This arched stone gate is located by Eungbong Mountain in Jayu Park, serving as the passageway connecting Incheon Port and Jeon-dong.
A sharp population growth within the Japanese settlement following the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 resulted in greater demand for residential land as well as an increase in goods transport.
This passage thus rapidly became critical for conveniently transporting shipments arriving through Jemulpo Port in the direction of Chukhyeon Station (today’s Dongincheon Station) and the Manseok-dong area.

Hongyemun Gate was constructed by the Japanese engineer battalion stationed in Incheon and was completed in 1908.
Initially known as the “Hyeolmun (lit. Artery Gate)”, the granite gate stands at about 10 m in height. Japanese engineers were in charge of the design of the gate and the supervision of its construction, and the actual construction work was performedby Korean and Chinese laborers.
Through the construction of this gate, the Japanese were able to annex further land areas to the Japanese settlement, pushing its borders all the way to nearby Korean villages and thereby resolving their problem of overpopulation.
This also afforded them a shortcut enabling faster and more convenient transport of supplies to the Japanese settlement. Beyond this gate the settlements of various other countries and a meteorological observatory could be seen, and the area also provideda sweeping view of the scenic seafront of Incheon with its many islands including Palmido and Yeongheungdo.