Immigration at Incheon Airport
May 24, 2016, 12:15 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
To be perfectly blunt, if you're a Westerner, not one bit. Generally you're a tourist and so they don't bat an eye or even check your bags for duty free limits.
They do also randomly check your bags if you're Korean since many take weekend trips to shop it up.
Also, many Southeast Asian/Chinese tourists and visitors often come here and overstay their visa, disappear, etc.
Stereotyping it may be, but they're most cautious about those than random whitey American or European coming over.
They do also randomly check your bags if you're Korean since many take weekend trips to shop it up.
Also, many Southeast Asian/Chinese tourists and visitors often come here and overstay their visa, disappear, etc.
Stereotyping it may be, but they're most cautious about those than random whitey American or European coming over.
May 28, 2016, 10:46 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 306
Have travelled a few times with a Canadian passport. I am asian, not Korean, but many people think I'm Korean. Immigration at ICN have never asked me a single question. They just do their thing on the computer and give me my 90 day stamp in my passport and I'm on my way.
May 30, 2016, 7:24 pm
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I did two entries at ICN back in March and I was asked no questions by either immigration officer or stopped either time by customs, so in my experience...no.
Jul 6, 2016, 8:19 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
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Aug 27, 2016, 2:05 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Seoul/Toronto
Programs: Aeroplan, SKYPASS
Posts: 2
Also yea, generally if you're arriving from a first-world country they don't care about you unless you look skeevy. Just press your thumbs to the sensors and that's about it.
Nov 9, 2016, 1:29 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: BKK/SEL/YQG
Posts: 2,543
As someone who used to live in Korea, my personal experience is that the male officers are far friendlier.
However the length and the general slowness of the queues over the last couple years is my bigger complaint.
However the length and the general slowness of the queues over the last couple years is my bigger complaint.
Nov 9, 2016, 1:21 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,236
My only unpleasant experience was years ago arriving at Gwangju airport from Shanghai (that flight moved to dysfunctional Muan airport now) when a bored and young Korean immigration officer found delight in harassing the lone foreigner on the arriving flight.
However, my Korean family friend I was accompanying called a high ranking bureaucrat in the interior ministry who put the young gent in his place and we could finally proceed to an evening of Pojangmacha eats and drinks.
Generally, in Eastern Asia, Chinese immigration is the friendliest, Korea comes second and Japan is more or less Trumpist. I remember what a fuss the Japanese authorities made the one time I arrived there on a student visa...
However, my Korean family friend I was accompanying called a high ranking bureaucrat in the interior ministry who put the young gent in his place and we could finally proceed to an evening of Pojangmacha eats and drinks.
Generally, in Eastern Asia, Chinese immigration is the friendliest, Korea comes second and Japan is more or less Trumpist. I remember what a fuss the Japanese authorities made the one time I arrived there on a student visa...
Nov 18, 2016, 8:39 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,236
However, the culture calls for attention to detail and not bending the rules. Also, on occasion, there have been considerable nationalist tensions between Japan and Korea especially. Those then also reflect on official attitudes.
Dec 29, 2016, 4:03 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Immigration is Asia is a lot better than America/Canada, also than most of Europe.