Korean Air Skypass - Transit and Shopping in Seoul Airport

Hi there,

I am new to Koreanair and have some questions to ask, and would appreciate your info:

I will be travelling via Seoul ICN next week. I normally need a visa for entering Korea, but do I need a visa just for transiting?

Also, is the Tax Free shop worthy visiting at ICN? How are the prices comparing with European airports (LHR, CDG, AMS) or others in Asia (HKG, SIN or DXB??)...

Finally, on my way back, I have an overnight 9 hours stopover, Koreanair is organising a hotel room for me, do I need to apply for a visa for staying at the hotel? (I guess it is outside the airport?)

Many many thanks!!!

if you carry US passport, you dont need a visa. so call Koreanair customer service and inquire, am sure they will tell you.
as for the Duty Free, it depends. last Dec, 2008, i saw the wii set for less than the $279 that was being sold in the US (i think it was like $250) . as for others, unless they are ON SALE (they will be marked) then they are not the bargains you expect. also almost all the duty free stores there are owned by one company (LOTTO or something) so you dont need to go to different shops in different terminals. there are several and new restaurants in the upper levels of the terminals (you dont need to exit) unlike the few years back.
it is a very nice, clean, efficient airport, that has massage/shower/saloon/free internet computers/coffee shops/bars and many others stuffs to while away during your transit.

also almost all the duty free stores there are owned by one company (LOTTO or something) so you dont need to go to different shops in different terminals. .

Do you mean Lotte?

I believe duty free shops in ICN are operated by three or four different company

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_1_1_1.jsp

http://en.lottedfs.com/

http://www.shilladfs.com/en/incheon/introduction/introduction.jsp

There are a few different companies operating duty free shops, but from what little comparison shopping I've done, they all have very similar prices. For electronics, the items I checked are cheaper if purchased in Seoul compared to duty-free at ICN, and much cheaper still if purchased in the U.S. Alcohol seems to be cheaper at ICN compared to Seoul, but not as cheap as in the U.S. Don't know much about prices in HKG or SIN as they don't seem to have much bargains like they did many years ago. I checked a few items at BKK and they're normally about 10% higher than at ICN. Those are some gross generalizations from very limited experience as I almost never purchase items in duty free myself as it's normally a bad deal, but I've been asked on occasion by friends/coworkers to pick up items in duty free.

I will be travelling via Seoul ICN next week. I normally need a visa for entering Korea, but do I need a visa just for transiting?


Per what I know, no need Visa for transiting.