Incheon

Mongolian citizens need a visa for South Korea. Apply for a C-3-9 tourist visa at the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) in Ulaanbaatar: a single-entry visa valid for 3 months, stay up to 90 days. The visa fee is waived for ordinary passport holders; you pay only the centre's 57,000₮ service fee. Proof of funds such as bank statements is required.

Tip: Get the visa first, then buy the ticket, and nothing is at risk. K-ETA is for visa-exempt nationalities — Mongolian citizens don't need it.

From 2026 Korea no longer uses paper arrival cards: within 3 days before your flight, enter your passport, flight and hotel at e-arrivalcard.go.kr. It is free — beware of look-alike sites that charge a fee.

Transiting Incheon to a third country, you can join the airport's free Transit Tour: layover under 24 hours, register with both boarding passes at the desks on the 1st floor of T1 or T2. With a valid US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or one of 32 European countries' visa, travelling to that country, you may enter visa-free for up to 30 days. This does not apply to an Ulaanbaatar–Incheon–Ulaanbaatar trip — a visa is required.

Tip: Confirm the exact transit conditions with the embassy or your airline before you fly.

The airport's AREX express train runs non-stop to Seoul Station in 43 minutes for ₩13,000. The all-stop train takes about an hour and costs up to ₩5,350, paid by T-money. For central Incheon and Songdo, take the all-stop train to Geomam or Gyeyang and change to the metro.

Direct buses and limousines leave from outside arrivals for Songdo, central Incheon and every part of Seoul; buy tickets at the counter or pay by T-money. No changes, so it is easier with big suitcases or children. Eulwangni beach is a short city-bus ride away.

There is a taxi rank outside arrivals; hail one with Kakao T and you won't need to explain the address in Korean. Bridge tolls are added to the fare. Save your hotel's address in Korean script on your phone.

If your phone supports eSIM, install an Airalo or KT/SKT tourist eSIM before the flight — it works the moment you land, with no queue.

Tip: Install Naver Map in Ulaanbaatar and switch it to English before you go.

Incheon's arrivals hall has many KT, SKT and LG U+ counters: show your passport and get a tourist SIM, eSIM or pocket WiFi. Some counters may be closed when an overnight flight lands, so an eSIM is more reliable.

A rechargeable tap card for the metro, the AREX all-stop train, buses and taxis; buy it at the airport or at GS25, CU and 7-Eleven. The Incheon metro base fare is ₩1,550 by card; Incheon Line 1 goes to Songdo, Seoul Line 1 to Incheon Station (Chinatown).

City buses from the airport go to Eulwangni, Muuido and Paradise City; check the tide table before walking from Muuido to Silmido. Good for half a day while you wait for a flight.

Ganghwa's dolmens and Jeondeungsa temple are far apart and public transport is sparse. Renting a car or joining a day tour is easiest; day tours also run from Seoul.

Visa and Mastercard work in most shops, restaurants and taxis. Withdraw cash from bank or convenience-store ATMs marked 'Global ATM'. Few places in Korea exchange tugrik, so bring US dollars and change them at a bank or the airport exchange counters (airport rates are poor).

Spend over ₩15,000 in one purchase at a 'Tax Free' shop and you can reclaim VAT. For purchases up to ₩1,000,000 the shop deducts it on the spot when you show your passport (up to ₩5,000,000 per trip); the rest is refunded at Incheon Airport.

Jajangmyeon — noodles in black-bean sauce — was born in Incheon's Chinatown; order it with jjamppong (spicy seafood soup) and tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour fried pork). Sinpo Market's dakgangjeong (fried chicken in a sweet-spicy glaze) and jjolmyeon are Incheon's signature dishes.

Tip: Chinatown is packed at weekends — go before noon.

At Sorae Pogu market pick crab and shrimp and have them cooked upstairs; at Eulwangni and Wolmido try jogae-gui — grilled clams. Ask the price before you choose and watch the weighing.

Tip: No tipping in restaurants; side dishes (banchan) are free and refilled on request.

Gimbap, ramyeon and ready meals at GS25, CU and 7-Eleven are cheap and open 24 hours. The airport's B1 food court is reasonably priced too. With children, fried chicken and gimbap are everywhere.

Police 112, ambulance and fire 119 — free, 24 hours. The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline answers in English 24 hours a day and can connect you to the police or ambulance with three-way interpreting.

Yellow Sea tides are very strong: when walking to islands such as Silmido at low tide, always plan your return. Swim only in lifeguarded areas. When a typhoon arrives in late summer, flights may be cancelled — follow the official alerts that come to your phone.

Inha University Hospital has an international healthcare centre for foreign patients; Gachon University Gil Medical Center has an emergency department. The airport has its own medical centre. For minor ailments a pharmacy (약국) is enough. Call your insurer's assistance line first.

Young people don't sit in the pink (pregnancy) or senior seats on the metro. No loud phone calls, queue properly, and stand on the right on escalators.

At temples such as Jeondeungsa keep quiet and don't photograph in front of people praying. People live in the Fairy Tale Village: no photos into homes or windows, no noise, no litter.

Wait for the eldest to pick up their spoon before eating; never stand chopsticks upright in rice. Pour drinks for elders with both hands. In spas and jjimjilbang the nude bathing areas are separated by sex — wash before entering.

Google Maps gives almost no walking or driving directions in Korea — use Naver Map or KakaoMap. Both have English menus and show metro, AREX and bus routes with real-time timetables.

Kakao T — hail a taxi and see the fare estimate. Papago — the best Korean translator, reads menus and signs with the camera; showing your phone in a restaurant is normal.

e-Arrival Card — the online border card. The Incheon Airport site — terminals, flight information and the Transit Tour. The 1330 helpline can also be reached by chat on Kakao Talk.

Incheon has two terminals: Korean Air and Asiana fly from T2, MIAT and most low-cost carriers from T1 — check the terminal on your ticket. A free shuttle bus links the terminals but takes time. Plan to be at the airport 2–3 hours before an international flight.

VAT not deducted in the shop is refunded at the airport's TAX REFUND kiosks — carry the receipts and the goods together. The T-money balance can be refunded in cash at a convenience store, or keep the card for your next trip.