Incheon Airport, which marks its 25th year on March 29, 2026, is Korea's main international airport and one of the busiest in the world. In February 2026 alone, it was used by over 6.4 million passengers entering or leaving Korea, according to its official website. But Incheon Airport is more than just a gateway for travelers to simply pass through. It is also a place where people can experience Korean culture firsthand. By featuring thoughtfully designed performances, exhibitions, and cultural facilities, including the Korean Traditional Culture Centers in Terminals 1 and 2 as well as the Concourse, Incheon Airport makes Korean culture accessible to its passengers.
As the airport celebrates its 25th anniversary, I found myself reminiscing about one of my favorite memories there so far: my short but wonderful visit to the Korean Traditional Culture Center near Gate 225 in the West Wing of Terminal 2, while waiting for my flight back to the Philippines after my Korea trip in November.
At the time, the center was holding a free exhibition titled "The New, The Crafts" under the theme "Connecting Hearts". Opened in July 2025 and scheduled to run until the end of March this year, it showcases artists Gang Geumsong's, Lee Hyemin's, and Hong Sungchul's modern interpretations of Korean traditional crafts.
The Korean Traditional Culture Center also features various crafts and products available for purchase. In addition, it offers Korean culture activities free of charge, such as folk games, Hanbok Experience, and K-Heritage Craft Experience.
During my visit, I approached a staff member and asked what activity I could try at the moment. She led me to the center's dedicated space where visitors can make personalized Korean traditional crafts at their own pace. She then guided me to one of the desks with crafting materials for a paengi or Korean traditional spinning top. There was also a tablet, which showed the instructions. Since the activity takes approximately 30 minutes, and I still had a little more than an hour left before my flight's boarding time, it was perfect for me.
Following the instructions and drawing inspiration from the color combination examples shown on the tablet and the paengi displayed at my desk, I created my own design and finished my paengi in about half an hour. Coloring and assembling it was so fun that I didn't notice the time passing by.
The activity lasted for a short while but felt so fulfilling, especially since I had been meaning to visit one of the Korean Traditional Culture Centers at Incheon Airport after learning about them years ago. I was glad to have experienced Korean culture again just before leaving Korea, exercised my creativity, and spent my time meaningfully while waiting for my flight. I also got to take my personalized paengi back home.
The Korean Traditional Culture Center has since introduced a new K-Heritage Craft Experience. Currently, visitors can create their own lucky tiger ornament with geumbak or Korean traditional gold leaf. The activity is available from 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM, while the center is open from 7 AM to 9 PM year-round.
Whether you're alone or with companions—spending the last day of your Korea trip or on a layover—a cultural experience right at Incheon Airport, such as a visit to the Korean Traditional Culture Center, might just turn into one of your trip's fondest memories.
For the latest information on the cultural experiences and performances at Incheon Airport, you can check its official website (www.airport.kr) and the Incheon Airport Korean Traditional Culture Center's Instagram page (@k.heritage.airport).
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