Incheon International Airport will expand its Smart Pass-dedicated departure gates from three to five starting Thursday, with plans to scale up to as much as 50% of all gates by the end of the year.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced Wednesday that 31% of Incheon Airport's total departure gates will be converted to Smart Pass-only use beginning Thursday. The designated areas include the western section of Departure Gate 2 and the eastern section of Departure Gate 5 in Terminal 1, as well as Departure Gates 1D, 2C, and 2D in Terminal 2. In October, the ministry plans to expand coverage to up to 50% of all departure gates, taking into account usage rates and congestion levels.
Smart Pass is a service that allows travelers to pass through departure gates and boarding gates using only facial recognition, after registering their passport, facial information, and boarding pass on a mobile app. For five carriers — Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, T'way Air, and Air Premia — boarding passes are automatically synced with the app, eliminating the need for separate input.
Critics have noted that Smart Pass users have struggled to feel meaningful reductions in waiting time, as they were mixed with general passengers at security checkpoints. Dedicated departure gates numbered just three, or 18% of the total, and were located on the edges of the terminals, making access inconvenient. The current Smart Pass usage rate stands at just 14.7% of all passengers.
The ministry aims to raise registration and usage rates by improving the convenience of Smart Pass through this overhaul. Large electronic display boards inside the terminals and yellow floor markings will guide travelers to the dedicated departure gates, while designated staff will assist with registration and usage procedures.
"Smart Pass is an innovative service that simultaneously enhances airport security and passenger convenience," said An Se-hee, director of the aviation security policy division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "We will continue making improvements so that the public can access and use it easily and conveniently."
