Originally Posted by
gt_croz
The duty free shop in ICN wouldn't sell me any liquids when I showed them my US bound boarding pass. They also were searching all carry on bags when you boarded the plane for any liquids you may have procured at the airport.
Did you have less than 1 hour until flight departure time?
Purchases of liquids in quantities larger than 100mL are blocked within one hour of departure as pickup/delivery of products from DF to gate stop thirty minutes before boarding begins(usually D-30 mins).
That's probably the only reason they wouldn't sell you the liquids. Liquid bottles < 100mL are allowed only because those can be carried on by the individual passenger in a clear ziplock bag.
I just went through this as I could not purchase cosmetics > 100mL with 55 mins until departure, but I was allowed to carry on a product that was less than 100mL.