Incheon Airport launches priority immigration lanes to cut waiting times for foreign business travellers

Credit: Incheon International Airport (ICN) via @incheon_airport

Priority immigration lanes for foreign business travellers will open at Incheon Airport (ICN) on 31 August 2025. The measure is designed to reduce waiting times and enhance convenience for international business visitors.

Currently, Korean nationals using automated kiosks spend about two minutes at immigration, while foreign nationals relying on manned counters wait between 24 and 35 minutes. This has created delays and inconvenience for overseas visitors.

The initiative follows a request raised at the economic organisations and business leaders meeting chaired by the President on 13 June 2025. After consultations, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport worked with relevant agencies and business associations to introduce a priority process.

Under the scheme, foreign business travellers recommended by designated domestic associations will be eligible to use the new priority lanes. These associations include the Federation of Korean Industries, Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea, Korea Enterprises Federation, Korea International Trade Association, American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, and European Chamber of Commerce in Korea.

The government will operate the programme on a trial basis at Incheon Airport until December 2025. Depending on results, it may later be expanded to other airports in South Korea. In the longer term, plans are in place to upgrade the immigration system so that foreign nationals can also use automated kiosks.

Hag-jae Lee, President and CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said: “With the implementation of this new government policy, we expect foreign business travelers to experience greater convenience when using Incheon Airport. We will continue to actively improve passenger convenience in line with government policies.”

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