There are two main ways to reach IBS headquarters from Gimpo International Airport. Method 1 is the easiest option.
Method 1 Incheon International Airport → Limousine Bus to Daejeon → IBS HQ
Limousine Bus
When you exit Gate 3 of the airport terminal, you will see bus stops outside on the ground floor. The cost of a ticket is KRW 14,300, as of August 2017. Buses come every 1 ~ 2 hours and the ride takes approximately two hours to arrive at Daejeon. The first bus is at 7:25 AM and the last bus leaves at 10:25 PM.
Get off at Daejeon Government Complex (Jeongbu Chongsa) and take a taxi to IBS. The distance is roughly 2 km and will cost no more than KRW 3,000.
To avoid any potential confusion with a taxi driver, we recommend you say “hello” in Korean when entering the taxi (Ann-young-ha-say-oh) and then show them this note in Korean stating you wish to visit IBS.
기사님, 과학로에 있는 한국기초과학지원연구원 말고 유성구 엑스포로 55 기초과학연구원으로 가주세요.
Please take me to the Institute for Basic Science (IBS)
located at 55, Expo-ro, Yuseonggu.
Method 2 Gimpo International Airport → AREX to Seoul Station → KTX train to Daejeon Station → IBS HQ
Gimpo International Airport → Seoul Station
Subway
Take an AREX (Airport Railroad Express) train at Gimpo International Airport Station across the street from the airport. The subway station is a hub with several subway lines so please confirm you are entering at the correct gate. AREX trains take 20 minutes, cost KRW 4,250 which includes a refundable KRW 500 for a single journey ticket, leave roughly every 7 minutes, have seats like traditional subways, and ride until the last stop (Seoul Station). First train leaves at 5:43 AM and last train leaves at 12:17 AM. Timetables and updated information are available at www.arex.or.kr
Seoul Station → Daejeon Station
Bullet train
Follow the crowds up 1 small escalator, 1 long escalator, scan your transit card, if you have a single journey ticket then refund it in the separate refund machine, 2 more escalators, and now you are in the west side of Seoul Station. Tickets for the KTX bullet trains can be purchased by tellers, by machine, or online at http://www.letskorail.com/ebizbf/EbizBfTicketSearch.do Online orders conducted in English must be claimed in person with your passport as identification before you ride the train. If you order your ticket via the English website but do not claim the ticket in person, your reservation is seen as unfulfilled and your seat could be resold to another customer. For train times please see the website link.
Standard seats cost KRW 24,000 and first class seats costs KRW 35,000 and are sometimes discounted. Travel time is roughly one hour depending on the number of stops in route. Tickets do occasionally sell out, but trains run every 10 to 20 minutes. Please see the website above for current timetables. Train types other than KTX exist but take two hours to travel to Daejeon and do not run as often.
Daejeon Station → Institute for Basic Science (IBS) HQ
Taxi
We strongly recommend that you take a taxi to get to IBS upon your arrival at Daejeon Station. Once arriving at Daejeon Station, go out the front entrance (Exit 1) and get a taxi from the line of taxis waiting near the entrance. The distance is 8 km, driving time is 18 minutes, and the fare is around KRW 8,000.
To avoid any potential confusion with a taxi driver, we recommend you say “hello” in Korean when entering the taxi (Ann-young-ha-say-oh) and then show them this note in Korean stating you wish to visit IBS.
기사님, 과학로에 있는 한국기초과학지원연구원 말고 유성구 엑스포로 55 기초과학연구원으로 가주세요.
Please take me to the Institute for Basic Science (IBS)
located at 55, Expo-ro, Yuseonggu.
Bus
Although time-consuming, it is possible to reach IBS by bus. Depending on traffic, the bus ride will take more than 1 hour and cost KRW 1,250 with T-money or Cashbee transit card or KRW 1,400 with cash. Once arriving at Daejeon Station, go out the front entrance (Exit 1) and walk until you reach the street. Turn right and walk another 60 meters until you reach a bus top. Ride bus 606 or 705 and exit the bus at Expo Science Park.
Content Manager
Global Relations Team : Richard Moore 042-878-8203