Airport rail · 공항철도 2026
🚆 AREX Express vs all-stop, 2026
AREX is the default answer to “how do I leave Incheon without a taxi”. The Express skips every station for ₩13,000; the all-stop is a ₩4,150 commuter train that happens to stop at Hongdae. Most travellers pick wrong by default — here is how to pick right.
| AREX Express 직통 | AREX All-stop 일반 |
|---|
| Fare (adult) | ₩13,000 at machines/desk · ≈ ₩11,400 pre-booked online | ₩4,150 from T1 · ₩4,750 from T2 (T-money) |
| Time to Seoul Station | 43 min from T1 · 51 min from T2 | 59 min from T1 · 66 min from T2 |
| Stops | None — Seoul Station only | Unseo, Yeongjong, Cheongna Intl City, Geomam, Gyeyang, Gimpo Airport, Digital Media City, Hongik Univ, Gongdeok, Seoul Station |
| Pay with | Paper / QR ticket (card or cash). T-money does not open the gate. | T-money, Cashbee, WOWPASS transit wallet, single ticket |
| Seats | Reserved, 2+2 airline-style, luggage racks, Wi-Fi, toilets | Commuter benches, standing at rush hour, luggage racks near doors |
| Frequency | Every 25–40 min | Every 6–12 min |
| First / last from T1 (approx.) | 05:20 / 22:50 | 05:20 / 23:30 |
| Transfer discount to subway | No (separate ticket) | Yes — tap out and re-tap within 30 min, pay only the distance difference |
| Best for | Seoul Station, Jongno, Myeongdong (+ Line 4), City Hall hotels; anyone who values a guaranteed seat | Hongdae, Yeonnam, Mapo, Gongdeok, DMC; budget travellers; anyone with T-money already |
Which one, in one sentence each
홍대 · 마포
Hongdae / Mapo hotel → all-stopDirect to Hongik Univ station in ~52 minutes. The express would take you past your hotel to Seoul Station and cost ₩9,000 more.
서울역 · 명동 · 종로
Seoul Station / Myeongdong / Jongno → expressNon-stop, guaranteed seat, then two stops on Line 4 or a ₩6,000 taxi.
강남 · 잠실
Gangnam / Jamsil → bus, not railEither train leaves you 40 minutes of subway from Gangnam. Limousine bus 6009 / 6020 / 6006 goes straight there for ₩17,000. ICN → Gangnam →
3인 이상 · 심야
3+ people or after 23:00 → taxiA ₩70,000 cab split three ways beats three express tickets plus a transfer. Cost comparison →
Step by step
Follow the 공항철도 / AREX signs down to B1. T1: through the Transportation Centre. T2: B1 of the terminal. Both trains share the concourse.
Express: buy at the orange machines or AREX desk (foreign cards accepted) or exchange an online voucher QR for a seat ticket. All-stop: tap T-money or buy a single ticket from the subway machines.
Use the right gate. Express gates are marked in blue with “Express”; all-stop uses the normal subway gates. Tapping T-money at the express gate does nothing.
Luggage: racks at car ends on both. Do not park suitcases in the doorway at Hongik Univ — it is the busiest stop and the doors open on alternating sides.
Transferring at Seoul Station takes 8–12 minutes with bags: Line 1 / Line 4 are signed, elevators exist but are a walk. For Gangnam from the all-stop, change at Hongik Univ to Line 2 instead.
When the bus (or Gimpo) still wins
| Situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|
| Hotel in Gangnam, Jamsil, Yeouido, Dongdaemun | Limousine bus ₩17,000 | Door-near drop-off; no subway transfer with bags. |
| Two or more large suitcases per person | Bus or taxi | Hold storage beats hauling through Seoul Station. |
| Landing after 23:00 | Taxi (or late-night airport bus if running) | Last all-stop ~23:30, last express ~22:50 from T1. |
| Flying domestic or to Japan/China from Gimpo | All-stop to Gimpo Airport ₩1,600 from Seoul Station | 22 minutes; the express does not stop at Gimpo. Gimpo guide → |
| Sunday evening, any hotel | Rail | Expressway traffic doubles bus times; trains do not care. |
Airport arrival → All options: cost & time → T-money → Gimpo GMP →
AREX — FAQ
How much is the AREX Express in 2026?
₩13,000 for adults at the airport machines and desk, about ₩11,400–₩11,500 when pre-booked through online travel platforms. The all-stop costs ₩4,150 from Terminal 1 or ₩4,750 from Terminal 2 with a T-money card.
Can I use T-money on the AREX Express?
No — the express requires its own seat ticket and its gates ignore T-money. T-money works on the all-stop train, which shares the same tracks and stops at Hongik Univ and Gongdeok.
How long does AREX take to Seoul Station?
Express: 43 minutes from Terminal 1, 51 from Terminal 2. All-stop: 59 and 66 minutes respectively, stopping at Gimpo Airport, Digital Media City, Hongik Univ and Gongdeok on the way.
Does the AREX Express stop at Hongdae?
No. Only the all-stop stops at Hongik Univ (Hongdae). If your hotel is in Hongdae, Yeonnam or Mapo, the all-stop is faster door-to-door and ₩9,000 cheaper.
What time is the last AREX from Incheon Airport?
Roughly 22:50 for the last express and 23:30 for the last all-stop from Terminal 1 (slightly earlier from Terminal 2); first trains around 05:20. Check the departure boards on the day.
Is AREX or the airport bus better for Gangnam?
The bus. Limousine routes 6009, 6020 and 6030 run directly to Gangnam for ₩17,000 in 80–100 minutes; either train leaves you a 35–40 minute subway ride away.
🇰🇷 한국어 요약 · AREX 직통 vs 일반열차 2026
- 직통열차 13,000원(온라인 약 11,400원), T1 43분·T2 51분, 서울역만 정차, 지정좌석. 티머니로 직통 개집표기 통과 불가.
- 일반열차 T1 4,150원·T2 4,750원(티머니), T1 59분, 홍대입구·공덕 정차 → 홍대·마포 숙소는 일반열차.
- 강남·잠실·여의도 숙소는 공항리무진(17,000원)이 편함. 3인 이상·심야는 택시.
- 첫차 약 05:20, 막차 직통 약 22:50·일반 약 23:30(T1 기준).
✅ Checked 2026-09-04 · Sources: AREX (arex.or.kr) 2026 fares & timetable · Incheon International Airport transport guide · Seoul Metro transfer rules. Fares and rules change — the gate screen, ticket machine or official notice wins over this page.