Korean Job Discussion Forums

justaguy · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Location: seoul

Does anyone know why is there no airport buses or trains running late at night? Between midnight and 5:00am there are airplanes landing at Incheon but there are no buses or trains running. This is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen.

Incheon has flights coming in from Toronto, New York and other places at 2:00 and 3:00am but there is no way to leave the airport. Passengers who just got off a 13hr flight are forced to hang around in the airport for hours waiting to get out of there.

Your only options are to wait 3 or 4 hrs, or be fleeced by a taxi driver.

Be prepared if you arrive in Korea at night.

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

Yep. Although I must admit that I don't know many places with 24-hour mass transit.

justaguy · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Location: seoul

It doesn't have to be 24hr mass transit. But they could certainly run a few buses or a train into Kimpo Airport or Seoul which is where most people are going anyway.

If you can speak Korean ask the night workers at the airport what they think of it. They are just as pissed off about it too.

Jane · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

That is incorrect. Incheon airport runs buses to accomodate passengers on the 2am arrival Toronto flight,as well as other flights coming in late, however routes are limited.
Just ask the info desk in the arrivals hall or check the airport limousine website.

Why is there less transport from the airport during the night?? Cuz there are less flights coming in and out of Incheon during those times!

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Plan accordingly when you make your flight arrangements. No airport has 24 hour transit service. Not JFK, LAX or Heathrow.

Robot_Teacher · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Location: Robotting Around the World

My home airport (STL) doesn't offer late night or super early morning arrivals nor departures so it's OK that Metro trains shut down from 12AM to 5AM, but Incheon is so far outside of Seoul and away from everything else. Guess it's kinda like BWI where you have to take a $100 1 hour cab ride to get that 4AM flight out of Washington D.C. BWI. I arrived at Incheon at 3:30AM, but was schedule to arrive at 5AM. Luckily, my driver knew I'd be early so he was waiting immediately after clearing customs and picking up my bags.

Incheon does need more transportation as it's a real 24 hour a day airport and it is said a high speed train is being built to connect it to Seoul station. Maybe they'll have something like 1 train an hour during the wee hours of the morning to accommodate those who need to ground travel to ICN in the middle of the night. Can anyone enlighten us more on a high speed train to Incheon? What about late night buses to and from Seoul from the provinces?

Even more, it's worse if you live in a small town and the airport bus takes you to a bigger city such as Wonju, Chuncheon, or Gangneung, but there's no connecting bus home, because the last one is at an early 7PM. Or you'll have to spend the 1st day of vacation to get to Seoul and then spend the night in the airport for your early morning departure and spend the last day getting home from Seoul. I understand it is inconvenient as I've been researching this to see if I can go to Japan on a weekend in April for a photogenic Cherry Blossom festival. Doesn't look like it's possible with only 2 days off unless in Busan or Seoul and there are no 3 day weekends during this entire 5 month semester. Not a single 3 day weekend to be had. That is the craziest thing I ever seen about a calendar.

losing_touch · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: Ulsan - I think!

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

It'd be nice if they had some little rooms with beds that could be rented hourly. At least take a nap while waiting for the morning buses.

justaguy · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Location: seoul

thrylos · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

There are three late night buses (12-5am) from the airport to Kangnam bus terminal, Seoul Station, and Central City.

It's only one bus to one destination every 2 hours (can't remember the exact times, but remember the announcement over the airport PA system) and you end up getting stuck in one of those places until 5-6am when everything starts up anyhow.

Unless you live in Seoul, the airport is a much better place to wait than those places in town. But the (limited) option is there....

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

I once checked it out and found the one bus every two hours Seoul station or Gangnam as mentioned above.
There is a 24 hour Sauna on the bottom floor of the airport that is 20,000 won for night time entry. I never slept in a Korean sauna, but I think it is a common thing to do.