Is shore leave allowed at Incheon?

Shore leave at Incheon: South Korea issues an in-port shore pass via the agent for most crew. Longer stays or transit beyond port area for sign-off require a regular Korea visa. Reference: hikorea.go.kr.. Shore leave policy is set by the port authority, the flag administration, and the visa regime of South Korea. Confirm with the agent before stepping ashore.

What visa or shore-pass do I need for Incheon?

Seafarers calling at Incheon on a vessel are generally exempt from regular tourist visas under Convention 108 / 185 (Seafarers' Identity Documents) if their flag administration has ratified the convention and they hold an SID. The standard document is the seaman's book + ship's crew list. South Korea may also require a shore pass issued by the agent. Confirm before you board the vessel — visa rules vary by nationality and by recent immigration-policy changes.

Is there a seafarer welfare centre at Incheon?

Yes — 2 seafarer welfare centres are listed for Incheon in our directory. The centres are typically run by the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), or a regional ministry, and offer wifi, transport, shop, chaplaincy, and advocacy. Walk-in is normal; no appointment needed.

Is there a crisis or welfare helpline I can call from Incheon?

Yes — 6 helplines are listed for South Korea in our directory, plus ISWAN's 24-hour multilingual SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) and the ITF Helpline. Helplines handle crisis support, abandonment, wage theft, mental health, and bereavement.

What's the nearest hospital to Incheon?

Most major ports have a port-area hospital with seafarer-accustomed admissions; the welfare centre and the ship's agent can both advise. For serious cases, the nearest international hospital is normally in the same city or the next major city. The nearest major airport is Incheon International Airport (ICN), about 15 km away — useful for medevac planning.

Is Incheon a recognised crew-change port?

Yes — Incheon is listed in our directory of recognised crew-change hubs, consolidated from IMO MSC.1/Circ.1636, ICS/IFSMA briefings, and ITF priority-port reports. Recognised hubs typically have better port-state and immigration facilitation for crew-change operations, faster visa processing for seafarers, and more welfare-centre presence.

Incheon

UN/LOCODE KRINC · South Korea · Asia-Pacific · 28

Crew change hub

Crew guide

Shore leave

Incheon, Korea's gateway port near Seoul, handles container and bulk traffic plus the international cruise terminal. Shore leave follows the same Korean procedure as Busan. Welfare provision via Korea Seamen's Welfare and Mission to Seafarers Incheon. Incheon is more convenient for crew who want to visit Seoul — Incheon airport (the international hub for South Korea) is on the same metropolitan area.

Walking distance + transit

Incheon New Port and the older Incheon port terminals are 30-45 minutes from Incheon city centre by agent van. Seoul (Gangnam) is 60-90 minutes by Incheon Subway + Seoul Metro. The Airport Railroad (AREX) connects port to Seoul Station in 60 minutes.

Essentials

ATMs: any major bank ATM accepts foreign cards; airport has currency exchanges
Money changers: Itaewon (Seoul) is the seafarer-known cluster
Hospital: Inha University Hospital, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
Prayer rooms: Seoul Central Mosque (Itaewon) is the principal Korea-wide mosque
Halal food: Itaewon (Seoul) is the principal halal cluster on the peninsula
Supermarket: E-Mart, Lotte Mart 10-11pm closing; CU and 7-Eleven 24/7
SIM card: eSIM or airport pickup

Seafarer tips

Do: budget extra time for transit — the metro is good but the distances are large. Don't: overstay; Korean immigration is automated and fast at detecting violations. Watch for: weather conditions in winter — Incheon Bay can fog significantly, causing crew-change delays. Plan flight bookings with a buffer day.

Last verified: 2026-06-29. Confirm with ship's agent before going ashore — local policy changes.

Incheon (UN/LOCODE KRINC) is a designated seaport in South Korea (28) in the northern Asia-Pacific region. The port operates on Asia/Seoul, uses the Won (KRW), runs shore power at 220V/60Hz (Type C/F). Nearest major airport for crew changes is Incheon International Airport (ICN), 15 km from the port.

Reference

Coordinates: 37.45, 126.6167
Time zone: Asia/SeoulUTC +09:00no DST
Local currency: KRW— Won
Languages: ko, en
Nearest airport: ICNIncheon International Airport~15 km
Electricity: 220 V60 Hzplugs C, F(country default — verify at berth)
Climate: DwaHumid continental (dry winter)
Country-coastal Köppen zone (most ports cluster on the coast). For port-coordinate resolution use Kottek 2006 0.5° grid.
Function codes: 123-----
seaport · rail terminal · road terminal
Port authority: 인천항만공사

Operational details

Compiled from public port-authority and P&I-club directories. Always verify current contacts via your agent before arrival.

Pilotage / VTS

Incheon VTS

VHF: Ch 12 / 14 / 16
Phone: +82 32 880 1000
Web: www.icpa.or.kr

P&I correspondents

· Kim & Chang Maritime Seoul
· Jipyong Marine Korea
· Lee & Ko Maritime Seoul

Port agents

· GAC Korea Incheon
· Inchcape Korea Incheon
· Wilhelmsen Korea Incheon

ISPS security level (normal): 1

Yellow Sea macro-tidal port — tidal range up to 9.6m; lock gates at inner harbour; winter ice risk Jan-Feb; gateway for Seoul/Gyeonggi.

Helplines for seafarers in South Korea

Welfare, abandonment, wages, medical, mental health, harassment — 24/7 lines where available. See full helplines directory.

ISWAN SeafarerHelp
Global · 24/7 · en, ar, es, fr
📞 +44 800 012 1004 WhatsApp [email protected]www.seafarerhelp.org
ISWAN Mental Health & Wellbeing helpline
Global · 24/7 · en, es, ru, tl
📞 +44 20 3713 7273 [email protected]www.iswan.org.uk/our-work/iswans-mental-health-and-wellbeing-strategy
ITF Seafarers
Global · 24/7 for emergencies · en
📞 +44 20 7403 2733 [email protected]www.itfseafarers.org
ISWAN — Family helpline (for relatives of seafarers)
Global · 24/7 · en, hi, tl
📞 +44 20 7323 2737 [email protected]www.seafarershelp.org
ISWAN Yacht Crew Helpline
Global · 24/7 · en
📞 +44 20 7323 2737 [email protected]www.yachtcrewhelp.org
ITF Inspectorate — Find your nearest inspector
Global · Varies by port · en
www.itfseafarers.org/en/contact-us/find-an-itf-inspector

Other ports in South Korea

All ports in South Korea →

Survival information

Practical information for crew arriving here. Verified where possible — see sources. Spot a mistake or missing detail? Tell us.

Emergency contacts

South Korea Police: 112 · 24/7
South Korea Ambulance / Fire: 119 · 24/7
Korea Coast Guard (Incheon Regional): +82 32 770 1000 · 24/7

Hospitals / clinics

Inha University Hospital
27 Inhang-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon
+82 32 890 2222

Shore leave

South Korea issues an in-port shore pass via the agent for most crew. Longer stays or transit beyond port area for sign-off require a regular Korea visa. Reference: hikorea.go.kr.

Plan it: /tools/shore-leave-port-card

Transport

Nearest major airport: Incheon International Airport (ICN (~15 km)). Vessel agent normally arranges taxi or seafarer-centre shuttle to/from the airport at sign-on / sign-off. Confirm transport with the agent at least 24 hours before disembarkation.

SIM & Wi-Fi

Major operators: SK Telecom, KT, LG U+. Prepaid tourist SIM at ICN/PUS arrivals. Free Wi-Fi at Korean Seamen's Mission centres in Busan + Incheon.

Consular contacts

PH Philippine Embassy Seoul

Related rights: shore leave · medical care · abandonment · unpaid wages.

Port-state-control region: tokyo MoU · how to file a PSC complaint.

Incheon: seafarer FAQ

Is shore leave allowed at Incheon?: Shore leave at Incheon: South Korea issues an in-port shore pass via the agent for most crew. Longer stays or transit beyond port area for sign-off require a regular Korea visa. Reference: hikorea.go.kr.. Shore leave policy is set by the port authority, the flag administration, and the visa regime of South Korea. Confirm with the agent before stepping ashore.
What visa or shore-pass do I need for Incheon?: Seafarers calling at Incheon on a vessel are generally exempt from regular tourist visas under Convention 108 / 185 (Seafarers' Identity Documents) if their flag administration has ratified the convention and they hold an SID. The standard document is the seaman's book + ship's crew list. South Korea may also require a shore pass issued by the agent. Confirm before you board the vessel — visa rules vary by nationality and by recent immigration-policy changes.
Is there a seafarer welfare centre at Incheon?: Yes — 2 seafarer welfare centres are listed for Incheon in our directory. The centres are typically run by the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), or a regional ministry, and offer wifi, transport, shop, chaplaincy, and advocacy. Walk-in is normal; no appointment needed.
Is there a crisis or welfare helpline I can call from Incheon?: Yes — 6 helplines are listed for South Korea in our directory, plus ISWAN's 24-hour multilingual SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) and the ITF Helpline. Helplines handle crisis support, abandonment, wage theft, mental health, and bereavement.
What's the nearest hospital to Incheon?: Most major ports have a port-area hospital with seafarer-accustomed admissions; the welfare centre and the ship's agent can both advise. For serious cases, the nearest international hospital is normally in the same city or the next major city. The nearest major airport is Incheon International Airport (ICN), about 15 km away — useful for medevac planning.
Is Incheon a recognised crew-change port?: Yes — Incheon is listed in our directory of recognised crew-change hubs, consolidated from IMO MSC.1/Circ.1636, ICS/IFSMA briefings, and ITF priority-port reports. Recognised hubs typically have better port-state and immigration facilitation for crew-change operations, faster visa processing for seafarers, and more welfare-centre presence.

For the arriving crew

Pilot ladder (SOLAS V/23) — rigging + inspection + Master's duty of care.
Pre-arrival checklist — the standard bridge + engine + agent workflow before entering port.
Ships' agent — role + documentation + interface with pilotage + tug + immigration.
Currency at port — cash-carrying limits + declaration + safe practices.
Hours of rest — STCW VIII/1 + MLC A2.3 rest rules during port operations.

Sources & verification (14)

country_iso3 · ISO 3166-1 (KR)retrieved 2026-05-06
country_name · ISO 3166-1 (KR)retrieved 2026-05-06
currency_code · ISO 4217:2015 (KRW)retrieved 2026-05-06
currency_name · ISO 4217:2015 (KRW)retrieved 2026-05-06
languages · CIA World Factbook (public domain), national-language listing (KR)retrieved 2026-05-06
timezone_iana · IANA tz database (Asia/Seoul)retrieved 2026-05-06
timezone_utc_offset · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Asia/Seoul)retrieved 2026-05-06
timezone_dst · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Asia/Seoul)retrieved 2026-05-06
electricity · IEC TR 60083 plug-and-socket standard list (KR)retrieved 2026-05-06
function_codes_expanded · UNECE Rec. 16 — UN/LOCODE function-code mask (123-----)retrieved 2026-05-06
nearest_major_airport · OurAirports (CC0) — davidmegginson.github.io/ourairports-data (ICN)retrieved 2026-05-07
wikidata_qid · Wikidata SPARQL (P1937 UN/LOCODE join) (Q20934)retrieved 2026-05-07
osm_relation_id · Wikidata SPARQL (P1937 UN/LOCODE join) (Q20934)retrieved 2026-05-07
climate_classification · Kottek et al. 2006 / Beck et al. 2018 — country-coastal Köppen zone (KR)retrieved 2026-05-07

Last verified 5 months ago

High confidence

Editorial confidence: how we grade. Data sources and methodology: /sources.