Gimpo International Airport

Gimpo International Airport (GMP) sits in western Seoul, only about 15 km from the city center, which makes it dramatically closer and quicker to reach than Incheon. It is primarily a domestic hub, with Jeju, Busan, and other Korean cities accounting for most flights, plus a handful of short-haul international routes to Japan, China, and Taiwan. It has two terminals, a larger Domestic Terminal and a smaller, calmer International Terminal, set about 500 meters apart and linked by a covered walkway and free shuttle.

Getting to Seoul

• Subway Line 9: An express option that reaches Gangnam and Yeouido quickly with fewer stops.
• Subway Line 5: Runs through central Seoul and is useful for many downtown destinations.
• AREX (Airport Railroad): Connects Gimpo with Seoul Station and onward to Incheon Airport, handy if you are transferring between the two airports.

Most of these reach central Seoul in under 30 minutes, with trains every 10 minutes or so.

Inside the terminal

Gimpo is easy and pleasant to move through, with the International Terminal in particular being quiet and quick to clear. You will find Korean and international food, convenience stores, cafes, lounges, and free wifi. There is also a Lotte Mall connected on the lower level, which is a nice place to pass time.

Layovers and connections

Because the domestic and international terminals are separate buildings, allow time to move between them via the walkway or shuttle if your connection crosses over. Given how close Gimpo is to Seoul and how fast the subway is, a longer layover here is genuinely worth leaving the airport for.

Use the tools above to check whether your layover is long enough to leave, and how the transit, immigration, and security timings add up for GMP.