July 29th, 2010

Study Abroad Korea: How to Get Through Customs

“If All Else Fails Follow the Leader: Incheon Airport”

By Josephine K., guest blogger studying Korean in Seoul

Going to the airport by yourself can be a scary endeavor, but what can add to the fear is when that airport is in a foreign country. I recently landed in Incheon Airport to start my adventure in Seoul where I am taking my AmeriSpan program for Korean Language. When I arrived at the airport I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going.

Now a few things about entering South Korea. If you are an American traveling in the country as a tourist for less than 90 days you do not need a visa. Immunization shots are always suggested but none are required. Also, Korea checks your temperature and if you show any signs of “flu-like symptoms” you are quarantined. (Please make sure you check the embassy’s website before going and don’t just take my word for it, because things do change!)

So with all this information in my head I still had no idea what was going to happen when I got off the plane. The only things that kept racing through my mind were: ”Do they check my passport first?” ”Do I exchange my money before or after baggage claim? ” and “Please, oh please, oh please DON’T say I caught the flu from the women coughing up a storm that sat next to me for the 10 hour flight! I don’t want to be quarantined!” Okay, so the last one was me panicking a bit, but sadly that thought raced through my mind as I was in the line where they check your body temperature as you pass by a camera. Needless to say, I was fine and did not get quarantined, nor anyone else from my flight that I could see (including my coughing neighbor).

Once I was through the temperature check I just followed the signs to immigration. The signs in the airport were in English as well as Korean so I was able to find my way to immigration pretty easily. However, once I got to immigration things got a bit more complicated. I was standing in line for those with foreign passports and I thought that was all I needed… until I looked around. My fellow passengers were all holding additional cards. I then noticed a sign that flashed to English that read, “Please have passport and arrival card ready”. Uh-oh! I definitely did not have an arrival card. I stepped out of line, looked around and found a guy leading his family to a table. So I thought, “Well, I may as well just follow the leader.” Boy was I right! The guy led me right to the table where they had the arrival/departure cards, and I was able to fill it out before going back in the passport line. – Apparently, most airlines give you the card on your way to Incheon but I think I might have been asleep during that part.

With immigration and temperature check behind me I had two checkpoints down and only one more to go! My last checkpoint before I could leave the airport was I still had to go through customs once getting my luggage. Again, I received my luggage and headed to the customs line. Of course, after getting in line I realized that people were handing the customs guards another card, which of course, I did not have. I quickly got out of line and watched as someone else received their luggage from the conveyer belt. That person went to a table and started filling something out. Ah-ha! That must be were these new mysterious cards were located. So again I followed the leader and I was right! I quickly filled out a customs card and got through the airport without any other issues.

The big lesson I hope anyone can take away from this is just be observant in your new surroundings. I don’t speak the language and I’ve never been abroad before this trip and due to the fact that I looked around and watched what other people were doing I was able to get through Incheon Airport without any problems. And always remember if you’re asleep when they hand out arrival or customs cards don’t worry they have them at the airport too