I personally find the situation absolutely unacceptable. I've filed a complaint before with the airport, but nothing changes. Not only do the tourists block easy passage through that area, and leave their trash all over the place, but the duty free companies themselves have those huge bags and block access also. If there was an emergency, I could see the blocked access actually potentially causing a severe safety problem. The agencies responsible for airport safety ought to immediately ban all duty free activities related to this issue, and not allow it to resume until the airport and duty free companies can come up with a suitable solution. I actually hope the next time world airport rankings are awarded, ICN gets the lowest possible score, due to this one issue. Then perhaps the senior management at ICN will get fired and replaced by someone with the courage to stand up to the duty free companies. Of course it'll never happen, because I'm sure it makes a lot of money for lots of people, and they're more interested in profit than how it totally tarnishes ICN's image. I love most aspects of the airport, but the duty free garbage and blocking access is something I simply cannot stand.

What's really unbelivable is that KE moved out of T1, so there's lots more room, but they still haven't done a thing to improve the situation. My one hope is that there's no similar duty free situation on the opposite side of T1, where OZ will be moving their lounges to soon, and I presume the transfer desk as well.

One thing I've not yet done is complain to OZ, being it's their F lounge and transit desk that are affected by this appalling situation. Perhaps posting pictures here in this forum of the garbage strewn all over the place and tourists and duty free companies blocking access, and sending emails to OZ management alerting them of these photos being posted in public forums might be enough to have them throw their weight around to make a change.