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

• 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)

The Incheon Metropolitan City (인천, 仁川, literally 'wise river' - formerly romanized as 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 major transportation hub in northeast Asia with the world renowned Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port.

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.

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. 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.

Climate

Incheon has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa), and humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa, respectively). Like other metropolitan cities, incheon has a strong urban heat island effect. 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.

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.

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.

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.