Incheon International Airport Corporation will expand its dedicated departure gates for Smart Pass, a facial recognition-based departure service, in phases. As travelers can complete departure procedures through facial recognition alone — without taking out their passports or boarding passes — the service is expected to ease congestion and improve passenger convenience.
Incheon International Airport Corporation said Friday it will expand Smart Pass-only departure gates from four to five. The designated gates are Gates 2 and 5 at Terminal 1 (T1) and Gates 1D, 2C and 2D at Terminal 2 (T2).
Smart Pass is a facial recognition-based departure service first introduced at a Korean airport in July 2023. Travelers who register their facial information in advance can pass through departure gates and boarding gates with facial recognition alone, without separately presenting their passports or boarding passes. The airport said the service shortens departure waiting times and reduces congestion.
The corporation plans to gradually expand Smart Pass-only facilities to about 50 percent of the airport's total operational facilities, taking into account future growth in passenger volume.
The airport currently provides an automatic boarding pass registration service for Smart Pass users in partnership with five Korean airlines, including Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air and Air Premia. Smart Pass registration is also available not only through self-service kiosks at the airport but also through financial mobile applications operated by Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, Toss, Hana Bank and KB Kookmin Bank.
Incheon International Airport Corporation plans to inform outbound travelers about the Smart Pass service from the flight booking stage and to additionally operate permanent registration booths inside the terminals.
"We hope passengers' departures will become more relaxed, and we are working to promote Smart Pass and improve the user environment," Kim Chang-gyu, head of the operations division at Incheon International Airport Corporation, said. "We will continue digital innovation that customers can feel throughout the airport departure process so that they can use the airport more conveniently and safely."
