I Thought Everyone Was Exaggerating About How Great The Airport In Seoul Was Until I Actually Went There
Shutterstock
But, boy, is it a dump, especially in the United Airlines terminal. There's an Au Bon Pain, but it's really just a chow line without the regular storefront you see in most airports. That's about it.
So the bar was set low when I flew to Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, on a recent business trip. Still, I had a lot of people, including two of my Korean colleagues, tell me it was the best airport in the world (it was ranked the world's second-best airport by Skytrax, a high honor).
I've only been to a handful of international airports - including London's Heathrow, Schiphol in Amsterdam, and El Prat in Barcelona - and they're great, but Incheon is by far the most impressive one I've ever been to.
The building itself is a modern work of art. Everything is in one giant curved terminal instead of separate terminals like most airports. You can see how beautiful it is from the outside:
But the inside is the real treat. Incheon is essentially a high-class shopping mall with airplane gates in between the stores and restaurants. It goes on seemingly forever.Steve Kovach/Business Insider
Steve Kovach/Business Insider
Steve Kovach/Business Insider
Steve Kovach/Business Insider
I visited one of the food courts, up this escalator. It was 9 a.m., but since Korean breakfast food is the same at all hours of the day, I had to get noodles.
Steve Kovach/Business Insider
The food court was cool. You order at a separate station and wait for your number to be called at the kitchen.
Steve Kovach/Business Insider
But the biggest draw was the duty-free shops. There were several of them and most were selling the same stuff, as far as I could tell. A lot of people walked out with giant shopping bags stuffed with booze, jewelry, and designer perfume.
Steve Kovach/Business Insider
Now compare all that to my typical experience at LaGuardia.
AP
Disclosure: Samsung paid for a portion of our trip to South Korea for a separate series of stories about the company. It paid for the flight and some meals. Business Insider paid for lodging and all other expenses.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- Catan adds climate change to the latest edition of the world-famous board game
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- JNK India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more
- Indian Army unveils selfie point at Hombotingla Pass ahead of 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market