Korean Job Discussion Forums

[notesjones]

Hello, I will be traveling to South Korea on the 31st of August to begin teaching English for a hakwon in Pusan. I've got the ticket to Seoul worked out; however, I am having a hard time deciding how to get from Seoul to Pusan. Just so you know, I need to be in Pusan by the next day, Sept. 1st. My flight arrives in Seoul at 7PM. There is a connecting flight from Seoul to Pusan that leaves at 8PM. However, with customs and finding my baggage and then going all the way back through security to the terminal, I don't see myself catching that flight. That leaves the trains. Does anyone have any words of wisdom when traveling by train from Seoul to Pusan? By looking at the Korail website, looks like I want to take the Gyeongbu express train. How much does it cost? The booking website that korail redirects me to whenever I want to find the train schedule, barota.com, lists the times, but won't tell me the fare. Also, is the station in the airport itself, or do I need to hop a subway or bus? These seem like stupid questions to me, but I am having a hard time finding the answers on the Korail website, so I'd appreciate the help. Thanks.

[IamBabo]

I don't know about the location from Incheon airport, but if you take the KTX from Seoul, it will cost about 45,000won to Busan. Gets you there in about 3 hours....

[peppermint]

There's no rail connection to the airport- yet. You can get an airport bus to either Seoul or Yongsan station and catch the KTX train down (high speed train) or you might be able to catch an airport bus direct to pusan.

[FUBAR]

You are arriving in Incheon then. You would have to take the airport limosuine into Seoul. I don't know if there is a bus that goes directly to Seoul Station. The people living in Seoul can help you on that one. When I arrived in INcheon last time, I don't remember seeing a bus that went to Busan. You could make the bus trek down to Daegu, sleep there overnight and catch an early train to Busan. The earliest train leaves at 6:10.

In any event, the last KTX train leaves from Seoul Station at 9:50 and will cost you 44,800 won. There is also a slow train that leaves from there at 11pm that costs 24,800 won. That is your best option in my opinion.

I do think that you can make the flight to Busan if you are landing and flying out of Incheon though. If your flight to Busan is from Gimpo, there is no way you can do that in an hour. Good luck.

[peemil]

Walking is healthy and good for the environment. Busan is just down the road from Incheon.

[babtangee]

There is definitely a airport bus from Incheon to Seoul station. I've caught it several times.

Sounds like you'll be waiting for the 11 pm snail train to Busan though (doubt the bus will get you there by 9.20).

All aboard!

[Ya-ta Boy]

Is the last flight to Pusan at 8? It's a pretty big hassle getting your luggage at Incheon, hauling it into the train station and finding a place for it on the train, then lugging it to a hotel or whatever.

Wouldn't it be a lot more convenient to go thru Customs, get on another plane and fly 45 minutes down to Pusan?

Check the flight times from Seoul to Pusan.

[Flossie]

I really think trying to get the flight to Pusan is the best bet. So much quicker and you will be really tired from the other flight. The airport limousines to Seoul or Yongsan Stations take about two hours (standing and waiting at the airport for 10 or so minutes for the next bus, then traveling into the city) then you've got to wait for the train, followed by a 3 hour trip (KTX express train) or a five or so hour trip (snail train).

Anyway, the 8.05pm Korean Airlines flight leaves Incheon International so I would have thought you don't need to worry about your luggage. Can't they transfer it through for you? I flew Seoul to Sydney and transfered to a domestic Melbourne flight that left from Sydney's International Terminal. I didn't need to worry about luggage. I did the customs thing at Melbourne. I just had to go to the transit counter and get a boarding pass for my next flight.

Where are you flying from? Can you go back to your travel agent and ask them if they can check it out for you?

I shall hunt out some times and prices for you from korail. I had the same trouble as you with the English version last week. You have to use the Korean one.

[Flossie]

Oops. I just found this is the Q&A section on Incheon's website. I guess you have to get your luggage, huh? Yep, not enough time for the plane. Will hunt out those train tickets for you.

How to transfer to domestic flight at ICN
Thank you for visiting our website!

The procedures (Internationl -> domestic)
�� Arrival (2nd floor) �� �� Quarantine Regulations (2nd floor) ��
�� Arrival Immigration(2nd floor) �� �� Baggage Claim (1st floor) ��
Customs Immigration(1st floor) �� �� Check-in with Baggage (3rd
floor) �� Quarantine Regulations,Customs Declaration �� Security
Inspection �� Boarding

You need to bear in mind you have to take your baggage on 1st floor.

[Flossie]

My tuppences worth: Take a taxi from Incheon to Seoul Station then take the 9:50pm KTX. It gets into Busan Stn at 12:42 am. Taxi fee around 40,000won I think. KTX fee 44,800 won. There are still about 500 seats left. (Oh, is someone meeting you in Busan? Do you know where you will be staying?)

If you try to save money and don't take a taxi then you will probably have to take the late regular train which takes about 5 or so hours. You'll be absolutely shattered and no good to anyone unless you can sleep like a baby on the train (something I've never managed to do). Oh, and bring earplugs in your carry on luggage. You'll need them taking a train in Korea. Everyone will be talking on their cellphone, or getting drunk or something so if you're tired, you won't want to deal with that.

Last bus from Incheon Airport to Busan leaves at 6:40pm so too early.
Last flight from Incheon to Busan is 8:05pm so too risky for transfering
Last flight from Gimpo to Busan is 6 or 7pm. Still too early


Good luck