Gimpo International Airport (GMP) is the primary domestic airport of Seoul, South Korea. With its more than 25 million yearly passengers, Gimpo is the third-busiest airport in the country, after Seoul’s massive Incheon Airport (ICN) and Jeju International Airport (CJU).
The airport is located 15 km west of central Seoul, much closer than Incheon, which is nearly 50 km away. It takes around 30-40 minutes to reach areas of Seoul like Hongdae, City Hall, or Myeongdong.
The majority of flights at Gimpo Airport are domestic routes. International coverage includes only Japan, Taiwan, and Mainland China.
Major Airlines - Korean Air, Asiana Airlines.
Gimpo Airport is predominantly a domestic one, so the largest carriers are unsurprisingly also South Korea’s largest airlines.
Korean Air, the flag carrier, has a hub at Gimpo and operates 3 main domestic routes - to Jeju, to Busan, and to Ulsan. The airline also offers international flights to Beijing, Osaka, Tokyo, and other destinations. It usually operates in excess of 1000 flights per month.
Asiana Airlines also uses Gimpo as a hub for its domestic operations, including direct flights from Seoul to Gwangju, Jeju, Yeosu, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Osaka, and other cities.
Low-cost carriers such as Jeju Air, Jin Air, and T'way Air also offer plentiful flights from Gimpo.
Few foreign airlines fly to Gimpo, as most usually land in Incheon instead. You can fly to/from GMP using Air China, China Airlines, China Southern, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, and Shanghai Airlines, to name a few.
Click here to see all airlines at Gimpo International Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Seoul Gimpo Airport has 2 terminals separated by about 500 meters and connected by a covered walkway and a free shuttle bus:
Domestic Terminal (Terminal D): Larger and busier. Has 20 gates.
International Terminal (Terminal I): Smaller, usually quiet, and easy to go through. Has 9 gates.
Both terminals are spread over 4 floors as follows:
1F (B1 floor): Airport Railroad and other transportation options.
2F (1st floor): Arrivals
3F (2nd floor): Departures, gates, lounges.
4F (4th floor): Restaurants and cafes.
This airport closes at 11:00 PM and reopens at 5:00 AM every day. You are not allowed to stay inside overnight.
Connecting Flights and Transit
Gimpo is not intended as a transit hub. There is no airside transfer between the two terminals, so all such connecting flights (domestic to international or vice versa) need to clear Security and Immigration.
The minimum connection time for domestic layovers is just 15 minutes.
The minimum connection time for layovers that include an international flight is 60 minutes.
Due to Incheon’s international hub status and Gimpo’s domestic focus, many travelers land at one of Seoul’s airports and need to travel to the other. Transferring between airports takes a minimum of 90 minutes. Public buses 6003, 6014, 8849, and 8829 run direct between ICN and GMP every 20 minutes, taking about an hour.
Free Wi-Fi and other services
Free WiFi is available throughout both terminals of Gimpo Airport. Select “AirportName_FreeWiFi” from the list of available networks and follow the on-screen prompts to connect.
There is also an internet zone on 2F of the International Terminal where you can use a computer for free.
Other passenger services at GMP include:
ATMs: Several Korean banks have installed cash machines in the Arrival areas of both terminals.
Banks: Shinhan Bank and Woori Bank have branches on 1F of the Domestic Terminal. Woori also has branches in the International Terminal on 1F and 2F.
Currency Exchange: In addition to the banks above, there are traditional currency exchange desks between Exits 2 and 3 on the 2nd floor of the International Terminal.
Pharmacy: Located on 3F of both terminals, in the public area. Open 7 AM to 8 PM.
Lost & Found: Located on 3F. Open 6 AM to 10 PM.
Luggage storage: Located on the first floor of both terminals. Costs around 7000 KRW per 24 hours.
Casino: Located on 1F of the International Terminal.
Jeju Information Center: Located on 2F of the Domestic Terminal.
Post Office: Located on 1F of the Domestic Terminal.
Baby lounge: Located near boarding gates 2, 14, and 15, on 3F, after security.
Lounges at Gimpo Airport
Gimpo Airport offers several lounges in both terminals. Most are operated by airlines and welcome only their eligible passengers, but there are options for all travelers.
In the Domestic Terminal, there are:
Asiana Airlines Lounge: Located on 4F, open from 5:10 AM to 9:00 PM.
Korean Air Lounge: Located on 4F, open from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM.
Lounge by Sulfun: Located on 3F, open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
The International Terminal houses the following lounges:
Asiana Airlines Lounge: Located on 4F, open from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM.
Korean Air Lounge: Located on 4F, open from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM.
Sky Hub Lounge: Located on 3F, open from 6:30 AM to 8:10 PM
Dining Options
Gimpo’s landside area, especially in the Domestic Terminal, is a wonderful place to try a range of Korean dishes such as bibimbap, noodles, and Korean barbecue. There are also various bakeries and cafés.
SKY31 (on the 4th floor) is a very large dining area with various Korean, Japanese, and Chinese food restaurants.
The international terminal has fewer options overall, around 5, though still enough variety for most travelers.
Some of the most popular places to grab something to eat or drink at GMP are:
Domestic Terminal:
Lotteria: A famous Asian fast food chain. F1, 4:30 AM to 11:30 PM.
Flavour6 Food Court: Pick from a variety of staples and local cuisine. F1, 6 AM to 9 PM.
Hongdae Gaemi: Offers rice dishes with different toppings. 4F, 6 AM to 8:30 PM.
Namsan King Pork Cutlet: 1F, 8 AM to 8 PM.
Pho Thin: Vietnamese cuisine. 4F, 6 AM to 8:40 PM.
Welly&Cafeteria: Serves coffee and Korean snack food. 2F, 6 AM to 8:30 PM.
International Terminal:
Jeong Table: Korean restaurant. 3F, 6 AM to 8:30 PM.
Osaka Kitchen: Japanese cuisine. 3F, 6:30 AM to 8:20 PM.
Bistro Haneulchan: Korean fast food, 4F, 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM.
There is also a CU convenience store airside, on the 3rd floor.
Transportation options to and from Gimpo Airport
Gimpo Airport is directly connected to multiple subway lines, including Line 5, Line 9, and the AREX Airport Line:
- Seoul Metro Line 5 (Purple):
Goes directly to Seoul's downtown historic area.
Runs between 5:41 AM and 23:59 AM (from the airport).
Frequency: every 5-10 minutes.
Price: Around 1500 KRW.
- Seoul Metro Line 9 (Beige):
Goes to Gangnam and the main bus station.
Runs between 5:4 AM and 23:44 AM (from the airport).
Frequency: every 5-10 minutes.
Price: Around 1500 KRW.
- AREX (Blue):
Connects Gimpo to Incheon International Airport with stops through the city and Seoul Station.
Runs between 5:20 AM and 00:16 AM (from the airport).
Frequency: every 5-15 minutes.
Price: Around 4500 KRW if you go to Incheon Airport.
To get to popular areas of Seoul, such as Itaewon, Myeongdong, and Gangnam, it’s best to take Line 5 or Line 9 and change to another line in the city center.
The Gimpo Goldline also serves GMP Airport, linking it to the surrounding urban areas, though it serves little purpose for travelers.
Buses are seldom more convenient, not faster than trains, and thus discouraged. Most public buses have their destinations written on the front screen only in Korean, making them impractical for visitors.
A notable exception is the Limousine Airport Bus, which links GMP with downtown Seoul directly. Albeit quite luxurious, it’s also pricey - 7 500 KRW, once again making the subway a better alternative.
Similarly, taxis are also quite expensive, given the other options. A trip to central Seoul costs around 30.000 KRW and is rarely faster than public transportation. Metered taxis wait outside both terminals.
Lastly, if you’d like to explore more of South Korea independently, you can rent a car directly at Gimpo International. The 3 companies with desks at GMP are Lotte Car Rental, SK Car Rental, and GoGo Car Rental. All three are located between Gates 3 and 5 on 1F of the Domestic Terminal.
Parking at GMP
There are a total of 4 parking facilities at Gimpo Airport. One multi-level garage is right next to the International Terminal, while 3 parking areas are within walking distance from the Domestic Terminal.
Pricing is standardized across all four:
1000 KRW for the first 30 minutes.
500 KRW for every 15 minutes after that.
20.000 KRW per day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
30.000 KRW per day on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays.
Valet Parking is available for international flight passengers. You can drive up to the Valet Parking Information Counter on Floor 2 of either terminal and give your keys to the attendant, who will take care of the rest. Upon return, your car will be ready for you on Floor 1.
Hotels near Gimpo Airport
The Lotte City Hotel Gimpo Airport is located just a 2-minute walk from the International Terminal and is directly connected to a shopping mall and the subway station. You can take the free shuttle bus to reach the Domestic Terminal. It is a 3-star hotel with a 24hr gym and self-laundry room, among other amenities.
The nearest 5-star hotel is the Mayfield Hotel - about a 10-minute taxi ride from the terminals. It’s well-rated, especially for its pool and sauna, and breakfast options.
Seoul, Republic of Korea
