Originally Posted by
FS_FRA
Every time in the past 2 years or so that I tried to use the app, it failed with my German passport. Honestly, with ICN having no fast-track through security, it only saves you a few minutes at the first security check gate. Once you are through that you have to slum it with the rest of the thousands....but ICN security is pretty efficient and it's rarely a long wait.
I've never gotten the SmartPass App to work. I really don't know why they can't fix it. In fact, ALL of the Korea Immigration apps and websites I've interacted with are inexplicably poor. The K-ETA site loads slowly and the e-Arrival card one is unnecessarily cumbersome. Add all the stupid information they ask for, and in the last step it freezes, meaning you get to start over. I live in Germany now, so I've gotten used to poor or non-existant government e-services, but I'm sure Korea could do better.
As for wait times at ICN, we've ben stuck in super long lines (an hour+) several times, and the SmartPass lanes looked much better. ICN really is a dreadful experience, especially for early morning departures. Maybe they're hoping that with C/F/status passengers stuck in immgiration/security lines, people don't spend as much time in the mediocre lounges.