Incheon’s Seo District will officially be renamed Seohae-gu on July 1.
The change was finalized when the National Assembly plenary session approved the bill, the Act on the Renaming of Seo-gu, Incheon, introduced by Democratic Party Rep. Kim Gyo-heung, who represents Incheon Seo-gu A.
Officials describe the renaming as a symbolic step to reflect the area’s history and future vision.
Shortly after the bill passed on May 7, Rep. Kim said the name-change law effectively completes the overhaul of Incheon’s administrative system.
He said lawmakers moved the bill swiftly through focused committee reviews — from the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee — securing the legislative victory. He pledged to actively support Seohae-gu as it seeks to become a competitive city in transportation, culture, economic development and social welfare.
The core aim of the renaming is to move away from nationwide, direction-based administrative names and to strengthen the area’s distinct local identity.
Critics have long noted that major metropolitan areas such as Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju and Incheon all have districts named Seo-gu, which diminishes the distinctiveness of local names.
They also argue that directional names like East, West, South and North are remnants of the Japanese colonial-era administrative system.
Incheon’s Seo District has pursued a new name that better reflects its geography and future urban image. Officials say the name Seohae-gu emphasizes the district’s location on the Yellow Sea and its potential as a maritime city.
Rep. Kim said local politicians and administrators expect the new name to boost the city’s brand. He noted that Seo District has sustained rapid urban growth through the development of Cheongna International City and Geomdan New Town, the expansion of the Seoul metropolitan transport network, and the creation of industrial complexes.
He added that various government agencies and public facilities will gradually adopt the Seohae-gu name, and that road signs, bus information systems, public documents and address databases will be updated accordingly.
Incheon — Reporter Lee Chun-man lcm9504@viva100.com
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