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South Korea Travel Guide

Plan your trip to South Korea

Choose a city and airport first, then compare airlines and routes.

Seoul is the capital of the Republic of Korea. Check the specific airport on your flight itinerary and distinguish Incheon International Airport from Gimpo International Airport.

Capital
Seoul
Currency
Won / KRW
Common language
CLDR territory-language data records commonly used languages including Korean. Usage varies by region; CLDR population figures are estimates.
Time
IANA time zone Asia/Seoul (UTC+9, no daylight saving time); confirm local times on your itinerary

Major airports in South Korea

Compare location, airlines and ground transport to choose the most convenient airport for your trip.

ICN

Incheon International Airport

Seoul

GMP

Gimpo International Airport

Seoul

CJJ

Cheongju International Airport/Cheongju Air Base (K-59/G-513)

Cheongju

CJU

Jeju International Airport

Jeju City

HIN

Sacheon Airport / Sacheon Air Base

Sacheon

KPO

Pohang Airport (G-815/K-3)

Pohang

KUV

Gunsan Airport / Gunsan Air Base

Gunsan

KWJ

Gwangju Airport

Gwangju

MWX

Muan International Airport

Muan

Airlines for travel in South Korea

An airline’s hubs can determine whether your trip is nonstop or requires a connection.

Airlines, codes, key hubs and networks for travel in South Korea
AirlineCodeKey hubsNetwork
Korean AirKEICN / CJU / PUS / GMP / PEK / NRT / HND / KIX / NGO / PVG / TAE / TAOThe airline provides booking-based online check-in. Some cases are ineligible, so check the conditions for your own trip.

How to travel around South Korea by air

What to expect when flying between cities or connecting after an international arrival.

Flying between cities in South Korea

  • Drop checked bags after Korean Air online check-in
    Eligible Korean Air passengers can retrieve their booking on the website or app for online check-in. If checking baggage, use the self-service bag drop or airport counter before proceeding to the departure area.
  • Korean domestic routes and current schedules
    Korean Air's 2024 domestic route map shows Jeju connections with Incheon, Gimpo, Cheongju, Gwangju, Daegu, Sacheon, Yeosu, Busan and Ulsan. The map is not a current timetable; use Korean Air's official route service to confirm airport pairs before booking. The service displays schedules for the next 30 days and is updated daily.

Arriving from another country

  • Check eligibility before using the official e-Arrival Card
    The Korean Ministry of Justice provides declaration eligibility and exclusion guides, and its official e-Arrival Card portal states that no fee is required. Check applicability for your actual entry status before using the official form; do not assume every traveller must submit one.

Popular cities to visit in South Korea

Open an airport guide to compare airlines, nonstop destinations and practical travel information.

Seoul GMP / ICN

The national capital city.

International routes to South Korea

Compare arrival airports and plan for time zones, baggage and onward connections.

Popular international flight routes to South Korea
RouteArrival airportRegion
NRT to ICNICNJP
LAX to ICNICNUS
HND to GMPGMPJP

Before you fly to South Korea

Complete these checks before departure.

Distinguish ICN from GMP

Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport (GMP) are different airports. Check the ticket’s airport code for transport, connections and domestic onward travel rather than assuming a shared terminal complex.

Explore South Korea travel information

Continue to detailed pages for cities, airports, airlines and routes.

Cities

Seoul

Airports

Seoul ICNSeoul GMPCheongju CJJ

Airlines

Korean Air

To

Narita → SeoulLos Angeles → SeoulTokyo → Seoul

South Korea flight and airport FAQs

Does the official Korean e-Arrival Card require a fee?

The official portal states that no fee is required. Check the official eligibility guide for your entry status before deciding whether to submit.

After Korean Air online check-in, can checked bags go straight to the departure area?

Online check-in does not replace bag drop. Check baggage at the self-service facility or airport counter before proceeding to the departure area.