Gyeongin Railway Opens

Korea’s first railway opened between Noryangjin and Jemulpo; with the Han River bridge in 1900 it reached Seoul.

The American James Morse won the concession in 1896 but, short of funds, sold it to a Japanese consortium. The 33.2 km Noryangjin–Jemulpo section opened on 18 September 1899. Japan also built the Gyeongbu (1905) and Gyeongui (1906) lines, which served its advance onto the continent and the export of Korean resources.