Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae and Cheongju: AREX express and all-stop fares and times, limousine and late-night buses, taxis, city check-in, luggage services and onward KTX to the regions.
Overview: which airport, which way in
Incheon International Airport is the main gateway for overseas flights, on Yeongjong Island west of Seoul. Gimpo Airport lies about 15 km west of central Seoul and handles domestic flights, especially to Jeju, as well as some short international routes. Busan's Gimhae Airport and Cheongju Airport serve the south and the center of the country. Incheon advises allowing 1 to 2 hours for immigration after landing before you take public transport, so plan connections with that in mind (as of 2026-10-11).
The ways into Seoul from Incheon are the AREX railway (all-stop and express), airport limousine and regional buses, late-night buses and taxis. The rest of this guide gives the fares and times of each, then the onward connections to Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Gangneung and Jeju.
Incheon Terminal 1 and Terminal 2
Terminal 1 is at 272 Gonghang-ro and Terminal 2 at 446 Je2terminal-daero, both in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon. Korean Air and Asiana use Terminal 2, together with Air Busan, Air Seoul, Jin Air, Delta, KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Garuda Indonesia, China Airlines, SAS, Aeromexico and Xiamen Air. Most other airlines, including Jeju Air, Air Premia, Eastar Jet, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and United, use Terminal 1 (as of 2026-10-11, from the airport's list). Check the terminal printed on your ticket.
Between terminals a shuttle bus takes about 15 minutes from Terminal 1 (15 km, boarding on the 3rd floor near exit 8) and about 18 minutes from Terminal 2 (18 km, 3rd floor between exits 4 and 5), every 10 minutes or so from 05:00 to 23:00. The AREX railway links the two terminals in about 6 minutes for ₩1,050. A free lift car for wheelchair users runs on weekdays from 05:00 to 24:00.
Bus stops are by exit. At Terminal 1, Seoul buses stop at exits 3 to 7, Gyeonggi buses at exits 7 to 10, regional buses at exits 11 to 13, and Incheon buses at exits 2 to 3 and 13 to 14; ticket booths are inside near exits 4 and 9 and outside near exits 4, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 13. At Terminal 2 the transport center on B1 has ticket kiosks and a counter: regional and intercity buses use stops 1 to 10, Seoul buses stops 11 to 35 and Gyeonggi buses stops 36 to 45.
AREX all-stop trains: stations, times and fares
The all-stop AREX runs between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station and is also the link to Gimpo Airport. The airport's table gives minutes from Terminal 2: Terminal 1 after 6, Cheongna International City 27, Geomam 31 (Line 2), Gyeyang 37 (Line 1), Gimpo Airport 44 (Lines 5 and 9, Gimpo Gold Line, Seohae Line), Magok Naru 47 (Line 9), Digital Media City 54 (Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Line 6), Hongik University 58 (Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Line 2), Gongdeok 62 (Lines 5 and 6) and Seoul Station 66 (KTX, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Lines 1 and 4). From Terminal 1 that is about an hour to Seoul Station and about 38 minutes to Gimpo Airport.
Adult fares from the operator's terms effective 1 July 2026 (as of 2026-10-11): Seoul Station to Terminal 1 ₩4,750 and to Terminal 2 ₩5,350; Hongik University to Terminal 1 ₩4,650; Digital Media City to Terminal 1 ₩4,550; Gimpo Airport to Terminal 1 ₩4,350; Seoul Station to Gimpo Airport ₩1,750. Children aged 6 to 12 pay ₩550 plus half of the distance add-on, teenagers aged 13 to 18 pay ₩900 plus 80% of the add-on, and children under 6 ride free, up to three per adult. Older passengers, people with disabilities and eligible veterans ride free on the all-stop trains with ID.
A single-use ticket costs the card fare plus ₩100, with a ₩500 deposit refunded at the destination station. Using a transit card before 06:30 gives 20% off the base fare. The fare for most visitors is simply a tap of a transit card on the way in and out.
AREX Express: non-stop to Seoul Station
The Express stops only at Seoul Station, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and every seat is reserved. Travel time is about 43 minutes from Seoul Station to Terminal 1 and about 51 minutes to Terminal 2, with 8 minutes between the terminals (as of 2026-10-11). The airport's city-terminal page lists Express trains between 06:10 and 22:50, every 30 to 40 minutes. At Seoul Station you validate the ticket on B2 and board on B7.
The adult fare in the operator's terms effective 1 July 2026 is ₩18,500 between Seoul Station and Terminal 1 and ₩19,100 to Terminal 2; the child fare is ₩9,500 to either terminal. A refund before departure carries a ₩1,000 fee, none if requested the day before. You must be on the platform 3 minutes before departure, and tickets must be issued at least 5 minutes before.
Tickets are sold online, in the AREX Express app and at kiosks on Seoul Station B2 and the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 transport centers on B1; the kiosks speak Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. Trains can be searched up to 2 months ahead, a cart must be paid within 20 minutes, and one booking takes up to 12 passengers (kiosks: up to 8 adults and 4 children). Overseas cards accepted are Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club, American Express and UnionPay; Alipay, WeChat Pay and Samsung Pay work online only. The ticket carries a scannable code that opens the gate.
City check-in at Seoul Station and Gwangmyeong
Two city terminals let you check in and drop bags before you reach the airport (as of 2026-10-11). Seoul Station (B2 of the AREX station) is for Express ticket holders flying out of Incheon the same day; check-in runs 05:20 to 19:00 and closes 3 hours before a Terminal 1 flight and 3 hours 20 minutes before a Terminal 2 flight. Departure immigration is available from 05:30 to 19:00, and you then use the fast lane on the 3rd floor at Incheon. Which airlines take part varies by terminal.
Gwangmyeong Station (B1, west side of the KTX station) is open to any passenger flying out of Incheon that day, with check-in from 06:30 to 17:00; all screening takes place at Incheon. The KTX Airport Limousine bus links Gwangmyeong and the airport from 05:00 to 20:20 every 20 to 30 minutes, boarding at exit 4 on the west side of the first floor. Together they let you arrive at Seoul or Gwangmyeong by train, drop bags and go to the airport without luggage.
Airport limousine, regional and late-night buses
Premium airport limousines serve Seoul hotel districts and stations. The operator's fare table lists ₩17,000 for a direct trip between Seoul and Incheon, ₩16,000 when the bus goes via Gimpo Airport, and ₩8,000 between Seoul and Gimpo or between Gimpo and Incheon (as of 2026-10-11). Route 6001 (Dongdaemun and Myeongdong) costs ₩17,000 for adults and ₩12,000 for children, and boarding on routes 6001, 6002 and 6015 is first come, first served by cash, transit card or ticket, with no online reservation. Other numbered routes include 6005 (Seoul City Hall), 6007 (Yeouido and Yeongdeungpo), 6018 (Sindorim), 6019 (Naebang and Yeouido) and 6004 (Gasan Digital Complex and Gwangmyeong KTX).
Late-night buses run when the trains are quiet. From Terminal 1 all the Gyeonggi N-routes leave at 00:30 and 04:10, and from Terminal 2 at 00:10: N4000 (East Suwon, 90 minutes), N5300 (Seongnam), N5700 (Goyang and Paju), N7000 (Ansan and Siheung), N7001 (Bucheon), N7200 (Uijeongbu), N8842 (Gwangju and Gwacheon), N8843 (Guri and Namyangju), N8844 (Namyangju) and N8877 (Yongin and Suwon, 70 minutes to the Korean Folk Village). Fares depend on distance, and they stop only at designated city stops.
Regional buses leave from the exits listed above, and there are direct buses to Gimhae run by Samhwa Express from the Incheon office. For other provinces, the intercity bus companies of the destination run their own routes.
Taxis and international taxis
Incheon lists standard, First Class, oversized (deluxe or jumbo, nine seats) and hailing or pre-booked taxis, plus International Taxi and Smart Taxi, which offer foreign-language support (as of 2026-10-11). Base fares in Seoul are ₩4,800 for a standard taxi and ₩7,000 for a jumbo taxi. Trips from the airport to Seoul, Incheon, Goyang, Gwangmyeong, Gimpo and Bucheon carry no out-of-area surcharge; beyond them Seoul and Gyeonggi taxis add 20% and Incheon taxis 30%.
Night surcharges for a standard taxi in Seoul and Incheon are 20% from 22:00 to 23:00, 40% from 23:00 to 02:00 and 20% from 02:00 to 04:00; Gyeonggi taxis add 30% from 23:00 to 04:00, and jumbo taxis 20% from 22:00 to 04:00 (23:00 for Gyeonggi taxis). Use the marked stands: at Terminal 1 Seoul taxis wait at 5C, 6C and 6D, Incheon taxis at 5D, jumbo taxis at 7C and 8C and International Taxi at 4C; at Terminal 2 Seoul taxis wait at 7C, jumbo taxis at 7D and International Taxi at 3C. International Taxi can be booked on 1644-2255 and Smart Taxi on 032-743-2357. The airport warns that call vans posing as taxis solicit illegally and overcharge.
From the airport to Busan, Daegu, Gwangju and beyond
- Take the AREX to Seoul Station (all-stop, about an hour from Terminal 1) or the Express (about 43 minutes), then change to KTX. Seoul Station to Busan takes 2 h 18 min at the fastest and typically about 2 h 45 min, and costs ₩54,400 in a standard seat (as of 2026-10-11; see the intercity guide for the full table).
- Or avoid Seoul Station: ride the KTX Airport Limousine bus to Gwangmyeong KTX station (05:00 to 20:20, every 20 to 30 minutes) and board there. From Gwangmyeong the KTX timetable of 1 September 2026 gives these typical times and standard fares: Daejeon 48 minutes, ₩19,400; Dongdaegu (Daegu) 1 h 36 min, ₩36,900; Gyeongju 1 h 55 min, ₩42,300; Busan 2 h 26 min (fastest 2 h 09 min), ₩52,200; Gwangju Songjeong 1 h 44 min, ₩40,200; Mokpo 2 h 18 min, ₩46,200.
- For Gangneung, Jeonju and Yeosu, change at Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni or Yongsan (see the intercity guide for the stations and times). For Cheongju, ride the KTX to Osong, which is outside Cheongju city: Seoul to Osong typically takes 54 minutes and costs ₩16,900.
- To fly on from Seoul, take the all-stop AREX to Gimpo Airport (the fastest rail link between the two airports), or fly onward from Incheon on a transit-exclusive domestic flight if your airline offers one.
Gimpo Airport and domestic flights
Gimpo Airport, at 112 Haneul-gil in Gangseo-gu, about 15 km west of central Seoul, serves Subway Lines 5 and 9, the Gimpo Gold Line, the Seohae Line and the AREX all-stop (as of 2026-10-11). Domestic carriers listed by the airport operator are Korean Air, Asiana, Jeju Air, Jin Air, T'way, Air Busan, Air Seoul and Eastar Jet. From the AREX, Gimpo Airport is ₩1,750 from Seoul Station and ₩4,350 to Incheon Terminal 1.
Limousine bus 6101 leaves from Domestic Terminal stop 5 to Suraksan and Nowon stations for ₩7,500 cash, with the first bus at 07:25 and the last at 22:30. Bus 6707A runs between the international terminal, the domestic terminal and Incheon Airport from Domestic Terminal stop 14 for ₩7,500 cash, from 03:55 to 21:30, on the timetable that took effect on 1 August. Domestic flights go to Jeju and Busan, among other places; the Jeju guide covers the island end.
Gimhae (Busan) and Cheongju airports
Gimhae Airport has limousine buses from platform 3 on the first floor of both terminals (as of 2026-10-11). The bus to Seomyeon and Bujeon costs ₩6,000 by credit card only, runs 07:20 to 21:30 about every 70 minutes, and calls at Jurye, Dongeui University, Seomyeon and Bujeon. The bus to Haeundae and Gijang costs ₩9,500 by credit card only, runs 07:10 to 21:40 about hourly, and ends at Jangsan Station or continues to Gijang.
Cheongju Airport is at 980 Ochang-daero in Naesu-eup, Cheongwon-gu, in North Chungcheong. KTX trains do not stop in Cheongju city; the nearest KTX stop is Osong, outside the city, and the KTX timetable of 1 September 2026 shows 43 to 55 minutes from Seoul Station to Osong. For most visitors heading south, the practical choice is still Incheon plus KTX, or Gimpo to Busan on a domestic flight.
Late-night and early-morning arrivals
- Allow 1 to 2 hours for immigration after landing, then compare your exit time with these (as of 2026-10-11): AREX Express to Seoul Station is listed from 06:10 to 22:50; the T1 and T2 shuttle bus runs 05:00 to 23:00; late-night buses leave Terminal 1 at 00:30 and 04:10 and Terminal 2 at 00:10; and taxis are available at all hours at the marked stands.
- If you land too late for trains, take a late-night bus to a city near your hotel or a taxi: ask for the International Taxi stand (4C at Terminal 1, 3C at Terminal 2) if you want foreign-language help, and remember the night surcharge of 20% to 40%.
Luggage storage, delivery and baggage rules
At Terminal 1 the baggage-delivery company ZIMCARRY has counters on the 3rd floor near check-in counter B (07:00 to 21:00) and near check-in counter N (open 24 hours) (as of 2026-10-11). Korail+ also offers luggage delivery from the stations on your ticket, including Suseo and Dongtan. Oversized baggage is collected at counters on the 1st floor: one near arrival hall E at Terminal 1, and one in each of halls A and B at Terminal 2.
On the AREX trains each passenger may carry up to 2 items, each up to 32 kg and 158 cm in total dimensions; wheelchairs, strollers and folded bicycles are exempt, and non-folding bicycles are allowed only on Saturdays and public holidays on the all-stop train with advance booking. An over-limit item is charged ₩5,000 and a prohibited item ₩10,000. On the Express, baggage follows the airline's rules.
Accessibility and families
Incheon lends wheelchairs free at all information desks, and the WheelShare program lends electric wheelchairs free on the 3rd floor of Terminal 1 near exits 7 and 8 (30 manual wheelchairs with power-assist kits and 6 lightweight electric ones). Seven charging stations serve wheelchairs. A Special Assistance center has a waiting area, and electric carts and wheelchairs run from the 3rd-floor entrances to check-in and from the duty-free area to the gates; reserve through the airport on 1577-2600, service hours 07:00 to 22:00.
Priority security lanes are for people with walking disabilities, children under 7, adults over 70, pregnant women and up to three companions, with a Priority Card obtained at the airline check-in counter. A free wheelchair lift links the long-term car park and the terminal (about 20 minutes, 05:00 to 22:00, reserve on 82-32-741-3217). Accessible taxis can be booked through Incheon Transport Corporation on 1577-0320 or Seoul Facilities Corporation on 1588-4388. Every restroom area has at least one accessible restroom.
Tips
- Pick the transfer by your luggage and hotel: AREX all-stop (₩4,750 to Seoul Station from Terminal 1, as of 2026-10-11) for budget, Express (₩18,500) for speed and reserved seats, and the limousine or a taxi for door-to-door.
- Bring a transit card for the all-stop line and note the terminal on your ticket before you leave the city; if you are flying from Seoul Station city check-in, arrive 3 hours before departure at the latest.
- Keep the first 1 to 2 hours after landing free for immigration, and do not book a tight KTX connection on the day you arrive.
Sources and last update
Last updated: 11 October 2026. Figures are as of the date shown.
Source: Incheon International Airport Corporation · Airport Railroad · Korea Airports Corporation · Korail · Airport limousine bus operator · Wikipedia · Checked 11 Oct 2026
Written by HOLIDAY in its own words from official public information. This is not an official publication of the Korea Tourism Organization or any government body.
HOLIDAY refreshes this article regularly as fares, hours and event dates change.
