Icheon

Not to be confused with Incheon.

Icheon is a city in Gyeonggi-do Province.

Understand

A small city south east of Seoul, Icheon is a center for Korean ceramics and holds the annual Icheon Ceramic festival - the largest ceramic culture festival in Korea.

Get in

By bus

There is an intercity coach service between Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Metro Line 3) and 1 Icheon Bus Terminal. The journey is 2300 KWN each way (as of May 2015), with a bus departing every 30 minutes and takes just over an hour if you can avoid the heavy traffic period. You can pick up tickets at the ticket office if needed as the ticket machines only present locations in Hangeul and there are plenty of refreshments and food available at the station for travelers who skipped breakfast that morning.

Climate

Icheon is surrounded by the Gwangju Mountains in the north and west and the Charyeong Mountains in the south, and the east is a relatively low and flat topography, and Bokhacheon Stream, a tributary of the Namhangang River, flows to the center of the city. The annual average temperature is 11.7℃. The coldest month is January, –3.1℃, the hottest month is August, 25.0℃, and the annual average temperature difference is 28.1℃, which is quite large. The average annual value of annual precipitation is 1315.9mm. January's precipitation is the lowest at 19.2mm, and July's precipitation is the highest at 364.3mm. The sum of precipitation in the summer is 780.5mm, about 60% of the annual precipitation, and the sum of precipitation in the winter is 71.7mm, about 5% of the annual precipitation. The average annual wind speed is 1.3 m/s, and the average monthly wind speed is the lowest at 1.0 m/s in September and October and the highest at 1.7 m/s in March and April. The annual average relative humidity is 66.3%, the lowest at 55.2% in April and the highest at 77.1% in July. The average relative humidity in summer is humid at 73.5%, and the relative humidity in spring and winter is relatively slightly dry at 60.3%.

Icheon
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       26     2 −10       92     6 −6       38     13 −1       72     19 5       99     25 11       175     28 17       550     30 21       139     30 21       286     26 15       39     20 6       95     12 0       100     3 −8 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Korea Meteorological Administration
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       1     36 14       3.6     43 21       1.5     55 30       2.8     66 41       3.9     77 52       6.9     82 63       22     86 70       5.5     86 70       11     79 59       1.5     68 43       3.7     54 32       3.9     37 18 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

By Taxi

• You can take a taxi at the taxi stand. The taxi stand is usually near the bus stop.

• As of July 2023, the basic fare for regular taxis is ₩4,800 (₩5,800 at night), with a surcharge of ₩100 applied according to time and distance. (The basic fare is up to 1.6 km (1 mi), plus ₩100 per 135 m.)

Maps

There is a well stocked tourist information center located at the entrance of Seolbong Park with maps available in English, Korean or Chinese.

Get around

By Bus

Icheon's traveling spots are not so far from Its Terminal. Cycling term is not so long in the center of Icheon. So, Bus can be one option.

See

• 1 Seolbong Park and Lake (설봉공원). Found at the base of Seolbongsan mountain, the park is a medium size space that also plays host to the city's many traditional festivals. Year round there are some small ceramic based exhibitions, two museums and a sculpture garden to meander through. The park itself is 20 minutes walk from the town center or an even less demanding 5 minute cab ride. Entrance is free although the museums will charge a small fee. 
• 2 Icheon Ceramics Village (이천도자기마을). Over 300 small shops and workshops sharing the goal to pass on Korean Ceramic making traditions onto the next generation. You can experience ceramic making itself or purchase a few unique pieces. 
• 3 Starlight Garden Space (별빛정원우주), 287-76, Deoki-ro 154beon-gil, Majang-myeon, ☏ +82 31 645 0002. 17:00~23:00. It is a place where various images of the universe are displayed, and you can take pictures in many photo zones. Over 14years old ₩12,000, 3years old~13years old ₩6,000. (updated Nov 2022)
• 4 The Pig Museum (돼지박물관), Pig Theme Park 129-7 Imosan-ro 372beon-gil, Yul-myeon, ☏ +82 507 1366 7540. 10:00~17:00 (Closed on Monday). This is an educational farm where you can learn about life and environmental love. Adult ₩7,000, Teenager ₩6,000. (updated Nov 2022)
• 5 Deokpyeong Dinosaur Arboretum (덕평공룡수목), Deokpyeong Dinosaur Arboretum, 282, Jakchon-ro, Majang-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, ☏ +82 031-633-5029. 9am - 6pm. Icheon Deokpyeong Dinosaur Arboretum is a dinosaur-themed arboretum that combines dinosaur and insect themes with the arboretum in a fir forest of 80,000 pyeong at the foot of the arterial mountain in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do. (updated Sep 2024)

Buy

• Rice - Icheon is the most famous city for rice in the South Korea.

Eat

• 1 Ei Jin shop (이진상회), 648, Seoicheon-ro, Majang-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, ☏ +82 0507-1497-8882. 9am - 9:30 am. Binary Sanghoe Coffee, Binary Sanghoe Bakery, The Binary, and Complex Cultural Space. 5,000 pyeong of walking trail, coffee from a high-end roasting process, You can find a bakery with fresh ingredients, Filming and venue rental and various cultural events are regularly operated. (updated Sep 2024)

Drink

• 1 Cafe Anuban (카페 아누반), Cafe Anuban, 109-42, Seocheon-ro 320beon-gil, Majang-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, ☏ +82 0507-1367-7759. 10am - 9am. Icheon Cafe Anuban is within a minute of Icheon Lotte Premium Outlet car. It is equipped with a parking lot that can accommodate 100 vehicles. It is free of charge to all visitors without any time limit. (updated Sep 2024)

Go next

• Sansooyou village is just north of Icheon and offers a few temples and Naksujae Waterfall