And just like that we almost missed our connecting flight and learned what not to do during a long layover in Seoul.
Last updated: October 26, 2026
What You Should Never Do during a Day Visit to Seoul
We made a big mistake. Instead of purchasing a round-trip ticket from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Central, we paid only for a one-way trip and intended to buy our return tickets on the way back.
Fast-forward a few hours, satisfied and hungry after exploring Seoul, we made it back to the main station with some time to spare. Our taxi dropped us at the opposite side of the building. The entrance looked entirely different from the one we used to exist in the morning, but the structure itself was familiar.
We walked inside, navigated through the heavy foot traffic to an automated ticket machine, and got in line. Ten minutes later, an odd issue presented itself unexpectedly: the screen didn’t give us an option to purchase a return AREX Express ticket from Seoul Station to Incheon International Airport.
Korean Hospitality
The man behind us – certainly seeing our puzzlement – explained in his limited English that we had to go to a different level on the opposite side of the station.
Culture: This cultural concept in Korea is known as jeong. It represents a deep feeling of affection, care, and shared humanity between people. So, don’t be surprised if a stranger offers you a helping hand when you clearly look lost or confused about what to do or where to go next.
It took a few more minutes before we made it back to the other station’s entrance and followed our morning route in reverse.
Do This Instead
If you thought our misadventure ended there, think again. We tracked down the AREX Express ticket kiosk only to find out that all the tickets for the train we needed to take were sold out. The next AREX Express would depart Seoul Station in 40 minutes.
Now… We were cutting it too close to our flight boarding time with this new schedule. Still, taking the express train was faster than trying to hail a taxi.
TIP: Buy a round-trip ticket from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station and make sure to get back to the train station with enough time for any unexpected situations. I’d give this advice to myself (if I could go back in time) or anybody planning to explore Seoul during a long layover.
READ MORE: How to Do a 7-Hour Layover in Incheon City, South Korea
The “Race”
The express train we were planning to take left without us. Meanwhile, we made good use of the next 40 minutes by walking across the street and feasting on traditional Korean cold noodles.
That was what we needed: some good fuel for our bodies and rest before the “race” started. The next few hours were nothing short of a race. After getting back to the airport on the next train, we ran to grab our luggages, then sprinted to the security checkpoint, and finally to our gate.
We made it on time. Well, we even had a few minutes to catch our breath before boarding our plane bound to Kuala Lumpur. Needless to say, this experience in Seoul was one we hope never to repeat.
