AREX Airport Railroad: Express vs. All-Stop Ticket & How to Buy — Incheon Airport ↔ Seoul Station Complete Guide

From Incheon Airport to Seoul Station, the Express train takes about 43 minutes for 13,000 won. The All-Stop train takes about 59–66 minutes for about 5,350 won (based on T2; T1 is about 4,750 won). It's the same route, but the fare differs by more than double while the time saved is only around 15 minutes.

If you have a lot of luggage and are heading straight to Seoul Station, take the Express. If you want to save money or get off at an intermediate station, the All-Stop train is better.

The real challenge is actually buying the ticket. The Express has assigned seats, so it requires a reservation — but if you don't have a Korean phone number or bank account, payment tends to get stuck in the booking app or ticket machine. Below, I've laid out the differences between the Express and All-Stop trains, and how to buy a ticket without any identity verification tools, step by step.

Express vs. All-Stop at a Glance (Incheon Airport → Seoul Station)

In short, the Express is a pricey but fast reserved-seat train, while the All-Stop is a cheap, frequent commuter subway that stops at all 14 stations.

Express — Non-stop, Assigned Seats

The Express connects Incheon Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 with Seoul Station only. Since it never stops in between, it's the fastest.

• Fare: Adult 13,000 won / child·senior 9,500 won
• Travel time: About 43 minutes from Terminal 1, about 51 minutes from Terminal 2
• Seats: All seats are assigned. There's a luggage rack for large suitcases, which is convenient for travelers
• Operating hours (reference): From Incheon Airport Terminal 1, first train about 05:24, last train about 22:48 / departures from Seoul Station about 06:10–22:50 (check the exact times on the official timetable)
• Frequency: About every 20–40 minutes, so if you miss one, you'll have to wait a while

Booking Online Can Be Cheaper

For the Express, booking in advance on the official website or a travel platform (Klook, KKday, etc.) sometimes gets you a discount — the standard 13,000 won ticket has sold for about 11,400 won (rates and availability vary by timing). Note that some platforms give you a voucher you still have to exchange for a ticket at a machine. With LACHA, you book without Korean ID verification using overseas payment methods, and enter the Express gate directly with a QR ticket — in the same app you use for KTX and express buses.

Seoul Station City Airport Terminal Check-In

A hidden benefit of the Express is the Seoul Station City Airport Terminal. Some airlines (Korean Air, Asiana, Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul, Jeju Air, T'way, Eastar Jet, etc.) let you complete check-in and baggage drop in advance right at Seoul Station.

However, for Terminal 2 departures, check-in closes 3 hours 20 minutes before departure. It's best to go with plenty of time to spare (eligible airlines and operating hours may change).

All-Stop — Cheap and Frequent Commuter Train

The All-Stop is a commuter subway that stops at all 14 stations. In the Seoul Station → Incheon Airport direction, the stops are as follows.

Two stations are especially important for foreign travelers.

• Hongik Univ. (Hongdae): Accommodations and guesthouses are concentrated here, so the All-Stop train is often more convenient than the Express
• Gimpo Airport: A hub for domestic flights and short-haul Japan/China routes, with transfers to Lines 5·9 and the Gimpo Goldline

If your destination isn't Seoul Station, taking the All-Stop train straight there is faster and cheaper than going to Seoul Station on the Express and doubling back.

• Fare: Distance-based. About 5,350 won based on transit card, Seoul Station ↔ Incheon Airport Terminal 2 (base fare 1,550 won + distance fare, reflecting the June 2025 increase / T1 is about 4,750 won)
• Travel time: Seoul Station ↔ T1 about 59 minutes, T2 about 66 minutes
• Payment: No reservation needed. Just tag a transit card such as T-money, or a credit card, at the gate and board right away
• Frequency: Comes often, about every 5–10 minutes

How Foreigners Without a Korean Card or Phone Can Buy Tickets

This is where foreigners most often get stuck. Let's break it down by situation.

1) All-Stop Train — The Easiest

• Buy a ticket at the machine with an overseas card: Since March 17, 2026, at the new ticket machines in 273 stations on Seoul Subway Lines 1–8, you can buy or top up single-journey tickets and Climate Card short-term passes (1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7-day passes) with an overseas card like Visa or Mastercard (average service fee about 3.7%). However, buying or topping up a regular T-money card is not yet covered by overseas card payment, so if you need T-money, buying it with cash at a convenience store is the sure way.
• Buy T-money at a convenience store: Buy a T-money card with cash and top it up at a convenience store in the airport or station (CU, GS25, etc.), then tag it at the gate. This is the surest method, requiring no card or phone identity verification at all
• Apple Wallet transit card: Since July 2025, you can add T-money to your iPhone's Apple Wallet and ride with it (whether and to what extent overseas-issued cards can be used to top up varies by time). Google Pay has not launched in Korea, so Android users are better off using a physical card or a ticket machine

2) Express Train — Watch Out for Identity Verification Blocks When Booking

The Express requires an assigned-seat reservation by default, but some app or web bookings require Korean phone number verification, which is where foreigners get stuck. When that happens, do this.

• Book in the LACHA app — pay with overseas payment methods without Korean ID verification, and enter directly with a QR ticket
• Buy directly at an on-site ticket machine or ticket counter (a passport and overseas card are often accepted for payment)
• Buy a QR ticket in advance on an overseas travel platform (Klook, KKday, etc.) — you can pay with an overseas card and enter via QR without Korean identity verification

Solve It All at Once with LACHA

By this point, the core issue comes down to one thing: how to pay for and book transportation without a Korean phone or bank account.

Want to handle everything from your first ride after landing in one app? Check out LACHA.

Built to work without a Korean phone number or bank account, with overseas payment methods like Alipay, WeChat Pay, and Apple Pay. Taxi hailing plus KTX, express bus, and airport railroad (AREX) booking — all in one app.

Download now

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Which is better for a foreign traveler, the Express or the All-Stop? A. If your destination is near Seoul Station, or you have big luggage and want to get there fast, the Express is good (about 43 minutes, 13,000 won). If your destination is somewhere like Hongdae, Gongdeok, DMC, or Gimpo Airport, or you want to save money, the All-Stop train is the sensible choice (about 59–66 minutes, about 5,350 won).

Q2. Can I ride the Express with a T-money card? A. No. The Express requires a dedicated QR ticket, and T-money and the Climate Card can't be used. What you can ride with T-money is the All-Stop train.

Q3. I don't have a Korean phone number — can I still book the Express? A. App booking may get blocked by Korean number verification. In that case, use an on-site ticket machine or ticket counter, or a QR ticket from an overseas travel platform, so you can buy with an overseas card without identity verification.

Q4. Can I buy a transit card with an overseas credit card? A. A regular T-money card is not yet covered by overseas card payment, so buying it with cash at a convenience store is the sure way. What you can buy with an overseas card at the new ticket machines in 273 Seoul subway stations from March 2026 is single-journey tickets and Climate Card short-term passes (average fee about 3.7%). Whether payment goes through varies by card issuer, station, and timing, so it's good to keep some cash on hand too.

Q5. Are there child or senior discounts? A. The Express is discounted to 9,500 won for children and seniors. The All-Stop train also applies a distance-based discount.

Q6. Is there an app that lets me book without Korean identity verification? A. Yes — LACHA lets you sign up without a Korean phone number or identity verification, and book not only the Express train but also KTX and express buses in one app, paying with overseas payment methods like Alipay and WeChat Pay.