Seoul Airport
In Seoul, there are 2 airports: Incheon Airport and Gimpo Airport. Let's get to know each of them.
Incheon Airport.
It has two and a half terminals. The first terminal is connected to an additional branch called Concourse by a special small railway.
"Semiterminal" Concourse
If your boarding gate number is greater than 100, you arrive (or depart) from this branch. It takes about 20 extra minutes during departure and arrival: walk to the middle of Terminal 1, take the train, wait for the train (about 5 minutes), ride the train (also about 5 minutes). This is the departure process; for arrival, it's the same in reverse. Duty-free shops are available in both the main Terminal 1 (gates up to 100) and the Concourse. You can also exchange money in both places. The baggage check-in and boarding pass retrieval procedure during departure, as well as the baggage claim and all immigration formalities upon arrival, take place in the "main" Terminal 1.
"Main" Terminal 1
Arrival
Follow the signs to "Arrivals"/"Baggage Claim". If you are offered to fill out forms, don't refuse; the immigration authorities will still require them. If you were given forms on the plane, that's even better, as it saves time during the flight, and you won't have to spend time writing upon arrival. The following forms are involved: an immigration card (prepare your passport and boarding pass to fill it out); if you have something to declare - a customs declaration (you can take it anyway - read if you have anything prohibited or subject to declaration - it won't hurt); if you have nothing to declare - you don't need to fill out the form. Quarantine and medical papers come and go; if you are required to fill them out, then fill them out.
Do not bring raw (unprocessed) products to Korea
Do not bring raw products (sausage, cheese, etc.) with you - there are dogs roaming around the airport that are aware of prohibited items. The last chance for you to open your suitcase and discard something inappropriate is at the baggage claim; you can read the warnings right there about the consequences of violations.
Do you have a meeting at the airport?
If you have a meeting with our representative - guide/assistant/driver - they will be waiting for you at one of the exits in the waiting hall (where everyone stands with signs). Which one? There is a board above the baggage claim and behind the immigration officer. Your flight number corresponds to the baggage carousel number and the letter (Latin) of the exit (where you will be met). If you exit through another exit - they definitely won't meet you there. If by chance that happened - don't worry, just look around in the Arrivals hall - you will see another board with the same information; just go to the right letter and look for the sign - with your last name if you have an individual transfer; with the word "INTE" if it's a group transfer. If there is no information (for example, if you took a long time to exit), you can find a board with a large number of flights in the Arrivals hall or ask for information at the Information desk. In your voucher, you will also find a phone number to contact us if necessary.
You might be tempted by the Duty-Free shops on the way out. The person who meets you does not expect you to use them. It's better to leave the Duty-Free for the departure; it's no worse.
We'll wait for you for 90 minutes. If for some reason you can't make it, call us (contact via Whatsapp is also possible).
Departure
Document check-in and baggage drop-off take place on the 3rd floor. If you have arranged a transfer without a guide - the driver will drop you off on the 3rd floor, and you only need to go inside the building.
Procedure:
- Find the check-in counter (the letters of the Latin alphabet A-M are on the right)
- Drop off your baggage (sharp objects, nail files, liquids, creams, kimchi, soups - put them in your checked baggage if the container exceeds 100 ml; if the individual container is 99 ml or less, you can take such tubes or packets up to 1 liter in your carry-on; power bank - large batteries - move them from checked baggage to carry-on) and receive your boarding pass
- Go to the nearest numbered exit (Arabic numeral)
- Security check for carry-on baggage; if liquids exceeding 100 ml (container) are found - they will be thrown away right there
- You are in the duty-free zone; the responsibility for being late for the flight lies with you. They won't wait; they'll call out and depart. Duty-free shops accept cards and cash (euros, dollars, yuan, won); you can even pay partially with one currency and partially with others for the goods.
Terminal 2
Arrivals are also on the 1st floor, departures on the 3rd floor. When you book a transfer with us, we will meet you on the 1st floor, and the driver will take you to the 3rd floor for departure.
There are two exits upon arrival. The person meeting you can physically be at only one - the one indicated on the Arrivals board (above the baggage claim, behind the immigration officer, or directly in the Arrivals hall). If you don't see the sign - it's worth checking the board, maybe you exited through the wrong exit. In your voucher, you will find a phone number (contact via Whatsapp is possible).
Special case: group transfer
In our group package programs, transfers are usually made for a specific flight. If you arrive earlier - you may have to wait; if you arrive later - you will either have to arrange an individual transfer or travel to the city on your own (more about that later).
You can also arrive (one hour earlier than the specified arrival time in the specific tour and in your voucher at least for an hour; otherwise, a group transfer is not provided) at Terminal 2, and our transfer may be from Terminal 1 (or vice versa). Of course, the guide won't be able to be in two places at once and will wait for the "main group" at Terminal 1. What to do? You have three options:
- Arrange an individual transfer from one terminal to another. It's much cheaper than an individual transfer to the city (check the cost with your tour operator)
- Use the free shuttle from one terminal to another. From Terminal 2 to Terminal 1, the shuttle departs from; from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, the shuttle departs from.
- Go down to the basement, following the signs for Airport Railroad; buy a ticket, and after 10-15 minutes, you will already be in the desired terminal
How to get to the city on your own?
Metro.
Boarding is done directly in the arrival terminal, in the basement. Follow the signs for Airport Railroad. Tickets are purchased with cash at the ticket machines near the turnstiles (entrance to the platform).
Buses. Bus stops and ticket sales points are located immediately after you exit the terminal and go outside.
Taxi.
Taxis are also available outside the terminal (you need to cross the road once).
How to get from the city to the airport?
The same means of transport as above. Just pay attention to your departure terminal.
Gimpo Airport (Gimpo/김포/Gimpo)
It is closer to the city - it takes about 1 hour by metro from the city center, while to Incheon it takes about 1.5 hours. There is only one international terminal here, but there is also a domestic terminal from which flights within Korea depart - it's a separate building. Don't confuse them if you have a departure from Gimpo.
Exit in the International terminal is only one, so you should have no problem finding the person who is meeting you. The registration and immigration formalities are the same as in Incheon Airport.
What to do upon arrival at the airport?
If you need mobile internet throughout Korea - it's worth getting a sim card with internet in the arrivals hall; usually, sim cards are sold for a certain period, depending on the company - 5, 10, etc. days. You will need your passport and cash or a card. Please note that the sim card only allows you to receive calls; however, you can make calls through Whatsapp. In Seoul, you will waste time looking for a place where they sell exactly the same cards. At the airport, you can also rent a phone (device) if you need one; incoming calls are free; you will need to leave a deposit or a credit card; you must return the device to the counter in the airport indicated by the staff when you received the phone before departure.
Should you exchange currency at the airport?
It's up to you to decide: the rate is slightly worse than in the city, but you won't have to waste time searching for an exchange office.
About Currency and Cards
Please note: in group tours, we strongly recommend exchanging currency either at the airport or in Seoul; in the provinces, the guide will not be able to help you, and you will either have to exchange currency at the hotel at a usually disadvantageous rate or stay without Korean won. Foreign currency is not accepted for payment in Korea (if they accepted it from you, your friends, or acquaintances - it's an exception, and you shouldn't count on it happening again).
Credit cards Visa and Master Card are accepted almost everywhere; even sellers at markets can often take out a portable terminal for payment. Exception: metro. Here you need cash.
Unfortunately, sometimes cards do not work (for some reason, the Lotte company is especially selective - department stores, Lotte World Park, etc .; also, cards may not work in taxis). Therefore, in any case, we recommend that you have cash in won.
Unionpay cards are usually accepted by ATMs - you can withdraw cash; but they are rarely accepted in stores. Unfortunately.
About "All-Inclusive"
In Korea, the AI, HB systems are not common. Count only on breakfast at the hotel and on a la carte service if there are restaurants in the hotel.
About Public Transport
Metro.
Signs, indicators, and station names are duplicated in English. Tickets are purchased in Seoul to your destination station. The procedure is as follows:
- Press English on the special ticket vending machine with a screen.
- Find your destination station (the screen will show the alphabet; press the first letter of the station name, then the name of the station; if the name is not on the list - scroll the page using the NEXT button). Click on the station name.
- Select the number of adult (Adult) and child (Child) tickets.
- Insert the prepared banknote (I would recommend preparing 10,000 won) into the machine.
- The machine will give you the tickets and change. All the change.
- Use the tickets like everyone else: touch the turnstile, which will let you through, and go to the platform.
- Attention: sometimes there are two platforms, and trains pass between them. In this case, I recommend paying attention to which platform you need (look for signs with the names of the main/hub stations on the wall and compare them with the subway map - see if these stations are on your route). If you end up on the wrong platform - either look for a transfer to the other one; or, if you didn't find it, go back to the turnstiles, look for the gates with the HELP sign, press the corresponding button. A staff member will see you on the camera, open the door; go to the desired turnstiles and press HELP again; the staff member should let you through again.
- Upon exit, do not forget to return your one-time ticket - you will receive 500 won as a refund!
- If you plan to use the metro (or buses, or taxis) several times, you will need reusable cards like T-Money. I would recommend getting at least 10 rides. This way, you will save a bit.
Bus
It's a lottery in the sense that there are no English signs inside the buses. You cannot distract the driver with conversations, especially in an unfamiliar English language. You will have little time to figure out if it's your stop. So, be careful with buses.
Buses in Korea now only accept cashless payments. You need a T-Money card. Plastic cards of non-Korean production may not work.
Taxi
In recent times, catching a taxi has been quite challenging, unless you live in a large hotel. We recommend installing the Kakao Taxi app on your smartphone in advance. The registration process takes time and internet traffic.
Keep in mind that Black taxis in Seoul cost almost 2 times more than taxis of other colors.
How to find your way around.
Google Maps in Korea shows a map of the area. But for navigation, it's better to use the local Naver Map app; the English version also works.
Offline, you can use the maps.me app.
Customs regulations
If you have nothing to declare, you don't need to fill out the customs declaration form.
Travelers with goods to declare must fill out the customs declaration form.
If you are traveling with family, please fill out only one form per family.
Specify the items subject to declaration. Then, provide traveler information and sign the form.
You can fill out the declaration form in the arrival hall. However, to expedite the entry procedure, we recommend filling out the form in advance on the plane.
If you have separately shipped items or unregistered baggage, please indicate them when completing the customs declaration form and obtain approval from the customs officer during the customs inspection.
If you want to pay the tax later, you can discuss this with a customs officer.
Mobile declaration: Travelers arriving through Terminal 2 of Incheon Airport can submit the traveler declaration form through the Korea Customs Service application or website for a faster and more convenient immigration process.
Time
It is 9 hours ahead of London and 6 hours ahead of Moscow.
Visa
You will need either KETA or a visa to enter the country. The list of countries eligible for KETA can be found here: https://www.k-eta.go.kr/portal/guide/viewetaalification.do. For stays up to 60 days (Russia) or 30 days (Kazakhstan), a visa is not required for Korea. Passport expiration date: must exceed the departure date from Korea.
Additional Information:
To avoid unpleasant moments related to route delays, please arrive at the airport no later than 2 hours before departure, at the train station no later than 30 minutes before the train's departure. Delay may result in the loss of service on the voucher, and unauthorized and unmotivated departure will not be compensated. If you encounter problems related to the quality of reception or service, issues are resolved on-site with the representative of the receiving party.