SOUTH KOREA | Flying Jin Air from Jeju City to Seoul Gimpo

Autumn 2024. Ten years after my first trip to Seoul in 2014, I am returning to the Republic of Korea, better known as South Korea. Not solo this time, but with Oriol, who has never been to Korea. On the itinerary: flying with Qatar Airways to Incheon via Doha, the capital Seoul, the historic city of Gyeongju, Busan, Jeju Island and a second stint in Seoul, where we are joined by Sehyeon. We’re spending two weeks in South Korea. The ROK is such a popular destination now. Will we experience overtourism?

When we looked at flights from Jeju City to Seoul, we only found journeys with a stopover. Until we discovered Seoul has a second airport: Gimpo.

Planespotting

Returning the rental car and getting to the the airport was super easy and swift. So we were really early for our flight.

We were able to check in early as well. Again, we had to wait for extra scrutiny. But now it was more clear why: we had to make sure our checked luggage passed security. A camera allowed us to keep an eye on our bags.

So we had time to do some planepotting.

Jeju International Airport is nice enough airport with quite a few shopping and catering options. We saw many soldiers as well. South Korea is still at war with North Korea.

The flight

Jin Air LJ508.
Boeing 737-800.
HL8017.
Flight time: 50 minutes.

Jin Air LJ508 was again a no-thrill, no-fuss short hop. The plane, HL801, is some nine years old. So the cabin is more contemporary and what you expect for a plane configured for short-haul flights.

Gimpo

Gimpo International Airport (GMP) is one of the oldest airports in South Korea and served as the main gateway to Seoul before the opening of Incheon International Airport in 2001. Located approximately 15 kilometres west of central Seoul, in the Gangseo District, it primarily handles domestic flights within South Korea and a limited number of international routes to nearby destinations in East Asia, such as Japan and China.

Operated by the Korea Airports Corporation, Gimpo Airport plays a significant role in Korean aviation history and remains a major hub for domestic travel, especially for flights connecting Seoul with other key cities like Busan, Jeju, and Daegu.

Gimpo Airport was originally built in 1939 during the Japanese occupation of Korea and was primarily used for military purposes. After the Korean War, the airport became the country’s primary civilian airport, supporting both domestic and international flights as South Korea rapidly developed its aviation infrastructure.

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, Gimpo served as the main international gateway for South Korea, with flights connecting Seoul to major cities around the world.

However, as South Korea’s international travel demands grew, the government constructed Incheon International Airport, a larger facility better suited to handle the increased air traffic and meet global standards. With Incheon’s opening, Gimpo Airport shifted focus primarily to domestic flights, although it retained a few international routes to nearby Asian cities.

Today, Gimpo Airport has two terminals, one for domestic flights and another for international flights, and a range of passenger amenities such as restaurants, shops, and lounges. The airport is well-connected to central Seoul and surrounding areas via the Seoul Subway, buses, and expressways, making it a convenient choice for travelers on domestic routes or short-haul international flights. In addition to commercial passenger flights, Gimpo Airport also handles cargo and military flights, contributing to its continued importance in Korea’s aviation network.

Gimpo Airport’s main advantages include its proximity to downtown Seoul, which makes it an attractive option for domestic travel and for travelers heading to nearby countries for business or tourism.

The airport’s manageable size and straightforward layout make it easy for passengers to navigate quickly, a notable benefit for short-haul travelers. However, as a relatively older airport, Gimpo has faced constraints on expansion, limited capacity, and aging facilities compared to Incheon. This has led to some ongoing upgrades and renovations to improve passenger experience and airport efficiency.

Despite its shift in focus to domestic and short-haul international flights, Gimpo Airport remains an important part of South Korea’s aviation landscape, balancing the needs of domestic travelers with an increasing demand for convenient access to nearby Asian cities.

Easy airport

We found Gimpo to be an easy airport. We picked up our bags quickly and from the baggage claim you could see the street!

There’s an Arex connection to Seoul Station which you don’t need to book and is more of a metro than a ‘real train’. A fun feature at at the subway station was this belt for bags, but Oriol’s bag was too heavy.