Thursday, March 1, 2001

By Jeremy Kirk
Seoul bureau chief

Jeremy Kirk / Stars and Stripes Workers tag hundreds of bags during a test run of the baggage system at the Incheon International Airport Tuesday. The airport opens March 29.

INCHEON, South Korea — The good news about the new, gleaming Incheon International Airport is travelers won’t have to endure crowded, grungy terminals anymore.

The bad news is travel time to the facility will be twice as long as the trip to Kimpo, and it’s going to cost more.

But travelers likely will find the new airport more convenient and modern, airport officials say.

"This is the largest project in Korea since the Korean government was established," said Yeo Joon-ku, IIA marketing assistant manager. "It’s quite different from Kimpo."

On Tuesday, workers were hustling to put the final cosmetic touches on the airport before it opens March 29 to international flights.

The airport was built on a reclaimed tidal landmass between two islands in the Yellow Sea, off the coast from the industrial city of Incheon. Fifty-one years ago, the city was the scene for Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s famed landing that changed the tide of the Korean War.

But now the focus is on the airport. Detractors say its location — about 30 miles from Seoul — makes for long commute times. Additionally, the only way to get to the airport now is by car or bus on a six- to eight-lane highway that stretches from western Seoul. Airport officials estimate the trip will take about an hour.

But concerns have been raised about the highway in poor winter conditions, especially since Korea had one of its worst winters in years this year.

By 2005, a train line will run to Incheon from Kimpo Airport, which will be used exclusively for domestic flights. But it will be 2007 before passengers can take a train from Seoul Station to the airport.

Shuttle buses will be used to take people from landing at Kimpo to their international flights at Incheon.

The highway and the Yeongjong Grand Bridge, which spans to the island, were funded by private investments, Yeo said, which is the reason for a 6,100 won toll — about $5. Even airport employees aren’t exempt from the toll, he said.

U.S. Forces Korea personnel driving government vehicles on official business will be exempt from the toll. But taking a taxi to Incheon International will be about double the fare to Kimpo.

AAFES taxis to Yongsan Garrison will cost between $45 to $50 for the trip, said Elaine Losey, executive director of the USO. A Korean taxi company estimated the trip at 70,000 won or about $58.

From Incheon to a 2nd Infantry Division camp such as Camp Casey in Tongduchon would cost around $100 for an AAFES taxi, Losey said.

Another change is the airport departure tax has increased. For foreigners, the fee will be 15,000 won (about $12.50), up from 9,000 won. The fee for Koreans will be 25,000 won, up from 19,000 won.

When you walk through the Incheon airport, you notice a vast difference between it and Kimpo. The six-level terminal is a slick, airy structure full of steel and glass. It emphasizes natural light through wide windows.

"We give passengers a bright and cool feeling," Yeo said.

Stylistically, Incheon is best compared with Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, Yeo said. Check-in counters are designed to help reduce tangled lines.

During peak hours, the airport should be able to handle 6,400 passengers and 32,000 pieces of luggage at 252 check-in counters. On Tuesday, the airport had 15,000 volunteers at the airport to test its systems.

Dummy bags were lined up in front of ticket counters Tuesday, ready for a baggage-handling test.

Airport officials say baggage handling will be faster now with an automated baggage sorting system. But a test of the system Tuesday showed it was slower than expected, according to Korean news reports Tuesday night.

Eventually, Incheon International Airport will be open around the clock. Because residents lived around Kimpo, the airport closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and took no flights during that time.

North Korea is of little concern although the communist country is just a few miles north of the airport and has a history of firing on planes that stray over its airspace.

"We are not worried about the airspace," Yeo said. "We are very safe from North Korea."

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