Hi, Mike & welcome to FT - saw your PM as well.

A. No, you do not need to reclaim your checked luggage as transit passenger at ICN. When you check in @ORD, please confirm with KE agent and make sure your bags are tagged correctly to HKG as your final destination - they will take care of the rest between the connection. Keep your claim ticket(s) but it's usually stapled to your paper boarding passes, if used or else to the receipt given to you at the ORD counter. You should, if I remember correctly, get both sets of BP at ORD for ICN and for HKG. Otherwise, look for the UA counter on arrival in ICN in getting your BP issued, as you will need that to go thru / clear transit security & passport check. https://www.koreanair.com/global/en/...-services.html

After landing, follow signage for transit passenger - have your BP & passport ready - no need to run, you will have plenty of time to stroll thru the terminal airside, check out the shops, etc. once you get upstairs for the departure level ... even if your flight is a little late, plenty of layover time. No liquids allowed to go thru transit security, except 3-1-1 items, ... finish drinking whatever beverages, i.e. bottled water or soda from your flight before you go thru, or, drop them into those huge drums.

Upstairs to departure, there are free showers available, clean & complimentary, towels provided - it's a great way to get refreshed, for all travelers in transit. You don't need access or membership for the free shower - it's near the airport's "Transit Hotel," across from the internet center (very, very fast & free WiFi). Stop in there & check both of them out - although WiFi is everywhere all over the terminal. There are loungers & comfortable sofa in that area to sit back & relax, above the terminal & near the KE lounges.

On departure level, there's a customer service center in the middle - multi-lingual staffed and they can provide info, directions, help and show you the way - feel free to use it, just look for the signs or use the directory guide posted everywhere as you come off.

It's a long 13 hour flight out of ORD, just like JFK - there are a variety of dining options in the terminal, make a stop at one of them & grab a bite to eat, credit cards widely accepted so you don't need to worry about local currency ... it will be a while before your CX flight take off - and, for any meal services after airborne.

We usually fly CX but KE's inflight services, per opinions of DW, are even better if not just as excellent - enjoy & have a safe, wonderful trip.