Agent is incorrect about having to pay KE to get a seat assignment.

The reality is though you may not receive a seat assignment on KE, or get one to “stick” until you check in for the flight and/or see a KE agent at the gate in ICN. If you are in F/J then you might can get one to stick in advance, but it can be really difficult. KE only likes to assign seats in advance to their own elites and often DL tickets get the leftovers.

However if you are in Y, try selecting the most aft seat you can - I have had luck getting those to stick when in Y. Usually it’s row 50 and higher. I kind of like those sets of 2 seats in the back of KE’s 777 as you don’t really notice the lavs/galley, and you tend to get served first by the FAs.

Good luck and let us know if you get one to stick!