By Heike Hermanns
Incheon International Airport to Jinju
There are many different ways to get to Jinju from Incheon, it depends on your preferences, arrival time and where you live in Jinju.
The direct buses to Jinju Gaeyang 5 way intersection (and Masan and Changwon) leave at 10.30am and 1.20pm.
Gangnam Express Bus Terminal to Jinju
The easiest way to Jinju is to take the airport bus to Gangnam Express Bus Terminal in Seoul. It’s about one hour, depending on traffic. There is the more expensive limousine bus and the cheaper red buses (6020 leaving from exit 11B). You can buy tickets (15,000 won I think) at a counter or on the bus (some traffic cards may work as well). At the airport, people generally help with ticket buying and loading the luggage (giving you a little receipt if you leave it under the bus so keep it to show when you pick up your luggage at your destination). When you get off the bus in Seoul cross the road then enter the terminal and go to the far end for the ticket counter for Jinju (in the Gyeongbu 경부 Terminal). From there, buses to Jinju go every 20 minutes until at least 10 pm. The buses all come via the Gaeyang 5 Way intersection (near GNU) and go on to the Express Bus Terminal.
You can also take the airport train and subway (line No 9 also runs express trains) to the express bus terminal. Changing at Gimpo Airport is just a dash to the opposite platform but the subway stop at the Express Bus Terminal is a rabbit warren and can be very confusing.
Nambu Intercity Bus Terminal in Seoul to Jinju
Buses from the airport go there, too. Buses from here go to the Jinju Intercity Terminal via northern Jinju and do not stop at Gaeyang 5 way intersection. So it is more convenient for people living in northern Jinju. I don’t, so I can’t say more about this connection and the frequency.
Incheon Bus Terminal to Jinju
Although the airport is on an island (well, it used to be two) off Incheon, the connections are built to serve Seoul, not Incheon. You can take a limousine bus to Incheon Bus Terminal, it runs through most of Incheon and takes much longer than the Gangnam connection. You can also take a local bus (301) which takes the scenic route over the southern bridge and through Songdo (mud flats, empty reclaimed land and high-rise buildings make a nice contrast). Interesting, if you have time and no luggage. There is also the subway option, if you want to change in Gyeyang (down the stairs and up the stairs…).Count 90 minutes for these trips to the Bus Terminal… from Incheon, both Express buses and Intercity buses leave for Jinju, roughly one an hour, last one at 6pm (Express) and 6.50pm (Intercity). The bus ride to Jinju takes about 30-40 minutes longer than the Seoul run. Express Buses drop off at Gaeyang, Intercity buses come in via northern Jinju.
Another way is via Daejon but the buses are less frequent. You need to change in Daejon, crossing the road from the arrivals terminal to the new bus terminal with two ticket counters, one for Intercity and one for Express Buses. Buses run roughly every 30-60 minutes, and stop at 9.30pm. They all come into Jinju via Gaeyang.
Train
From December 2012, Jinju is connected to the KTX network, so it should be 3 hours 20 – 40 minutes from Seoul Station. KTX is more expensive than the bus and, at least the old trains, not very spacious in terms of legroom and luggage space. Korail.co.kr should have information eventually. There may also be quite a distance to walk in order to connect from the airport rail line to the train station ticket counters and down to the platforms.
Plane
You can fly from Gimpo to Sacheon at either 7.00am or 6.50pm but your luggage will not be checked through to Jinju (to allow for the customs check upon arrival in Korea), so you have to go through customs at Incheon airport and make your way to Gimpo on your own.
Jinju to Incheon International Airport
Something to consider when buying ticket out of Korea: Busan/Gimhae may offer good connections via Kansai or Narita in Japan.
Hot tip! Also check with your airline: some allow check-in at KOEX or Seoul Station. That saves you travelling with your luggage out to Incheon airport.
Direct buses to Incheon Airport leave Gaeyang 5 way section at 3.20am and 5.10am. There were issues about reliability in the early stages of the service,. It takes just under 4.5 hours.
Buses to Gangnam Express Bus Terminal have frequent connections to airport buses. Once you walk out of the terminal, head left towards Shinsegae Department Store and cross the road at the traffic lights. The bus stop should be easy to spot. Buses to the airport start running around 4.30am (ish), in case you take a night bus (11pm or 12am) from Jinju for an early flight. The subway starts at 5.30am. Taxis from Gangnam to the airport should be 60-80,000 won. Altogether, 6 hours should give you plenty of time to make it.
If you prefer Intercity buses or the Incheon or Daejon link, it should work just as well, probably with less frequent buses to the airport. There is apparently also a night bus to the airport from Nopo-dong Terminal in Busan (the northern one, at the end of the No 1 subway line) but the last bus from Jinju for Nopo-dong leaves already at 8.30pm.
Jinju to Gimpo Airport
In the unlikely event you use Gimpo, the old international airport, there are the morning and evening flights from Sacheon. Otherwise, any connection via Seoul and then bus or subway works. Subway lines 5 and 9 go to Gimpo, Line 9 runs the express service as well.
Jinju to Busan-Gimhae Airport
The easiest connection is via intercity bus to Sasang Terminal and then on by the monorail. It involves a short walk with your luggage to the monorail station (because it would have been too convenient otherwise) but it is only a few minutes to the airport. Buses from Jinju start running just before 6am until after 9pm on a frequent basis. Taxis from Sasang to the airport are about 10,000 won.
You could also go to Gimhae Bus Terminal (far fewer buses from Jinju) and take the monorail from there (longer ride) or a more expensive taxi. If you hear about the Masan Airport Limousine bus, be aware it leaves from the train station, not the bus terminal (10-15 minute walk). The five daily KTX-options may be useful if the times suit (check airport bus times, probably twice an hour).
Taxi drivers have offered to drive from the airport to Jinju for around 70,000 to 100,000 won.
If you have a very early flight, there are plenty of cheap hotels near Sasang Bus terminal.
Check the relevant websites for up-to-date times:
Jinju:
bus times in Korean: http://tour.jinju.go.kr/03tourinfo/01_01_01_02.jsp
Kobus.co.kr for express buses
Or our Yo Jinju Express Bus Timetable
Incheon airport:
http://airport.kr/airport/traffic/bus/busList.iia?flag=E&fake=1306823313914
Daejon Bus Terminal: http://www.djbusterminal.co.kr/
Yo Jinju! 