Incheon International Airport
Reviews and Complaints

I have been to this airport a few times since 1999. Every time it was a headache interacting with food court or individual restaurant personnels. Their lack of professionalism and opening discriminative practice is stunning. It seems they treat customers better if they are Korean speaking yet take a 180 degree turn when customers are non-korean speaking customers. As a frequent world traveller, Incheon airport food court staff's service (or lack of) can be ranked as one of the worst among all airport I have been to.

It is being informed that two of the passengers traveling to Incheon airport from Delhi are expecting to arrive through Asiana airlines OZ- 768 on 15 July 2023 at 05:30, Seoul, Terminal 1, Incheon Intl. Airport. Passengers' Names are Robert Daniel (Male) and Sudesh Kumari (Female), they both are traveling on the basis to attend CLF conference but are intending to overstay and skip away from the program and to stay illegal. Kindly deport both of them without entertaining any of your citizens in Korea. Thank you

Very recently, I had the unfortunate opporunity to have to layover at Incheon International Airport. This will never be the case again.

Information Officers there seem to be clueless when answering simple questions, i.e., "Where can I find Gate 214" and the like. They just wave you off.

There are very few restaurants in such a large airport with readily available food service for layover flyers.

I couldn't find a place to charge my mobile and I looked very hard for one. Even trying to get a simple bottle of driking water becomes an ordeal.

I learned my lesson and won't be making the same mistake again.

You can do much better elsewhere.

the agents at the check in counters for American Airlines at Incheon airport are contractors. They seem to be upset that they are not regular AA employees and therefore act like they have a stick up there …es. They are rude, to passengers, and I have even seen them be especially rude and even raise their voice and yell at flight crew. Aren’t they supposed to be a team? I don’t know where else to file a complaint but I was utterly shocked at some of their behaviors towards the passengers and flight crew in full uniform. It must have been very embarrassing for them especially since everyone was watching them being yelled at for something (I could not understand - I think it was because they were in the priority line.. which, isn’t that a perk for working in the industry and for their own airline?) please correct me if I’m wrong. They need to work on their customer service. I know that they aren’t as good as the Korean carriers but for the agents to be rude and belittle us even before we pass through security gives us a very bad start and mood to deal with even before the flight starts - which I’m sure they can care less about since they’re contractors.

Upon my arrival at Incheon airport custom (4th Oct 2022, at about 5:45PM Local Time) I was instructed to meet with the duty officer at Immigration West Office.

Male duty officer: you need a visa

I: visa? I transited in Incheon many times in the past, I’d never need a visa?

Male duty officer: This has been changed since Oct 2021 due to COVID

I: Sorry, I didn’t know the changes, and wasn’t informed when I made my flight reservation. Can you please make a one-time exception? I won’t go anywhere other than a night sleep in Hyatt Incheon (showed him my hotel confirmation and next day connecting flight ticket)

Male duty officer: NO, you cannot leave the airport!

I: So, where am I going to sleep tonight? I’ve made my hotel reservation at Incheon Hyatt

Male duty officer: That is not my business, you can’t leave the airport.

I: So, where am I going? What should I do?

Male duty officer: You should go back to Korean Air

I went back to Korean Air Morning Calm service, the rep was extremely helpful, assisted me to apply K-ETA, after back-and-forth lengthy phone conversations with the relevant departments, she came back and told me K-ETA cannot be approved instantly but requires 7 working days! I asked the rep if the duty officer can override the rule?….. we both went back to the duty officer office.

Upon approaching the duty officer’s office, he insisted; and enforcing: “You cannot leave the airport, No Exception!”

In front of the officer’s face, I yelled at him: “You are a discriminatory IDIOT!”

I was guided by the Korean Air rep to the shared-sleeping lounge as there wasn’t any hotel room available. By this time, I’d already been awake for 24+ hours, I was extremely exhausted, only to find a spot to put my luggage. Breathing the same air with whole bunch of unknown people in the same room I was worried if the air clean? That entire mid-night I couldn’t close my eyes, as I heard symphony and orchestra (snoring) from united nations!

The duty officer at the West office clearly understood I was there for a night transit in the Hyatt Incheon Hotel, I was stunned when he said: This is NOT my business!”

K-ETA is required due to COVID, now that I couldn’t leave the airport and forced to share the sleeping lounge with whole bunch of unknown people, Korean custom officer put me in high risk to expose to COVID. Does the change for the better or worse? This is a no brainer!

It would be different if I were a Caucasian, I bet that West duty officer would override the rule as Korean is notoriously bias!

Comes to racial discrimination, Korean airport/custom is notorious! I’ve always been traveled Korean Air Prestige Class in the past I noticed how Korean airport/custom prioritized Caucasian over Asian, unfortunately this time I experienced it myself and I could no longer remain silent!

To become a World Class respectable airport, Korean Custom/Immigration needs to be un-bias.

To correct the action, the aforementioned duty officer who is bias and discrimination is to be dismissed.

I am fully responsible with the comment I made, should you require further explanation please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.

P Tan

In the whole terminal I struggled to find a vegetarian option. In over 15 restaurants there was only a sandwich option in a small bar. This is an international Airport hosing traveller's from many countries. The vegetarian and vegan travelers are completly ignored and it is not at all acceptable to ignore our needs. Theres also a big Muslim comunity that simple can't eat meat if not halal.

We also need food and it's completely unacceptable to ignore our needs.

The scanning staff on the day I went through was either poorly trained or inexperienced or both. Long line ups because staff were having to rescan bags due to the operator losing track of scans and the bags associated with the same picture. In addition I had a Swiss Army nail clipper specifically designed to avoid confiscation due to file length seized by the staff for being dangerous. I have travelled in NA, Europe and Asia without a problem until I landed in ROK. Obviously the staff haven’t been trained well or at all. A beautiful airport poorly staffed in security would be my summary of my experience. I wish we had airports like Incheon in North America.

Why is there no Western style food in the gate area of trrminal 2? This area has on place that serves food upstairs in the "food court." I say rhat with quotations because the food court is one cafe of only Asian food. The Lotteria burger place is closed "due to COVID." But I guess covid doesn't bother those eating Asian food, or buying tobacco, cosmetics, or whiskey - right? This terminal is where Delta flies from, and where most flights to the US are boarded. It makes absolutely no sense that you have no western food at all.

Upon landing, I filled out all the necessary documents and handed them in, along with my passport, arc card, travel record documentation, proof of vaccination, and my negative rapid PCR test that I had taken in less than 24 hours before my flight. Upon giving all of these, along with a questionnaire asking if I ever had any of the following symptoms in the last 21 days, I only checked headache. I had a headache the week before during my period, which is normal. After seeing I checked headache they asked when I got it and I told them I had my period and had a headache the week before I arrived. They then proceeded to put me in an area for those they believe have Covid, and asked me other questions and checked my temperature via ear thermometer. I was tested and did not have a fever nor any symptoms, yet they told me I will have to get another Covid test done here and wait in a cubicle near security for 6-8 hours. This is completely unreasonable and illogical as a headache is not even a symptom of Covid, and was the cause of having menstruation. And as I have to quarantine at home anyway, why would I need to stay at the airport? Also, there is no area to even sleep during this detention. It made the experience much worse. I was miserable, exhausted, and this caused me a lot of stress and pain, as my cat was being delivered home and dropped off at my door, which I was supposed to be home to answer. I want compensation for my time as this entire ordeal was unnecessary and illogical to begin with.

Having travelled around France and UK for one week - never have I felt more unsafe than the health screening process at Incheon Airport last night - it is outright dangerous how the process is managed with hundreds of people bunched together to complete the various steps.

It would not surprise me to learn that Incheon airport arrivals is one of the main causes of COVID entering Korea - it was shocking just how dangerous the way it is handled was - something MUST be done to protect people from catching COVID at the airport from your procedures !

It is the most risk I have EVER been exposed to in 18 months of living with COVID and I was disgusted with everyone pretending to be "checking"

If I catch COVID from this mis-management I will take action against the Korean Government

My mother had a connecting flight to Da Nang, Vietnam. She only speaks basic English. She was only given one ticket for her first flight and was told to go to terminal 2 after she lands in South Korea. After she lands, she ask the airport staff to help guide her since she didn't have a ticket. Non of the Korean staff could speak English and no one wanted to help her. They gave very bad attitude and expected my mom to know Korean. She showed them her itinerary for her flight. Every person she tried to ask for help, they gave out a rude attitude to her. They keep pointing to her in the wrong direction many times and was nearly late to her flight. She was given a number to use. And the stuff would not help her use this machine. The machine is in Korean. The airport staff has authority to use it and knows how. Yet, they lied to her that they can't help her. How hard is it for the airport staff, both men and women, to help guide someone to the right destination? My mother broke down and started to cry. All the staffs are rude and useless. They won't help you. All they do is stand around and do nothing. Finally one guy who knew English helped at the last minute. They needed to be trained properly. How can they be considered as the top airport if their staff is so rude. Is it because my mother is Vietnamese? Do South Koreans hate Vietnamese people? They show the worse attitude. They are not nice people and they are portrayed to be. To other people reading this that travel to S. Korea, or stop there, please be with someone and not alone. She left on the 12/16/2019. She flew from San Francisco Airport from the United States. Had a stop in Korea, and then to Da Nang. I want the staff to be retrained so that they will help international people get around the airport.

Stopped at Incheon with my son and the staff was VERY obviously talking about us in Korean and chuckling as we passed security. This is rude Asian behavior (I grew up in another Asian country, and this is something I see Asians do quite a bit) and in 2020 should no longer exist. Retrain your staff and end what we Asians have become infamous for. I'm literally embarrassed to be Asian when I see other Asians behave this way. Disgusting.

My husband was in Korea for work, I have asked him to purchased Dr Jart + BRIGHTENING SOLUTION MASK. When he got home I was checking the Mask and receipt and realised that he had made a purchased for 3 packs at $57 but he was only given 2 pack instead. he paid in total korean won of 67, 450

DATE/ TIME: 2019-10-17 11.55
BILL NO : [protected] [F:0000]
GUEST NAME : JAMES RANDOLF KEASBERRY
DEPARTURE : 2019-10-17 12.55
FLIGHT NO : MU5042
CORNER : 681 / C5-64

RECEIPT NUMBER : 00012

CONTACT NUMER : JAMES RANDOLF KEASBERRY +65 [protected]

ROSALIND KEASBERRY : +65 [protected]

EMAIL : JAMES RANDOLF KEASBERRY

[protected]@yahoo.com

[protected]@yahoo.com

I flew on flight TW121 on 19 August, 2019, seat 20A. After checking in my bag I was told to wait for five minutes because my bag has to be checked. I had an ordinary plastic bag inside the suitcase with various banknotes from the countries I visited along my trip, which I forgot to take out of the suitcase. Additionally, there was plenty of various coins. When I opend my suitcase, I realized that banknotes were missing. The missing amount is approx. 50 euros, a few thousend Serbian dinars ( the value is a few dollars), and a hundred Croatia kunas. All in all, the amount of money is insignificant. However, the fact that it has been taken is significant. To end up with a funny thing, UAE dirhams in small denomination have not been taken and they are worth more than 28 times than dinars.
Finally, I am aware that I should not have put valuables in my checked luggage and that the fact that I forgot to take the money out of the suitcase is not a valid excuse. However, the fact that things were missing after my bag was opened is inexcusable.

Hello. First off trying to get a customer service rep is next to impossible and needs to be easier than it is. I have gone to several sites and can't get an email to contact anyone.
I purchased a set of earphones at the airport on Monday April 8 prior to boarding my flight. They will not turn on and are defective. I would like to go through the process of a refund and please kindly provide me contact information. I was assured they were in working order before they sold them to me.

I from malaysia come to korea past year 2018, come for work follow this agent.. this agent from malaysia also, big lie take all us money but no work when we at korea.. she bring us go to Hajodo island to work at sea and not pay our salary, I reminder that location Jindo-Gun, Jeollanam-Do, South Korea. I hope imigresen arrival incheon airport be careful check when this person come there this year, this agent so many lie to people from malaysia. she use many name to lie people, such konii.. here I give picture female agent lie money and she boyfriend korea.

My name is Su Myat Mo. I am a cabin crew from Vietjet airlines from Vietnam. Terminal 1, On 1/1/19( around 1 am), We have flight ICN- PQC. Normally we used to pass through at priority lanes which is used only for VIP, disabilities and airline staff crew. But on that day we saw a long Queue full with normal passengers. At first our team also queued behind the last passenger but our first officer went to the immigration staff lady (who is sitting and giving a stamp) and asked to let our team pass immigration first as we need to prepare for the flight not to get delayed. The lady said ok, then First Officer made a sign ok to us. So we said sorry to passengers and cut the queue. Suddenly one guy came and shouted like " hey hey, you cannot cut the queue, you cannot do like this, other passengers are also waiting. Go back and queue again". At that time, I was like " Ok, if you say so, we will go back and queue" but I explained him like " we didn't wanna cut the queue, the lady staff said ok, that's why we cut the queue" At that time, he pointed his finger on my face with a loud voice and said " I AM A SENIOR THAN HER, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME, GO BACK AND QUEUE AGAIN" in front of everyone. We felt so shy. He humiliated our team in front of all passengers. Wr are wearing out company uniform and he humiliated our company as well. Normally ICN airport staff are so polite and very kind. But on my first day of 2019, I saw the worst staff ever in my life at ICN airport. You can check the CCTV again. Please consider my complaint and take a strict action. If you need any questions, you can ask me any time.I am looking forward your kind reply.
Su Myat Mo
sumyatmo.[protected]@gmail.com

My name ajay from bangladesh and im giving you information about a bangladeshi name md. Shahidul islam he use to bring banladeshi people using fake official passport by changing passport cover only none of them are official he use to bring through different airport some time from shanghai and some time from indonesia they are using fake official passport to enter and work there each person is paying him 15 thousand dollars. Please stope all this illigal works and he is destroying the korean law as well. You can check if the passport is original or fake by the passport no. Official should be start with o serial not any others. Thanks for your kind. Ajay

We purchased a huge suitcase and some other bulky duty free items at duty free shop and we picked them up after immigration. We go to Incheon airport every month and as usual we put the bulky stuff inside a carton box and check in right at the gate before we board. However, this time, after we packed everything and tried to check in at the gate, we were told no carton box is allowed. Ended up we have spent more than 40mins to repack all the items and purchased 2 branded suitcase at USD330 each to put our stuff. Disappointed the check in staff didnt inform us anything about this new regulation when we get our boarding pass at check in counter and the staff don't speak English, we can hardly communicate. Shame on this "International Airport"

There was insufficient public education about items that are restricted on board a plane. i had a 3kg weight in my carry on baggage which was taken away in the premise that it has the potential to harm someone on board. I am disappointed that there were no clear information that states that ‘heavy' items are prohibited on board & i don't see how a weight has the ability to harm someone. This has caused great inconvenience for me & i am disappointed to be met with a less than patient service staff who showed annoyance because he couldn't understand English & is unable to converse in an international language fluent enough to make this whole process easier. I hope that Incheon airport can work on this to prevent similar disappointing events from happening & get back to me asap.

sincerely,
an angry passenger