So it’s your first time traveling to Seoul, South Korea, and you just landed at Incheon Airport? What now? Navigating at the airport is sometimes self-explanatory. But not for everyone. Some people are just bad with directions.
For the anxious, first-timers, the overthinkers, and introverts who are too shy to ask (there’s nothing wrong with asking, by the way!), this is your step-by-step check-out process once you land at Incheon Airport, South Korea.
Step 1: Health Declaration or the yellow form
By the entrance, Airport staff will point you to tables where you can get the yellow form. Fill that up. Most information will come from your passport and boarding pass. After filling out the details, head to the kiosk and submit your yellow form. The staff will take a photo of you and screen your passport with your yellow form.
Step 2: Subway Train to Incheon Airport
My golden rule when going to places is to go with the flow. I didn’t have an idea that I had to ride a subway train to Incheon Terminal 1. I panicked a bit when I saw people going down the escalator. So take note of this: There’s a one-stop subway blue train that will take you to Incheon Airport Terminal 1.
Step 3: Immigration Process
The next stop is the immigration process. Before you line up, make sure to fill up the arrival card. I forgot about this and headed straight to the line. As a solo traveler, I am very observant. I wonder what some of the travelers were holding. (It looks the same!) And the realization that I missed a step kicked in. You can get the arrival card from the table section by the wall before the immigration lane.
Step 4: Baggage Claim
You’re almost there. Check the screen on top of the baggage carousel; if it matches your flight number, then that’s where to claim your luggage. Quick and easy. Unless you don’t have anything to declare at customs, I think you’re good.
Step 5: Exit Incheon
It’s time to exit Incheon and make sure you researched your preferred transportation ahead of time. There are limousine buses and airport taxis outside. If you’re following the hallyu wave (especially kpop), the space is very familiar to you. Lol. Taxi is very expensive from Incheon to Seoul. I tried AREX to Seoul Station. Read my AREX experience here.
Is it the same when departing from Seoul? On the way back, the procedure is almost the same. The only difference is that you’ll be allowed to use Auto Immigration after passing the IO by the entrance gate to screen your passport.
You also have to follow the instructions since some gates will require you to ride a train from Incheon to your gate. My gate was 100+ so I had to take a train going to my gate.
Important: Check your departure schedule at Incheon Airport website. When I was departing Seoul, my gate number is not yet indicated on the flight schedule board so I didn’t know which tunnel to take, what my gate number is, and check in counter. I only found out through the website. Although any tunnel can take you to your tunnel, it’s always time efficient if you take the shortest route.
Be careful: My convenience store experience at the airport was when I received a torn bill worth 5K KWON (Php 200+). Probably because most people at the airport are in a hurry or just in the mindset of going home so they didn’t mind checking their bills. Please check your money and make sure it’s crisp and new so you won’t have problems exchanging it to Peso when you head back to Manila.
Bonus tip:
Do not be in a hurry to buy a T-money card. If you’re taking AREX, Seoul Station has a lot of convenience stores – GS25 / Nice 2 CU that sell it!
If your T-money acts up, there’s a “call option” at the ticket barrier. Just press it and talk to the operator. Ask them to speak in English. They will ask you to tap your T-money card and they will unlock the passage for you. If this happens to you, message me on Instagram: @theidior!
This happened to me and since there was no attendant in subways, I was stuck for a while. I asked a Korean citizen who happened to ask me to take a photo of himself while holding his driver’s license. Tehee. Again, don’t be afraid to ask. 🫶🏻
For more tips, read my article here. Here’s a short TikTok video of my Seoul transportation review. If you’re a BTS ARMY, check out my Old Big Hit Building visit here! Here are some cities I visited in Seoul!
Have a safe trip! 감사합니다! Welcome to the land of BTS. Lol. Share this article if you know a friend who needs this! Bookmark this link to manifest your South Korea travel dreams.
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