This file photo from June 5, 2024, shows travelers at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will introduce fast-track immigration lanes at Incheon International Airport this week for foreign business executives, in a move aimed at improving the country’s appeal as a hub for international commerce.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Justice said on August 26 that the pilot program will begin on August 31 and run through December.
Under the scheme, six major economic organizations — including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea International Trade Association, and the American and European chambers of commerce in Seoul — can recommend foreign executives for expedited entry.
The change comes amid longstanding complaints about lengthy processing times for non-Korean travelers. Foreigners using manned immigration counters currently wait an average of 24 to 35 minutes, and in some cases as long as 92 minutes, compared with just two minutes at automated kiosks for Korean nationals.
A passenger arriving from overseas enters the arrival lobby of Terminal 1 at Incheon airport, west of Seoul, on June 22, 2022. (Yonhap)
Officials said the new lanes are expected to reduce wait times dramatically, fostering smoother business exchanges. The initiative responds to concerns raised in June during a presidential roundtable with corporate leaders, where foreign investors pointed to cumbersome entry procedures as a barrier.
If successful, the program may expand to Gimpo and Gimhae airports, and eventually pave the way for broader use of automated gates by foreign nationals.
“The government hopes this improvement will boost economic exchanges between domestic companies and foreign investors, invigorating the national economy,” Land Minister Kim Yun-deok said. Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho added that the reform aims to “support corporate investment and strengthen global business networks.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
