Gimpo Airport to increase security for upcoming Korea-Africa Summit

Gimpo Airport's international terminal [KOREA AIRPORTS CORPORATION]

Security at Seoul's Gimpo Airport international terminal will become more stringent from June 1 to 6 in anticipation of the arrival and departures of various heads of state attending the upcoming Korea-Africa Summit.

The Korea Airports Corporation announced Wednesday that the aviation security level at Gimpo Airport's international terminal will be elevated to "caution," the third of a five-tier system. The airports corporation warned of possible extension of boarding times due to increased security checks and strengthened security for airport facilities.

This includes more thorough baggage inspections and body searches, such as opening checked baggage and conducting pat-downs. Passengers may be required to remove high-heeled shoes.

Passengers are urged to pre-check prohibited items that are not allowed in checked baggage, like liquids that are more than 100 milliliters (3.38 fluid ounces), two or more lighters, flammable sprays and batteries.

The corporation has advised travelers to arrive at the airport about two hours before international flights.

To shorten boarding times, passengers can use a dedicated lane that uses palm vein information for ID verification. The corporation's "Smart Airports" mobile app provides real-time updates on congestion and required times for each boarding segment, it added.

The corporation has asked airlines to enhance pre-notification of these security procedures. Additional security personnel will be deployed, and airport facility patrols and antiterror activities will be intensified to minimize passenger inconvenience.

The 2024 Korea-Africa Summit is scheduled to be held on June 4 and 5 in Seoul and in Goyang, Gyeonggi. The summit, set to be the largest international event hosted by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, marks the first multilateral summit between South Korea and African countries.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]