What to Do After Arriving in Korea with Your Bicycle (Steps 1–4)
Welcome to Korea! 🤗
Have you just arrived with your bicycle, ready to ride Korea’s cross-country cycling route from Incheon to Busan?
Here are the first things to take care of after you land, so you can get your cycling adventure off to a smooth start.
👉 Part 2: What to Do After Arriving in Korea with Your Bicycle (Steps 5–7) — in Korean
What to do after landing at Incheon International Airport
- Collect your bicycle and luggage
- Get a SIM or eSIM
- Prepare some Korean won
- Buy a T-money transportation card
- Make an important decision: where to assemble your bike
- Deal with your bicycle box
- Check your bicycle
- Prepare your GPX files and maps
- Get your cycling certification passport
- Start your cross-country ride!
This first post covers Steps 1–4.
1. Collect your bicycle and luggage
Pick up your bicycle
After immigration, head to baggage claim and check where your luggage will arrive. A bicycle box may be delivered to the Oversized Baggage / Large Baggage collection area rather than the regular baggage carousel.
Reference ➡️ Incheon International Airport: baggage claim information
✔️ Baggage Claim Procedure
✔️ Oversized Baggage Claim Guide
Before you leave the baggage claim area, make sure you have everything:
Bicycle box → panniers → helmet and other gear
If your bicycle box is torn or your frame or wheels appear damaged, report it to your airline’s baggage service desk before leaving the airport. Compensation and claim procedures depend on the airline’s policy.
2. Get a SIM or eSIM
Get connected
Mobile data is extremely useful when cycling in Korea. Korea has well-developed 4G and 5G networks, and a data connection will help you with:
- Naver Map: finding accommodation and places to eat
- Kakao Map: navigating cycling routes
- Translation
- Checking the weather
- Finding information and getting help when needed
These phone numbers are useful to keep handy:
- 119: fire, rescue and ambulance emergencies
- 112: police emergencies
- 120: local government information and enquiries
For overseas visitors, setting up a compatible eSIM before departure can be convenient. If you have not arranged one yet, you can also buy a SIM at Incheon Airport. 😅
✔️ Kakao Map settings
✔️ Naver Map settings
3. Prepare some Korean won
Get some Korean won (KRW)
Card payments are widely accepted in Korea. Still, it is useful to carry some cash when cycling through smaller towns and rural areas, especially if you plan to visit traditional markets.
Cash can come in handy at:
- Small restaurants
- Unattended roadside stalls
- Shops along cycling routes
- Some accommodation providers
Incheon Airport has currency exchange counters operated by banks such as KB Kookmin Bank, Hana Bank and Woori Bank. Some counters operate around the clock.
As a practical starting point, consider keeping about ₩100,000–₩150,000 in emergency cash and using your card for most other purchases. This is a suggested reserve, rather than a fixed amount everyone needs.
If you plan to use T-money, the suggestion in this guide is to set aside about another ₩50,000 per person for card purchase and top-ups. Adjust this to your transport plans; it is not a required minimum.
4. Buy a T-money transportation card
Buy a T-money transportation card
Reference ➡️ T-money official website
Even on a cycling trip, you may still want to use public transport. For example:
- On rainy days
- If your bicycle breaks down 😞
- When travelling to your accommodation
- For sightseeing 🌆
- When returning to the airport
Having a T-money card can make these journeys easier. You can also use it at participating convenience stores.
You can buy and top up a card at convenience stores and designated transport facilities. Cash can be used for top-ups.
Steps 5–7 continue in Part 2, linked at the beginning of this post. That article is currently available in Korean. 😊
Read the original: 한국어 원문 — 자전거를 가지고 한국에 와서 해야할 것들 (1~4번 까지)
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