Long layover in Seoul (ICN): questions about free guided tours from the airport?

Hi there, I’ve got a long layover (about 10 hours) in Seoul on an upcoming trip. I arrive from Phnom Penh at 7:20 AM and depart for Montreal at 6:00 PM.

First question: Will my checked baggage be transferred automatically? I have a single ticket from KTI to YUL (Air Canada ticket—KTI-ICN operated by Asiana (codeshare) and ICN-YUL by Air Canada).

Second question: I saw it’s possible to join free guided tours (Airport Transit Tour). What do you think of this kind of service? And is my "actual" layover time (accounting for security checks, check-in, etc.) enough to do one of these tours?

Thanks in advance to everyone who chimes in on this!

Hi, Yes, your luggage will be checked through to your final destination. Regarding your 10-hour layover, you’ll go through entry formalities for the country. Fill out the E-document online within 3 days before your arrival—it’s free: http://www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr/ After that, you can exit, and there’s a counter where you can sign up for a free city tour. We did it—it’s great! It lasts about 3 to 4 hours, so you’ll definitely have enough time. Just check your boarding pass or flight ticket to see if you’re eligible. With a 10-hour layover, no worries at all.

Thanks so much for your reply! Did you book in advance online for the tours, or did you just show up at the counter on the day of your layover?

We showed up directly at the counter, waited a bit, and then we were taken to the bus.

Thanks so much for your help! 😛

Hello, I’ve got a long layover (about 10 hours) in Seoul on an upcoming trip. I arrive from Phnom Penh at 7:20 AM and leave for Montreal at 6:00 PM.

First question: Will my checked baggage be handled automatically, given I have a single ticket from KTI to YUL (Air Canada ticket—KTI-ICN operated by Asiana (codeshare) and ICN-YUL by Air Canada)?

Second question: I’ve seen that free guided tours (Airport Transit Tour) are available. What do you think of this kind of service? And is my "effective" layover time (accounting for security checks, check-in, etc.) enough to join one?

Thanks in advance to everyone who contributes to this discussion!

Hey,

I went to Thailand for New Year’s 2023, and given the price of tickets at that time of year, we chose to go via Seoul to get to Phuket... A long detour, with 13- and 14-hour flights from/to Paris, a 6-hour flight between Seoul and Phuket, and... 7- and 10-hour waits at Seoul Airport. (But hey, celebrating New Year’s Eve with your feet in the sand with the Thais is worth it—it’s a wonderful memory 🙂)

Like you, we considered heading into the city, but... we were put off by the weather. We were coming from/going back to tropical weather, and at that time of year, it was freezing in Seoul (winter!), and we hadn’t packed any heavy jackets in our backpacks 😕 So don’t get caught out—I see you’re coming from/going to Cambodia!

So no tour for us... There are sleeping rooms, or if you’re a bit patient, you can find spots to rest. We slept a lot, ate, tried on traditional outfits, watched planes take off... In short, we kept busy. It works out 😉

Hey, Thanks for your reply. Actually, my wife is heading to Cambodia to visit our daughter. If it weren’t for the "Middle East blockade," she’d fly directly via Dubai from Montreal, but there’s no choice—she has to go the long way around the globe. It’s a bit longer, but it might let her explore Seoul and Singapore (if the weather cooperates!!).

We’re not so worried about the cold for the weather 😛—it’s more the rain! Visiting in the downpour would definitely be less fun!! At worst, I saw there are places to rest and things to do at the airport!!

Hi, Thanks for your reply. Actually, my wife is heading to Cambodia to visit our daughter. If it weren’t for the "Middle East blockade," she’d fly directly via Dubai from Montreal, but there’s no choice—she has to go the other way around the globe, which is a bit longer but might allow her to get to know (if the weather’s good!!) Seoul and Singapore. We’re not so worried about the cold, to be honest 😛, but more about the rain! It’s definitely less fun to visit when it’s pouring!! At worst, I saw there are places to rest/keep busy at the airport!!

The point isn’t really to fear the cold, indeed 😛, but to be prepared for the layover 😕