Incheon Airport to Operate Dedicated Immigration Line for Foreign Businesspeople

Separate Immigration Inspection Line for Foreign Businesspeople
Aims to Reduce Average 35-Minute Entry Wait Time

Incheon International Airport Corporation announced on the 27th that it will operate a separate immigration inspection line starting from the 31st to shorten the waiting time for foreign businesspeople entering Korea for business purposes.

Incheon International Airport Corporation

This measure was taken in response to suggestions that improvements were needed in the immigration process for foreign businesspeople visiting Korea for purposes such as domestic investment. The issue was raised as a recommendation from economic organizations during a meeting between economic groups and business leaders presided over by President Lee Jaemyung on June 13. While it takes an average of about two minutes for Korean nationals to use the automated immigration inspection, foreign nationals using the manned immigration counters experience an average wait time of 24 to 35 minutes, causing inconvenience.

Accordingly, the government, including the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, improved procedures through inter-agency meetings and discussions with economic organizations so that foreign businesspeople recommended by domestic economic groups can enter the country quickly through a dedicated immigration inspection line.

The government plans to conduct a pilot operation of this system at Incheon International Airport until December, and will consider expanding it to other airports in Korea based on the results. In the mid- to long-term, the government also plans to improve the immigration inspection system so that foreign nationals can use automated immigration inspection as well.

Lee Hakjae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, stated, "With the implementation of this government policy, we expect it will become much more convenient for foreign businesspeople to use Incheon International Airport," adding, "We will continue to actively support government policies and improve passenger convenience."