Seoul is a large city with nearly 10 million inhabitants. Traveling around Seoul can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. Here are some practical tips to help you navigate to the conference venue and your hotel.
Flights to Seoul
Most long-distance international flights arrive at Incheon International Airport (ICN). However, travelers flying from nearby Asian airports (such as Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka-Kansai, Beijing-Capital, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Taipei-Songshan, or Kaohsiung) may find flights to Gimpo International Airport (GMP) more convenient.
T-Money Card
The T-Money Card is a prepaid transportation card that can be used to pay for public transportation in cities across Korea, including buses and subways. It provides cash-free travel around Korean cities, and eliminates the hassle of buying tickets for each journey.
You can purchase and top-up the T-Money Card at airports, subway stations and convenience stores such as GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24. When you leave Korea, you can get a refund for the remaining balance on your T-Money Card.
More details on the T-Money Card can be found at, e.g., here.
From Incheon Airport to Hotels
Airport Limousine Buses
Airport Limousine, CALT and Seoul Air Bus operate bus lines from Incheon Airport to several regions of Seoul. You may look up the bus company websites to find out which bus line comes closest to your hotel. Here are a few examples.
6017: Guro Digital Complex Station (~5 min walk to Lotte City Guro or Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Guro)
6103: COEX City Airport Terminal (~12 min walk to L7 Gangnam or ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Gangnam)
6009: Baengbaeng Sageori (~3 min walk to Hilton Garden Inn Seoul Gangnam)
The one-way fare is 17,000~18,000 won. You can purchase tickets at a ticket office in the airport.
From Gimpo Airport to Hotels
Taxi
The taxi fare from Gimpo Airport to hotels in the city varies from 20,000 won (those near Guro Digital Complex Station) to 40,000 won (those near Seolleung Station). Travel time from the airport to the hotel ranges from 40 to 90 minutes, depending on the traffic.
Subway
Gimpo airport is connected to Subway Line #5 and #9. You can reach many places in the city as long as they are not too far from subway stations.
From Incheon Airport to SNU
Taxi
The taxi fare for coming to SNU Gwanak campus from Incheon International Airport is around 60,000 won depending on the traffic situation. By Deluxe Taxi (Mobeom Taxi), which offers kinder service, the approximate fare is 80,000 won.
AREX(Airport Railroad)
There are 2 types of train. Express train is a Premium Train that goes nonstop between Incheon International Airport and Seoul Station. All-Stop train is a Commuter Train that stops at all 14 stations in-between Incheon International Airport and Seoul Station.
We recommend taking a All-Stop train. You can transfer to Line #2 at Hongik University Station. And take bus number 5516 at exit #3 of Sillim Station, or take bus number 5513 at exit #3 of Seoul National Univ.(Gwanak-gu Office) Station. This way, it will take about two hours from the airport to SNU.
From Gimpo Airport to SNU
Taxi
The fare from Gimpo Airport to SNU Gwanak campus is approximately 30,000 won(About 40,000 won for Deluxe/Mobeom Taxi).
Subway
Take the local train (not express, as it skips Saetgang Station) on Line #9 from Gimpo Airport Station and get off at Saetgang Station. Transfer to the Sillim Line and get off at Gwanaksan Station. You can take bus number 5516 from the bus stop near Gwanaksan Station.
From Subway Stations to SNU
Subway
Take Subway Line #2 (Green Line) and get off at the Seoul National University (Gwanak-gu Office) Station. Note that this is different from the Seoul National University of Education (Court or Prosecutor’s Office) Station.
Subway Line #2 (Green Line), Seoul National University(Gwanak-gu Office) Station (Exit #3)
While Seoul National University is nearby the SNU (Gwanak-gu Office) station, it is not within walking distance, and you will need to take a bus or a taxi to get to the university.
From exit #3, walk towards the Gwanak-gu Office. There you will find the campus shuttle bus and other buses that will take you to SNU. Campus shuttles are free of charge. Though intervals vary during the semesters, the shuttle buses generally run every 5 to 20 minutes. You should get off at Lawn in front of Administration Building. Bldg.#28 is a 5-minute walk from there.
You can also take the public 5513 bus that circulates the campus counter-clockwise, from the university’s main entrance to the Administration Building. After getting off at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bldg.#28 is within a 3-minute walk.
