Incheon, Gimpo airports open leisure centers

By Lee Hyo-sik

The country’s two largest airports ― Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport ― have been revamped to include comprehensive culture, leisure and entertainment elements to better serve travelers and generate larger income.

Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC), which operates one of the world’s largest airports, held an opening ceremony Thursday for its new transportation center in which travelers can get on a bus, a train or other means of transport in and out of the airport. Also available is a skating rink, restaurants, convenience stores, cosmetics shops and other facilities so people can visit the airport at times other than to get on a plane.

``CGV, one of Korea’s largest multiplex operators, will soon open cinemas at Incheon giving the world’s third largest international airport a movie theater after Singapore’s Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport,’’ an IIAC spokesman said. ``We will also open souvenir shops that sell traditional Korean trinkets and character products of hallyu stars, as well as a library and an art museum. Ultimately, Incheon airport will truly become a shopping, cultural and entertainment hub.’’

Korea Airport Corp. (KAC), which manages Gimpo airport and 13 other local airports across the country, will hold an opening ceremony today for ``Lotte Mall’’ inside Skycity, Gimpo airport’s multi-million dollar leisure and shopping center.

Lotte Group affiliates ― Lotte Department Store, Lotte Cinema, Lotte World and Lotte Hotel ― will jointly operate the facility.

``To attract more foreign travelers and better serve their needs, we decided to construct Skycity. It will definitely help us draw more non-Korean tourists and encourage increased spending,’’ a KAC spokeswoman said. ``It will create new jobs and provide a boost to many businesses in western Seoul surrounding the airport. It is expected to generate an additional 25 billion won rental revenue for us every year.’’