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๐Ÿ›ซ Domestic Flights

Which airport to use, how to book and board, and how to connect from an international flight.

Domestic flights can be one of the fastest ways to travel between Seoul, Jeju, Busan and regional cities. They are especially useful for Jeju Island, or between cities that high-speed rail does not connect well.

๐Ÿ”Ž Where are you going?

๐Ÿ›ซ Check live flights (Korea Airports Corporation) โ†—๐ŸŒ Arriving at Incheon? See transfer instructions

Seoul has two major airports

GMP ยท Gimpo Airport

Use this airport for most domestic flights from Seoul.

ICN ยท Incheon Airport

Mainly for international flights. Special transit-only domestic services run for some international connections.

Always check the airport code on your ticket.

Domestic flights at a glance

Seoul domestic airport

Gimpo (GMP)

Best use

Jeju and some regional cities

ID for tourists

Bring your passport

Recommended airport arrival

About 90 minutes before departure

Checked baggage

Depends on airline and fare

Power bank

Cabin bag, not checked baggage

International โ†’ domestic

Check whether your next flight leaves from ICN or GMP

Should I fly?

TripUsually consider
Seoul โ†” Jeju๐Ÿ›ซ Flight
Busan โ†” Jeju๐Ÿ›ซ Flight
Seoul โ†” Busan๐Ÿš„ KTX or flight
Seoul โ†” Daegu๐Ÿš„ KTX often easier
Seoul โ†” Gyeongju๐Ÿš„ KTX often easier
Seoul โ†” Yeosu๐Ÿš„ Train or flight
Regional city โ†” Jeju๐Ÿ›ซ Flight if available
Nearby regional cities๐Ÿš„ Train or ๐Ÿš bus
The fastest flight is not always the fastest journey.
Compare the travel time to the airport, check-in time, flight time and travel time from the destination airport before you decide.

๐Ÿš„ Train / KTX โ†’ ยท ๐Ÿš Intercity Bus โ†’

Main domestic airports

City / AreaAirportCodeUseful for
SeoulGimpo International AirportGMPMost Seoul domestic flights
BusanGimhae International AirportPUSBusan and the south-east
JejuJeju International AirportCJUJeju Island
DaeguDaegu International AirportTAEDaegu and Gyeongbuk
CheongjuCheongju International AirportCJJCentral Korea
GwangjuGwangju AirportKWJGwangju
UlsanUlsan AirportUSNUlsan
YeosuYeosu AirportRSUYeosu and Suncheon
Pohang / GyeongjuPohang Gyeongju AirportKPOPohang and Gyeongju
SacheonSacheon AirportHINJinju and Sacheon
GunsanGunsan AirportKUVGunsan and Jeonbuk
WonjuWonju AirportWJUWonju and Gangwon

Korea Airports Corporation runs 14 airports, and this is a short list. Flights change by season and airline, so check the current schedule before you plan.

How to book a domestic flight

Book on an airlineโ€™s website or app. Search by city or airport code, pick your date, compare the fare conditions and check the baggage allowance before you pay.

  1. 01
    Choose your airports

    For example GMP โ†’ CJU.

  2. 02
    Choose your date
  3. 03
    Select a flight
  4. 04
    Check the baggage allowance
  5. 05
    Enter passenger information

    Your name should match the ID you will use at the airport.

  6. 06
    Pay
  7. 07
    Save your booking confirmation
Do not compare fares by price alone.
Low-cost fares can have different rules for checked baggage, seat selection, changes and cancellations.
Which airlines?
Korea has full-service and low-cost airlines. Which ones fly your route depends on the route and the date.

How early should I arrive?

Recommended for international visitors
About 90 minutes before departure

Some airlines allow a later arrival, but first-time visitors should allow extra time to find the terminal, check bags and pass security.

Do not use the check-in closing time as your arrival time.
As one example, Korean Air closes domestic check-in 30 minutes before departure and stops boarding about 10 minutes before. Other airlines differ.

At the airport, step by step

  1. 01
    Arrive at the correct terminal

    Look for โ€œDomestic Terminal / ๊ตญ๋‚ด์„ โ€.

  2. 02
    Check in

    Airline app, mobile boarding pass, self-service kiosk or the airline counter.

  3. 03
    Drop your checked bag

    If you have checked luggage.

  4. 04
    Prepare your ID

    A passport is recommended for foreign visitors.

  5. 05
    Security check
  6. 06
    Check your gate

    Look at the airport screens or your airline app.

  7. 07
    Go to the gate
  8. 08
    Board your flight
๐Ÿ›‚ Bring your passport
Foreign visitors should carry their original passport on a domestic flight. An accepted original ID is checked before you enter the boarding area. Tourists: bring your passport.
๐Ÿ”‹ Power banks
Power banks and spare lithium batteries must not go in checked baggage. Carry them in your cabin bag and check your airlineโ€™s limits.

๐Ÿงณ Baggage

  • โœ“ Carry-on allowance
  • โœ“ Checked baggage allowance
  • โœ“ Maximum bag size
  • โœ“ Extra baggage fees
  • โœ“ Battery restrictions

Baggage allowances vary by airline and fare. Check your ticket or the airlineโ€™s website before you go to the airport.

Seoul and the regions

โœˆ๏ธ From Seoul to another city

You will normally leave from Gimpo (GMP). Do not automatically go back to Incheon just because you arrived there.

Example: Seoul โ†’ Jeju

Seoul โ†’ GMP โ†’ CJU โ†’ bus, taxi or rental car โ†’ your place in Jeju

Example: Seoul โ†’ Busan

Seoul โ†’ GMP โ†’ PUS โ†’ light rail, bus or taxi โ†’ Busan

Example: Seoul โ†’ Gyeongju

Option 1: KTX to the Gyeongju area. Option 2: GMP โ†’ Pohang Gyeongju (KPO) โ†’ bus or taxi.

๐Ÿ›ฌ From a regional city to Seoul

Look for Gimpo / Seoul (GMP). Gimpo is much closer to central Seoul than Incheon and is linked by subway Lines 5 and 9, AREX and the Gimpo Goldline.

๐Ÿ” Between regional cities

You do not always have to return to Seoul. Some regional airports fly straight to Jeju or to other cities, but routes change, so check the schedule first.

  • Busan โ†’ Jeju
  • Daegu โ†’ Jeju

Arriving from overseas, then flying within Korea

Where does your domestic flight leave from?

International flight โ†’ Incheon โ†’ Gimpo โ†’ domestic flight

You must enter Korea at Incheon and change airports.

  1. 01
    Arrive at Incheon Airport
  2. 02
    Immigration
  3. 03
    Collect your baggage
  4. 04
    Customs

    You are now in Korea.

  5. 05
    Travel from ICN to GMP

    AREX All-Stop train, airport bus or taxi.

  6. 06
    Gimpo domestic terminal
  7. 07
    Check in again and drop your bag
  8. 08
    Security, then your domestic flight
Getting from ICN to GMP
Take the AREX All-Stop train. The Express does not stop at Gimpo. Buses and taxis also run. Incheon Airport gives 30 to 40 minutes for the train or bus ride itself.
โš ๏ธ ICN and GMP are different airports
Do not plan a connection from the 30 to 40 minute ride alone. Also allow for immigration, baggage claim, customs, the trip to Gimpo, domestic check-in and security.
Separate tickets?
Leave a generous buffer. About four hours or more is a sensible planning target when possible. This is our travel-planning advice, not an airline minimum connection time.

After you land

  1. 01
    Follow โ€œArrivals / ๋„์ฐฉโ€
  2. 02
    Collect your checked bag
  3. 03
    Leave the secure area
  4. 04
    Choose your transport

    Subway or rail, bus, taxi or rental car.

  5. 05
    Continue to your accommodation
  • Gimpo Airport ยท GMP
    Subway / AREX / Bus / Taxi
  • Gimhae Airport ยท PUS
    Light rail / Bus / Taxi
  • Jeju Airport ยท CJU
    Bus / Taxi / Rental car
  • Daegu Airport ยท TAE
    Bus / Taxi

Jeju has no railway, so plan on a bus, a taxi or a rental car.

๐Ÿš‡ Subway โ†’๐ŸšŒ Local bus โ†’๐Ÿš• Taxi โ†’

Common mistakes

โŒ Going to Incheon Airport for a normal Seoul domestic flight

Most Seoul domestic flights use Gimpo Airport (GMP).

โŒ Mixing up GMP and ICN

They are different airports.

โŒ Arriving at the check-in deadline

Arrive earlier.

โŒ Forgetting your passport

Foreign visitors should keep their original passport with them.

โŒ Assuming checked baggage is included

Check your fare conditions.

โŒ Putting a power bank in checked baggage

Carry power banks in the cabin, following your airlineโ€™s safety rules.

โŒ Entering Korea at Incheon when your ticket is a transit-only domestic flight

Follow the TRANSFER signs instead.

โŒ Assuming every regional airport has a daily direct flight

Regional schedules vary by day and season.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled

  1. 01
    Check your airline app or the airport screen
  2. 02
    Check your email and text messages
  3. 03
    Go to the airline service counter if you need to
  4. 04
    Ask about rebooking or a refund
  5. 05
    Recheck your onward transport and hotel plans
Weather
Weather can disrupt domestic flights, especially island routes. If you have an important international flight afterward, do not plan a tight connection.

Domestic flights FAQ

Which airport should I use for a domestic flight from Seoul?

Usually Gimpo International Airport (GMP).

Can I take a domestic flight from Incheon Airport?

Normal domestic travel from Seoul generally uses Gimpo. Incheon has special transit-only domestic services for certain international connections, including Busan and Daegu.

Can a foreign tourist fly domestically in Korea?

Yes. Carry an accepted original ID. For ordinary overseas visitors, your passport is the simplest choice.

How early should I arrive?

For a first-time visitor, about 90 minutes before departure is a comfortable target. Airline deadlines vary.

Do I need to collect my baggage when going from Incheon to Gimpo?

Yes. When you enter Korea at Incheon and continue from Gimpo, you normally pass immigration, collect your bag, clear customs, travel to Gimpo and check the bag in again.

Can I take AREX from Incheon to Gimpo?

Yes. Incheon Airport lists the Airport Railroad as one of the main ways to travel between ICN and GMP. Take the All-Stop train, because the Express does not stop at Gimpo.

My ticket says ICNโ€“PUS or ICNโ€“TAE after an international flight. Should I pass immigration at Incheon?

If it is a transit-only domestic flight, no. Follow the TRANSFER signs and complete immigration at your final Korean airport.

Official information

Flights, fares, baggage rules and procedures can change. Check the airline and the airport before you travel.

Information last verified: 2026-10-07 ยท Updated: 2026-10-07

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