Terminal 8: Concourse
“Concourse”, Incheon International Airport, Seoul, South Korea, September 2012
I have transited through Seoul many times before and I have stayed for hours in its main terminal, but, on my recent trip, it was my first time to use a non-Korean airline. And so I was surprised to be directed by the signs to an unfamiliar part of the terminal. I had to descend several hundred feet via a series of escalators, take an underground train, ascend via another series of escalators, then emerge in this location. My connecting flight was very early in the morning so the place was deserted and the only audible sounds were those of the humming escalators and their incessant safety warnings.
The satellite concourse was completed in mid-2008 at the cost of $4 billion, adding 30 gates — including 3 gates that are capable of handling the gigantic Airbus 380 — to the 44 gates at the main terminal. The expansion increased terminal capacity from 33 million to 44 million per year. Korean Air uses the main terminal while foreign carriers use the satellite concourse. However, check-in and baggage handling services are still being handled at the main terminal.
The drag of endless mental work in a strange land takes its toll. Fatigue can kill so petty escapades provide hopeful deviations from the brewing madness. An aging DSLR keeps good company to a walk around the neighbourhood, a short drive to a scenic place, or a silent recollection in a quiet nook granting that the host community and the elements of nature would allow one a safe passage to solitude and contemplation. Loneliness quickly turns to joy when something exciting gets captured by the cam’s shutter then set free into the laptop’s screen followed by electric words that rush from the fingers to the keyboard in an effort to describe the moment. Alas, the brain is alive once again!
I go through Seoul often myself. One of my flights comes in at 6 in the morning and even the main terminal is deserted. Lovely picture too.
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Thanks.
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Really like this photo … it brings me back to wanting to travel again. Love airports after the security checks, which I hate.
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Thanks, viveka. I hate security checks too.
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Beautiful image and wonderful to capture this without any people!
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Kinda’ eerie being alone in a huge modern building with continuously playing recording warning. I felt transported into a sci-fi movie. Thanks, gamaraca.
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I like the Incheon Airport. I was also there at dawn once (also in transit) and enjoyed the tranquility.
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