both a football stadium and a baseball stadium. The football stadium was Incheon's venue for the 2002 Football World Cup, and is also the home venue for Incheon United. The baseball stadium is the home venue for the SK Wyverns.

On April 19, 2007, Incheon was selected as the host city for the 2014 Asian Games, beating out New Delhi.^[10]

Points of interest[link]

Bupyeong Station is where the Seoul Subway Line 1 and Incheon subway line intersect. There is a large under ground shopping center there mostly selling trendy women's clothing and cell phones. Above ground, there are many restaurants, additional shops, and a Lotte Mart.

A number of Korea's western islands, including Ganghwa Island, Yeongjong Island, and Baengnyeong Island are also administered by Incheon. Baengnyeong Island is South Korea's westernmost point.

Jayu (Freedom) Park- The statue of General, Douglas MacArthur, as well as a memorial to the centennial anniversary of U.S. and Korea relations is located within.

Chinatown is Korea's only official Chinatown, located across from Incheon Station near Jayu Park.

Arts Centre refers to a performance venue but also to a subway station and area. Within this district in Guwol-dong is Rodeo Street, a busy central square packed with restaurants and department stores.

Wolmido- Location of Green Beach, one of the landing sites for MacArthur's invasion force. It is now a local tourist attraction with a boardwalk, an amusement park and many raw fish restaurants. Ferries run from Wolmido to Yeongjongdo and Jakyakdo.

Jakyakdo- A tiny island located in the harbor close between Wolmido and Yeongjongdo. There are many walkways and picnic spots, a restaurant, and seasonal rental rooms.

Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall- A plaza and small museum dedicated to the Landing. Weapons and artifacts from the war and operation are displayed.

Incheon Dohobu Cheongsa- Located nearby Munhak Stadium, this is the old government complex for Incheon. It has existed since at least the reign of King Sejong, about 1424 A.D.

Incheon's government has many plans for restoring Incheon's old town.

• Korea-us100.jpg

  Monument to 100 years of friendship between Korea and the USA in Jayu Park

• Jayumacarthur.jpg

  The statue of MacArthur at Jayu Park

• Jayuwalkway.jpg

  A walkway in Jayu Park

• 

  The only official Chinatown in South Korea

• 

  Port of Incheon

• 

  Incheon Bridge

• Jakyakdo.jpg

  The tiny island of Jakyakdo

• 

  Interior architecture of Incheon International Airport

People from Incheon[link]

• Hapkido Grand Master Bong Soo Han
• Myung Jae Nam
• Ryeowook, Super Junior
• Hyoyeon, Girls' Generation
• Choi Minho, Shinee
• Kim Gu-ra
• Kim Nam-Il, footballer
• Cho Yong-Hyung, football defender
• Yoon Shi Yoon, actor
• Shin Ji, Koyote
• Kang Hye-jeong, actress
• Kim Eun Jung, footballer

Sister cities[link]

^[11]

• Burbank, California (1961)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1983)
• Anchorage, Alaska (1986)
• Kitakyushu (1988)
• Tianjin (1993)
• Hai Phong, Vietnam (1997)
• Panama City, Panama (2000)
• Tel Aviv, Israel (2000)
• Alexandria, Egypt (2000)
• Honolulu, Hawaii (2003)
• Chongqing (2007)
• Mérida, Mexico (2007)
• Kolkata, India (2007)
• Manila, Philippines (2008)
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2009)
• Yekaterinburg, Russia (2009)
• Banten Province, Indonesia (2009)
• Kobe (2010)
• Veneto, Italy (2010)

See also[link]

• List of Korea-related topics
• List of cities in South Korea
• Battle of Chemulpo Bay
• Battle of Incheon
• Inchon (film)
• Incheon Chinatown
• Incheon Free Economic Zone
• Global Fair & Festival 2009 Incheon, Korea
• Chemulpo to Songdo IBD: Korea's International Gateway

References[link]

External links[link]

Find more about Incheon on Wikipedia's sister projects:
	Definitions and translations from Wiktionary
	Images and media from Commons
	Learning resources from Wikiversity
	News stories from Wikinews
	Quotations from Wikiquote
	Source texts from Wikisource
	Textbooks from Wikibooks

• Government Website of Incheon Metropolitan City
• Pictorial history Chemulpo to Songdo IBD: Korea's International Gateway
• Incheon travel guide from Wikitravel

Articles Related to Incheon v t e Metropolitan city of Incheon Districts Bupyeong-gu Dong-gu Gyeyang-gu Jung-gu Namdong-gu Seo-gu Nam-gu Yeonsu-gu County Ganghwa Ongjin v t e Regions and administrative divisions of South Korea Regions Capital area Gwandong Yeongdong Yeongseo Hoseo Honam Jeju Yeongnam Southeastern MIR Provinces North Chungcheong South Chungcheong Gangwon Gyeonggi North Gyeongsang South Gyeongsang North Jeolla South Jeolla Special self-governing province Jeju Special city Seoul Special autonomous city Sejong Metropolitan cities Busan Daegu Daejeon Gwangju Incheon Ulsan v t e Metropolitan cities of South Korea Special city Seoul Metropolitan cities Busan · Daegu · Daejeon · Gwangju · Incheon · Ulsan Provincial capitals with special status (not included above) Changwon · Cheongju · Jeonju · Suwon Provincial capitals (not included above) Chuncheon · Jeju · Muan Cities with special status (not included above) Ansan · Anyang · Bucheon · Cheonan · Goyang · Pohang · Seongnam · Yongin Cities (not included above) Andong · Anseong · Asan · Boryeong · Chungju · Dangjin · Dongducheon · Donghae · Gangneung · Geoje · Gimcheon · Gimhae · Gimje · Gimpo · Gongju · Gumi · Gunpo · Guri · Gunsan · Gwacheon · Gwangju · Gwangmyeong · Gwangyang · Gyeongju · Gyeongsan · Gyeryong · Hanam · Hwaseong · Icheon · Iksan · Jecheon · Jeongeup · Jinju · Miryang · Mungyeong · Namwon · Namyangju · Naju · Nonsan · Osan · Paju · Pocheon · Pyeongtaek · Sacheon · Samcheok · Sangju · Seogwipo · Seosan · Siheung · Sokcho · Suncheon · Taebaek · Tongyeong · Uijeongbu · Uiwang · Wonju · Yangju · Yangsan · Yeongcheon · Yeongju · Yeosu v t e World's fifty most-populous urban areas Tokyo–Yokohama Delhi Seoul–Incheon Jakarta Manila Mumbai New York São Paulo Mexico City Shanghai Cairo Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto Kolkata Shenzhen Los Angeles Beijing Moscow Karachi Istanbul Buenos Aires Dongguan Rio de Janeiro Guangzhou–Foshan Dhaka Lagos Paris Nagoya Chicago Kinshasa Lima Bogotá London Taipei Ho Chi Minh City Chennai Johannesburg–East Rand Bangalore Lahore Tehran Ruhr Area (Essen–Düsseldorf) Bangkok Hong Kong Hyderabad Tianjin Chonqing Bandung Baghdad Santiago Kuala Lumpur Toronto–Hamilton

Korean War 한국전쟁(韓國戰爭) 조선전쟁(朝鮮戰爭) Part of the Cold War Clockwise from top: U.S. Marines retreating during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir; U.N. landing at Incheon harbor, starting point of the Battle of Inchon; Korean refugees in front of an American M26 Pershing tank; U.S. Marines, led by First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, landing at Incheon; F-86 Sabre fighter aircraft. Date Full-scale: 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (&100000000000000030000003 years, &1000000000000003200000032 days) Low-level: 27 July 1953 – present (&1000000000000005800000058 years, &10000000000000335000000335 days) Location Korean Peninsula Status Cease-fire armistice North Korean invasion of South Korea repelled U.N. invasion of North Korea repelled Chinese invasion of South Korea repelled Korean Demilitarized Zone established, little territorial change at the 38th parallel border, essentially uti possidetis Territorial changes Korean Demilitarized Zone established; both sides gained little border territory at the 38th parallel Belligerents  Republic of Korea  United Nations  United States of America  United Kingdom (U.N. Resolution 84) Combat support Australia  Belgium Canada  Colombia Ethiopian Empire  France Kingdom of Greece  Luxembourg Netherlands  New Zealand Philippines South Africa  Thailand  Turkey Medical support  Denmark  India  Italy  Norway  Sweden  Democratic People's Republic of Korea  People's Republic of China 22x20px Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Medical support People's Republic of Bulgaria Czechoslovak Socialist Republic[1] People's Republic of Hungary People's Republic of Poland Romanian People's Republic Other support People's Republic of Mongolia Commanders and leaders Rhee Syngman Chung Il-kwon Paik Sun-yup Shin Sung-mo Son Won-il Douglas MacArthur (Commander of the UNC) Matthew Ridgway (Commander of the UNC) Mark Wayne Clark (Commander of the UNC) Current Lee Myung-bak Kim Kwan-jin Jeong Seung-jo Kim Sang-ki Choi Yoon-hee Park Jong-heon James D. Thurman Kim Il-sung Pak Hon-yong Choi Yong-kun Kim Chaek Mao Zedong Peng Dehuai 22x20px Joseph Stalin Current Kim Jong-un Jang Sung-taek Kim Yong-Chun Ri Yong-ho Strength 600,000 302,000[2] 14,200[2] 6,150[2] 5,460[2] 3,972[3] 2,280[2] 1,500[2] 1,390[2] 1,290[2] 1,270[2] 1,260[2] 1,120[2] 1,070[2] 900[2] 300[2] 170[2] 105[2] 100[2] 72[2] 70[2] 44[2] Total: 941,600 Current 653,000 28,500 Total: 681,500 260,000 1,350,000[4] 22x20px 26,000 Total: 1,636,000 Note: The figures vary by source; peak unit strength varied during war. Current 1,106,000 Casualties and losses  Republic of Korea:[2] 137,899 dead 450,742 wounded 24,495 MIA 8,343 POW  United States of America: (US sources):[2] 36,940 dead 92,134 wounded 3,737 MIA 4,439 POW (PRC-DPRK estimates): 397,543 in total[5]  United Kingdom:[2] 1,078 dead 2,674 wounded 179 MIA 977 POW  Turkey:[2] 741 dead 2,068 wounded 163 MIA 244 POW Commonwealth of Australia: [6] 339 dead 1,216 wounded 43 MIA 26 POW Dominion of Canada:[2] 312 dead 1,212 wounded 1 MIA 32 POW  France:[2] 262 dead 1,008 wounded 7 MIA 12 POW Kingdom of Greece[2] 192 dead 543 wounded 3 POW  Colombia:[2] 163 dead 448 wounded 28 POW  Thailand:[2] 129 dead 1,139 wounded 5 MIA Ethiopian Empire[2] 121 dead 536 wounded Netherlands:[2] 120 dead 645 wounded Philippines:[2] 112 dead 229 wounded 16 MIA 41 POW  Belgium:[2] 99 dead 336 Wounded 4 MIA 1 POW Union of South Africa[2] 34 dead 9 POW  New Zealand:[2] 23 dead 79 wounded 1 MIA  Norway:[2] 3 dead  Luxembourg:[2] 2 dead 13 wounded Total: 776,360–1,093,839[5] Democratic People's Republic of Korea: 215,000 dead 303,000 wounded 120,000 MIA or POW[7] People's Republic of China: (Chinese sources):[8] 152,000 dead 383,500 wounded 450,000 hospitalized 4,000 missing 7,110 captured 14,190 defected (U.S. estimate):[7] 400,000+ dead 486,000 wounded 21,000 POW 22x20px Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: 282 dead[9] Total: 1,545,822–1,648,582 Total civilians killed/wounded: 2.5 million (est.)[2] South Korea: 990,968 373,599 killed[2] 229,625 wounded[2] 387,744 abducted/missing[2] North Korea: 1,550,000 (est.)[2]

v t e Korean War North Korean Offensive Operation Pokpoong Chuncheon Gorangpo Kaesong-Munsan Korea Strait Ongjin Uijeongbu Suwon Airfield Air Campaign Andong Chumonchin Chan Osan Pyongtaek Chonan Chochiwon Taejon Sangju Yongdong Hwanggan Hadong Notch Pusan Perimeter Masan P'ohang-Dong Taegu 1st Naktong Bulge Bowling Alley Battle Mountain Kyongju Haman Nam River Ka-San Tabu-Dong Yongsan 2nd Naktong Bulge United Nations Counteroffensive Haeju Inchon 2nd Seoul Hill 282 12 October 1950 Sariwon Yongju Kujin Chongju Chinese Intervention Onjong Unsan Pakchon Ch'ongch'on River Wawon Chosin Reservoir 3rd Seoul 1st and 2nd Wonju Operation Thunderbolt Twin Tunnels Hoengsong Chipyong-Ni 3rd Wonju Chuam-Ni Wonsan Operation Killer Operation Ripper Maehwa-San Operation Courageous Operation Tomahawk Operation Rugged Operation Dauntless 5th Seoul Imjin River Yultong Kapyong Soyang River Stalemate Bloody Ridge Heartbreak Ridge Han River Operation Commando 1st Maryang San 2nd Maryang San Sunchon Hill Eerie Sui-Ho Dam Old Baldy Operation Blaze White Horse Triangle Hill Pork Chop Hill Hook Outpost Harry Kumsong Samichon River Post Armistice D.M.Z. Conflict Blue House Raid EC-121 Incident Gangneung Border Incidents Yosu 1st Yeonpyeong 2nd Yeonpyeong Daecheong 3rd Yeonpyeong

The Korean War (Korean: 한국전쟁 or 조선전쟁, Hanja: 韓國戰爭 or 朝鮮戰爭; 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953^[10][a]) was a war between the Republic of Korea (supported primarily by the United States of America, with contributions from allied nations under the aegis of the United Nations) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (supported by the People's Republic of China, with military and material aid from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). The Korean War was primarily the result of the political division of Korea by an agreement of the victorious Allies at the conclusion of the Pacific War at the end of World War II. The Korean Peninsula was ruled by the Empire of Japan from 1910 until the end of World War II. Following the surrender of the Empire of Japan in September 1945, American administrators divided the peninsula along the 38th parallel, with U.S. military forces occupying the southern half and Soviet military forces occupying the northern half.^[12]

The failure to hold free elections throughout the Korean Peninsula in 1948 deepened the division between the two sides; the North established a communist government, while the South established a capitalist one. The 38th parallel increasingly became a political border between the two Korean states. Although reunification negotiations continued in the months preceding the war, tension intensified. Cross-border skirmishes and raids at the 38th Parallel persisted. The situation escalated into open warfare when North Korean forces invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950.^[13] It was the first significant armed conflict of the Cold War.^[14] In 1950 the Soviet Union boycotted the United Nations security council, in protest at representation of China by the Kuomintang / Republic of China government, which had taken refuge in Taiwan following defeat in the Chinese Civil War. In the absence of a dissenting voice from the Soviet Union, who could have vetoed it, the United States and other countries passed a security council resolution authorizing military intervention in Korea.

The United States of America provided 88% of the 341,000 international soldiers which aided South Korean forces in repelling the invasion, with twenty other countries of the United Nations offering assistance. Suffering severe casualties, within two months the defenders were pushed back to a small area in the south of the Korean Peninsula, known as the Pusan perimeter. A rapid U.N. counter-offensive then drove the North Koreans past the 38th Parallel and almost to the Yalu River, when the People's Republic of China (PRC) entered the war on the side of North Korea.^[13] Chinese intervention forced the Southern-allied forces to retreat behind the 38th Parallel. While not directly committing forces to the conflict, the Soviet Union provided material aid to both the North Korean and Chinese armies. The active stage of the war ended on 27 July 1953, when the armistice agreement was signed. The agreement restored the border between the Koreas near the 38th Parallel and created the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a 2.5-mile (4.0 km)-wide fortified buffer zone between the two Korean nations. Minor outbreaks of fighting continue to the present day.

With both North Korea and South Korea sponsored by external powers, the Korean War was a proxy war. From a military science perspective, it combined strategies and tactics of World War I and World War II: it began with a mobile campaign of swift infantry attacks followed by air bombing raids, but became a static trench war by July 1951.