We have a big holiday season until on October 9th. There is so long line to wait at the ICN airport and city air terminal.

ICN this morning at 6:30. INSANE! Absolutely use City Air Terminal or Seoul Station check in and get the stamp on your boarding pass to use the Crew Security entrance!

Would u anticipate long lines departing ICN on Oct 9?
It is the end of Chuseok isnt it and people would be returning, rather than leaving?

There is a possibility. When I flew to ICN last Chuseok, the queues werent too bad as I think many tend to use domestic services. So you should be okay. If anyway, you may find queues can be an additional 5 minutes or so.

It is the last day of the holiday as Tuesday everyone returns to work. Presumably very quiet as Monday the 9th is a Korean holiday only. So any visitors probably left on Sunday to get back for their work. And most Koreans will be coming back on the 9th so departures should be ok.

Awesome thanks!

Family leaving ICN on 9th morning.

Quick question

If you get an ARC, are you eligible to use the Korean citizens lanes at immigration? On the same note, can you register to use the fingerprint gates at immigration as a foreign passport holder?

My wait time at Incheon ~2 weeks ago was just over 90 minutes. Anything to avoid that would be welcome.

With an ARC card, you can't get in the Korean passport lanes on your own, but you can use them if someone directs you to go there.

BUTTT you can use the automated fingerprint gates Smart Entry Service. I absolutely recommend it, always for this reason (arriving at ICN crowds). With ARC, there is no fee. Just sign up and go! You can sign up at ICN, GMP or even Seoul Station/Gangnam CALT Immigration counters. I got mine on an E-2 visa originally and now I have an F-2-7 resident visa.

Jsut be prepared for literally three random passengers in the automated line to stop you and say "this is for Koreans only." The staff know that foreigners can do it, of course, but the average Korean does not.

And other foreigners can use Smart Entry Service depending on their country. For instance, Americans with Global Entry (no ARC card/Korean residence) can use the automated gates, but have to pay a fee and do an interview/application.

Those of us with ARC don't even fill out a paper. They just input your info in the system and place a sticker in your passport (valid for 5 years or until your visa ends/changes).

(Admittedly limited) Past experiences suggest that coming in on early flights can result in a quick trip through customs. I’ve come in on KE012 (redeye from LAX, usually arrives between 0430 and 0530 hours), and couldn’t have had a quicker or smoother trip through customs.