The lanes, which will operate through December, are intended to shorten wait times for foreign travelers using staffed immigration counters, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Tuesday.
On average, foreigners spend 24 to 35 minutes clearing immigration at the Incheon airport, more than 10 times longer than the two minutes it typically takes South Korean nationals using automated gates.
Under the program, six major business organizations — including the Federation of Korean Industries and the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea — will nominate executives eligible to use the new lanes.
The initiative follows a June meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and business leaders who called for faster entry procedures.
Incheon, South Korea’s main gateway, was ranked first globally for short immigration processing times in the first two quarters of 2025 by Airports Council International. But rising passenger numbers have eroded its competitiveness against regional rivals, notably Singapore’s Changi Airport, where wait times for foreign travelers are often under 10 minutes.
The government said it will review the trial program before deciding whether to expand it to other international airports, including Gimpo and Gimhae.
Officials are also weighing broader reforms, such as allowing general foreign visitors to use automated immigration gates now reserved for South Korean citizens and registered foreign residents.
reporter
Kim Dong-young
davekim0807@ajupress.com
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