โ๏ธ How to Get from Gimpo Airport to Central Seoul
Gimpo International Airport (GMP) is in western Seoul, so you reach most of the city by subway in well under an hour. Many short flights from Tokyo Haneda, Osaka, Taipei Songshan, Beijing and Shanghai Hongqiao land here, and the domestic terminal handles the busy Jeju route.
Arrival ยท Updated 2026-10-27 ยท 6 min read
Finding the trains
- Clear immigration and customs in the international terminal, then follow the signs for the subway (์งํ์ฒ ).
- Gimpo Airport Station is one station building shared by Line 5, Line 9, the AREX airport railroad and the Gimpo Goldline. Look at the line colors on the signs before you tap in.
- Tap a T-money card or a card that works on transit at the gate. Do not buy a single-journey ticket unless you have no other choice.
Which line for which area
| Where you are going | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hongdae, Hapjeong, Mapo | AREX toward Seoul Station | Hongik Univ. is a few stops away with no change |
| Gangnam, Sinnonhyeon, Express Bus Terminal | Line 9 (express train) | The express skips many stops; check that the train says express (๊ธํ) before boarding |
| Gwanghwamun, Jongno, Dongdaemun | Line 5 | One line runs through the old center without a transfer |
| Yeouido | Line 5 or Line 9 | Both lines stop there; pick the one that is waiting |
| Myeongdong, Itaewon | Subway with one transfer, or a taxi with heavy luggage | No direct line; the transfer is easy to follow with a map app |
When a taxi makes sense
Because Gimpo is inside the city, a taxi is a realistic choice here, unlike at Incheon. Use it with heavy luggage, with small children, late at night or when your hotel is far from a station. Use the official taxi stand outside the arrivals hall, ask for the meter, and show the hotel address in Korean. Traffic changes the fare and the time a lot, so we give no fixed price.
Two examples
A Tokyo weekend trip with a small bag
The traveler lands at Gimpo, walks to the station and takes AREX to Hongik Univ. for a hotel in Hongdae. With no luggage to check, the whole trip from the gate to the hotel door is short, which is the main reason people pick Gimpo for short trips.
A family with three suitcases, arriving at night
Stairs and transfers with three suitcases and children are tiring, and the last trains leave at night. The family takes a taxi from the official stand instead, shows the hotel address in Korean and asks for the meter. The cost is higher than the subway but the door-to-door trip is simpler.
Fares and timetables change. Check the operatorโs page or the airportโs official information before you travel; this guide gives no exact fare where we could not confirm one.