Arrival in Korea
I arrived in Korea earlier this week and as usual things ran smoothly at Incheon International Airport.  My wife and I made it through customs in no time and then we proceeded to try out the new subway train. As we walked over to the area of the airport where the train runs from, the airport became suspiciously empty:
The new train terminal at the airport is quite nice and even had staff there that helped us load our bags on the train. As we got on the train we noticed we were the only people on the entire train:
The airport must have lost some serious money running an entire train with just 2 people on it. The train ride was quite smooth though and the chairs were comfortable. It was nice to sit back and watch the country scenery as the train headed towards Seoul:
Then the train crossed over from Yeongjongdo Island where the airport is located and over Incheon’s famous tidal flats:
Can you just imagine what would have happened if the timing of General MacArthur’s fleet that invaded Incheon during the Korean War was off? It would have been a slaughter with MacArthur’s boats all stuck in the mud. Once on the otherside of the bridge the scenery quickly changed from rural Korea to industrial Korea just like that:
The train from the airport only goes as far as Gimpo Airport and takes just less than 30 minutes. From Gimpo we had to transfer to the subway to get to Gwanghamun Station to meet our ride that was picking us up there. Bringing our luggage on to the subway was definitely not a pleasant experience. Carrying our luggage up the subway steps was additionally not pleasant either. On the way back to the airport we are definitely taking the limousine bus.Â
Very interesting! I may make the trip early 2008 myself. Thanks for the preview.
I also made the trip from Incheon to Gimpo on my way back from Hong Kong. At 5:30am, it was also very quiet! My train was one of the traditional subway cars though…still, it was eerily quiet!
Your trip sort of reminds me of my adventure yesterday:
I was heading back to the Hump from Wonju on Hwy 50. Traffic was horrible all the way there. But as I travelled I kept noticing HWY 42 signs. And wouldnt you know Hwy 42 is right infront of Camp Long
So I decided to take 42 back west because the traffic on 50 still was terrible (they had signs that would read traffic jam 12 kms…very helpful)
So I got on 42 and what I got was the quick 4 lane road that hardly anyone was on with a comfortable 90 k speed limit and few cameras.
I told my wife this was way too good to be true…then it happened..suddenly
42 just Ended…thats it and I had to make a quick choice of left or right …I couldnt read the signs quick enough
I went left and yes I did end up in Pyongtaek only because I have a good knowledge of Korean geography…but any less knowledgeable of towns and I could still be out on the road.
Welcome back
I always noticed the spaceship area of the airport is always very deserted…I actually was unaware it was a train terminal…so I guess the signs are not as obvious as they could be
[…] Drop: Arrival in KoreaPosted 20 hours agoI arrived in Korea earlier this week and as usual things ran smoothly at Incheon […]
[…] Drop ROK Drop Weekly Links 4-10JUN07 Arrival in Korea Soldiers Wife in Court for Drug Smuggling Policewoman Rape Case Update The Solution to Indiscpline […]
The signs are not that obvious but if you are someone looking for the subway you can still definitely see and follow them without to many problems.
GI,
I thought you were USFK? You were just visiting? Is your wife Korean?
I have been stationed in USFK multiple times and when not stationed in Korea I usually visit at least once a year so my wife can see her family here.
[…] [GI Korea] Arrival in Korea Published: Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:35:40 +0000 I arrived in Korea earlier this week and as usual things ran smoothly at Incheon International Airport.Â*Â*My wife and IÂ*made itÂ*through customs in no time and then we proceeded to try out the new subway train.Â* As we walked over to the area of the airport where the train runs from the airport became suspiciously […] Read More… […]
[…] have never taken a taxi from the airport, I always use the airport bus or the subway train that is now available as well. So I can’t really add any personal experiences about the […]
Starting end of 2010, you can take just one subway (express and non-express) to get from Incheon airport to downtown of Seoul, without switching subway line. Heard ridership went up 2.5 fold immediately. You will never see the train terminal at the airport with too many people. It's the end of the train line and only so many people have reasons to head out to the airport.
I believe it was built partially with the goal of giving good impressions to visitors to SK.
Btw, in the train terminal you will find a little indoor garden with small pond etc etc. Nice little area to relax to prepare for the torture called flying in an airliner.