Incheon and Gimpo Airport to Hongdae and Mapo: AREX, Bus and Taxi (2026)

Time and fare notes: AREX times are from the airport operator's route map, and the T1 figure is the T2 figure minus the 7-minute T1/T2 gap that VisitKorea gives to Seoul Station. Taxi time and fare ranges are estimates from travel guides, not an official quote.

1. AREX express (직통열차)

• It does not stop at Hongik Univ. Per VisitKorea, it is non-stop between the airport and Seoul Station, about 43 minutes from T1 and 51 from T2 (VisitKorea, updated 22 May 2026).
• For Hongdae: you would ride to Seoul Station and then change back out to Gongdeok or Hongik Univ., which is slower and costs more.

2. AREX all-stop (일반열차)

• It stops at Hongik Univ., Gongdeok and Gimpo Airport. The airport operator's route map shows Hongik Univ. at 58 minutes, Gongdeok at 62 and Gimpo Airport at 44, measured from the T2 end (Incheon Airport).
• Fare to Hongik Univ.: ₩4,650 from T1 and ₩5,250 from T2 with a prepaid or postpaid transit card. A single-use ticket adds ₩100. These come from the AREX fare table; an older VisitKorea page still shows ₩4,150–4,750 for Seoul Station.
• Frequency: VisitSeoul says every 5–10 minutes (VisitSeoul, undated).
• Last train: we could not confirm the last departure from the airport, so check the AREX timetable.

3. Limousine bus 6002

• Route: the operator's route page for 6002 lists Chungjeongno, Ahyeon Station (18th stop), Wedding Town, Ewha, Sinchon, Hongik Univ. (23rd, near Mercure and L7 hotels), Seogyo and Hapjeong Station (25th), then Incheon T1 and T2 (Airport Limousine).
• Fare: ₩17,000 adult, ₩12,000 child. Pay with a transit card or cash. Seats are first-come, with no online booking, and the operator warns the bus may wait to space out departures.
• Gongdeok: the 6002 does not list a Gongdeok stop. Ride to Ahyeon or Hapjeong and transfer, or take the AREX.
• Where to board: per a March 2026 guide, T1 platform 6A-1 (Gate 6) and T2 platform 30 on the B1 transportation centre (waytoseoul). We did not confirm this against an official page.
• Timetable: the operator's page shows only the Cheongnyangni-end times (first 04:12, last 20:20). We could not find the airport-end times, so check the operator.

4. Night bus N6002

• Route: Incheon T1, Hongdae (45 minutes), Four Seasons Hotel, Heunginjimun, Cheongnyangni (Incheon Airport).
• Fare: the airport page says ₩18,000 adult, while the operator's page shows ₩17,000. Plan for either.
• Boarding: T1 stop 6A. Tickets at the ticket booth, a kiosk or the T-money GO app.
• Late-night stops: Ahyeon is not on the N6002. Hongdae is the only stop on this page for your area.

5. Standard taxi

• Base fare: ₩4,800 for a standard taxi. No boundary surcharge applies from the airport to Seoul (Incheon Airport, updated 29 Oct 2026).
• Night surcharge, Seoul and Incheon taxis: 20% from 22:00 to 23:00, 40% from 23:00 to 02:00, and 20% from 02:00 to 04:00. Gyeonggi taxis charge 30% from 23:00 to 04:00.
• Rough total: travel guides put it at ₩65,000–85,000 for Hongdae, plus tolls. That is an estimate, not an official quote.

6. International taxi

• What it is: a taxi for foreign visitors with a reserved, English-speaking driver. Phone 1644-2255 (Incheon Airport).
• Smart Taxi: a separate option, phone 032-743-2357, which the airport says charges a flat fare within Seoul.
• Booking: per VisitKorea, international taxis need advance reservation.
• Price: we could not verify a current flat fare, so ask for a quote when you book.

7. Station by neighborhood

• Exits: Wikipedia lists Exit 4 in front of AK Plaza Hongdae and Exit 6 at Hongdae Playground Park. We did not verify exit numbers for your address, so check the exit on Naver Map or Kakao Map.
• Gimpo Airport: AREX all-stop from Gimpo reaches Hongik Univ. in about 14 minutes, based on the airport route map (44 vs 58 minutes). Lines 5 and 9 also serve Gimpo.

8. T-money and transit cards

• T-money: the 6002 limousine takes transit cards and cash, and the AREX fares above assume a transit card. Credit cards are not accepted on the 6002 bus per the operator.
• Where to buy: convenience stores and airport kiosks sell T-money cards. Top up before you go to the platform.
• Climate Card: we could not confirm that a short-term Climate Card pass is currently on sale or valid on AREX, so use T-money for the airport leg.
• More: see our guide to getting around Seoul for eSIM and map apps.

9. Late-night checklist

1. Check the AREX timetable for the last train from Incheon before you rely on it.
2. If you miss it, take the N6002 night bus to Hongdae or a taxi.
3. Taxis cost 40% extra from 23:00 to 02:00 on the meter fare.
4. Reserve an international taxi in advance for a fixed-fare ride.
5. Message your host your landing time and the flight number before you fly.

If you land hours before check-in, store your bags near Hongik Univ. Station. See luggage storage in Seoul and Hongdae. Hungry once you drop the bags? Read our Mapo Korean BBQ guide.