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Quick answer
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Fly nonstop from LAX to Incheon (ICN), about 13 hours, then take the AREX express train or an airport limousine bus to your district. Stay in Gangnam for tech and startups, Yeouido for finance, or Gwanghwamun for conglomerates and government. Bring plenty of business cards, offer them with two hands, and avoid scheduling around the Seollal and Chuseok holidays.
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- Main airport(s)
- Incheon International (ICN) for long-haul; Gimpo (GMP) for domestic and short regional flights
- Flight from LAX
- About 13 hours nonstop westbound, about 11 hours home
- Time vs Los Angeles
- 17 hours ahead during US standard time, 16 hours ahead during US daylight saving time (Korea doesn’t change its clocks)
- Currency
- South Korean won (KRW)
- Business districts
- Gangnam and Teheran-ro, Yeouido, Gwanghwamun–Jongno, Seongsu, Pangyo
- Tipping
- Not expected; luxury hotels may add a service charge
How do you get from Incheon airport to Gangnam or central Seoul?
Incheon sits on an island about 50 kilometers west of the city. The AREX express train runs nonstop to Seoul Station in roughly 45–50 minutes, ideal for hotels around Gwanghwamun, City Hall and Myeong-dong. For Gangnam, airport limousine buses stop at major hotels and take 60–90 minutes depending on traffic.
A pre-booked car is the smoothest option after a 13-hour flight, especially with luggage or a morning meeting. Official taxis wait at marked ranks outside arrivals. If you have a domestic connection or a short hop to Tokyo or Shanghai, check whether it uses Gimpo, which is much closer to the city.
Where should business travelers stay in Seoul?
Seoul is vast, and the Han River divides it into the historic north and the newer business districts to the south. Choose the side where your meetings are.
- Gangnam and Teheran-ro — tech companies, startups, investors and the COEX convention center in Samseong-dong; the busiest business district south of the river.
- Yeouido — the financial island, with banks, securities firms, the National Assembly and the IFC Seoul complex.
- Gwanghwamun, Jongno and Jung-gu — the historic central business district, home to conglomerate headquarters, government ministries and long-established luxury hotels.
- Seongsu — a former industrial area now full of startups, consumer brands and creative agencies; better for informal meetings than as a hotel base.
- Pangyo — a tech cluster just south of Seoul in Seongnam, home to gaming and IT companies, 30–45 minutes from Gangnam.
How do you get around Seoul for meetings?
The subway is fast, clean, signed in English and usually quicker than a car at rush hour. Buy a rechargeable T-money card at a convenience store or station machine; it also works on buses and in many taxis. Taxis are plentiful and affordable, and the Kakao T app is the usual way to call one.
Download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you go. Google Maps has historically offered limited walking and driving directions in Korea, so local apps are more reliable. Carry your destination written in Korean for drivers, and allow 45–60 minutes for cross-river trips at peak times.
What business etiquette should you know in Seoul?
Hierarchy and respect shape every meeting. Greet the most senior person first with a slight bow and a handshake, and use titles with family names, which come first in Korean names. Exchange business cards with both hands, read the card before placing it on the table, and never write on it in front of its owner.
Seating, speaking order and drink-pouring follow rank. Team dinners, often followed by further rounds, are where relationships form: pour for others, accept a glass with both hands, and switching to water is fine. Decisions may need several rounds of internal review, then move quickly once approved. Our guide to business etiquette around the world adds more context.
When should you schedule business trips to Seoul?
Korea works Monday to Friday, with long hours and a culture of quick turnaround. Avoid the two great holidays, when much of the country travels home and offices close.
- Seollal (Lunar New Year): three days in January or February; dates change every year.
- Chuseok (harvest festival): three days in September or October; trains, flights and hotels are packed on either side.
- Other public holidays: Independence Movement Day (March 1), Children’s Day (May 5), Buddha’s Birthday (spring), Liberation Day (August 15), National Foundation Day (October 3) and Hangul Day (October 9).
- Trade shows: big events at COEX in Gangnam and KINTEX in Goyang fill nearby hotels; check the venue calendars.
- Weather: spring and autumn are ideal; July and August bring monsoon rain, and January is bitterly cold.
What apps, payments and connectivity work best in Seoul?
Seoul is among the world’s most connected, efficient cities for a business visitor.
- Power: 220 volts with Type C/F sockets; bring a European-style adapter.
- Payments: Cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere, even for small purchases; keep a little cash for traditional markets.
- Connectivity: Korea’s mobile networks are among the fastest anywhere. Pick up an eSIM or local data SIM; our eSIM guide compares options.
- Late nights: Team dinners often run past the last subway trains, which generally stop around midnight or soon after; save your hotel’s address in Korean and order a taxi through Kakao T.
- Bleisure: Add a morning at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon’s hanok lanes, or take the KTX bullet train to Busan in about 2.5 hours.
Seoul business districts and venues
Gangnam and Teheran-ro
South of the Han · Tech and startups
Tech headquarters, venture capital and startup offices; the natural base for technology meetings.
Yeouido
Island district · Finance
Banks, securities firms, the National Assembly and the IFC Seoul complex on an island in the Han River.
Gwanghwamun and City Hall
Central Seoul · Conglomerates and government
Corporate headquarters, ministries and embassies near the old palaces, close to the AREX terminus at Seoul Station.
COEX
Samseong-dong · Conventions
Seoul’s best-known convention and exhibition center, with hotels and a mall connected underground.
Pangyo Techno Valley
Seongnam · Gaming and IT
A dense tech cluster south of the city, about half an hour from Gangnam.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa or K-ETA for a business trip to Korea?
How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Seoul?
Is English widely spoken in Seoul business meetings?
Should I stay in Gangnam or central Seoul?
What is the time difference between Seoul and Los Angeles?
Official sources
Rules, fees and schedules change — confirm the latest details at the source before you travel.