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Landing at Incheon Airport: 7 Things to Do First

If you land at Incheon Airport for the first time tomorrow, the next hour goes more smoothly when these seven things are already done. Fill…

By Bong TourPublished 5 min read

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On this page
  1. 1. Fill in the e-Arrival Card (skip it if you have a K-ETA)
  2. 2. Get data before you leave the plane (choose eSIM, SIM, or roaming)
  3. 3. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap
  4. 4. Buy a T-money card at a convenience store, and top it up with cash
  5. 5. Take AREX Express: 43 minutes from Terminal 1, 51 from Terminal 2
  6. 6. For a taxi, use the k.ride app
  7. 7. Keep a little cash
  8. FAQ
  9. Sources

If you land at Incheon Airport for the first time tomorrow, the next hour goes more smoothly when these seven things are already done. Fill in the e-Arrival Card before you fly (skip it if you have a K-ETA), get data working before you leave the plane, and pick up a map app and a T-money card before you head into Seoul.

QUICK FACTS
Where: Incheon International Airport (Terminal 1 or Terminal 2)
Who: First-time foreign visitors to Korea
Do first: e-Arrival Card, data, Naver Map or KakaoMap, T-money, AREX Express or k.ride, a little cash
AREX Express to Seoul Station: 43 min from Terminal 1, 51 min from Terminal 2
T-money: buy at a convenience store in arrivals; top up with cash

Incheon International Airport terminal, looking toward the escalators and Ground Floor signs.

Incheon Airport tarmac, with Korean Air planes under a clear sky.

1. Fill in the e-Arrival Card (skip it if you have a K-ETA)

Do this online before you fly, up to three days before you land. The window is three days including the day you arrive, counted in Korea time (KST). If you already have a K-ETA, you can skip the e-Arrival Card.

Use the official Korea e-Arrival Card site only: e-arrivalcard.go.kr.

LOCAL TIP
The three-day window includes arrival day, and it runs on Korea time. Fill the form in the day before you fly, so you are not doing it on the plane with no signal.

2. Get data before you leave the plane (choose eSIM, SIM, or roaming)

Once you are off the plane, you will want a signal for maps, messages, and a taxi app. Sort out your data before you leave the aircraft: an eSIM, a physical SIM, or your home carrier's roaming.

Pick whichever of those three already works for your trip, and have it ready so you are not standing in arrivals without a connection. Naver Map, KakaoMap, and k.ride all need data once you start moving.

LOCAL TIP
Get your data and a T-money card sorted first. The rest of this list is much easier once your phone is online and you can pay for getting around.

3. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap

As of November 2026, Google Maps still has no walking directions in Korea. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you rely on your usual app to walk you to a platform, a bus stop, or your hotel.

If you wait until you land and then open Google Maps, you can end up without a walking route. Install Naver Map or KakaoMap while you still have reliable internet, then open it once your data is on.

4. Buy a T-money card at a convenience store, and top it up with cash

In the arrivals hall, buy a T-money card at a convenience store and add money with cash. Incheon city's tourism site lists the card itself at 3,000 to 5,000 won.

Top-ups are cash only, so a card will not do it at that counter. Get the card and a cash top-up done before you leave the arrivals area.

5. Take AREX Express: 43 minutes from Terminal 1, 51 from Terminal 2

If you are going into Seoul by train, AREX Express runs from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station in 43 minutes from Terminal 1, and 51 minutes from Terminal 2.

Those times are for the Express train only. Check the official AREX page for the day's timetable before you go down to the platform: airportrailroad.com.

6. For a taxi, use the k.ride app

Need a taxi instead? Use the k.ride app. That is the official spelling: a lowercase k, a dot, then ride. It is run by Kakao Mobility and is made for international visitors. It accepts overseas-issued cards. You must register a payment method in the app before you ride.

Do that while you still have data, so you are not setting up a card at the curb.

Taxis at the arrivals stand can be hard to catch, so calling one in the app is the easier way.

A taxi on a Seoul street. Use the k.ride app if you want to pay with an overseas-issued card.

7. Keep a little cash

You already need cash to top up T-money. Keep a little more with you after that: some street food stalls are cash only.

You do not need a large stack of bills for this list. Enough for a T-money top-up, plus a small reserve for a stall that does not take cards, will cover the arrival gap.

A snack stand in Seoul. Some small stands are cash only, so keep a little cash after you top up T-money.

Sort your data and your T-money card first, and the rest of arrival gets easier.

Save this post for your trip, and follow @simplyur.korea for more real Korea travel tips.

FAQ

Do I need the e-Arrival Card if I have a K-ETA?

No. If you already have a K-ETA, you can skip the e-Arrival Card. If you do not, fill it in online up to three days before you land. That window includes arrival day and is counted in Korea time (KST).

Can I use Google Maps to walk around in Korea?

Not for walking directions. As of November 2026, Google Maps still has no walking directions in Korea. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap instead, and do it before you fly.

Will k.ride take my foreign card?

Yes. k.ride accepts overseas-issued cards. Register a payment method in the app before you request a ride.

How long is AREX Express from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station?

On AREX Express, it takes 43 minutes from Terminal 1 and 51 minutes from Terminal 2. Check the official AREX page for the day's timetable.

Sources

Operated by Bong Tour Co., Ltd.

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