--- iata: PUS name: Gimhae International Airport city: Busan country: South Korea lastUpdated: '2026-09-06' officialWebsite: 'https://www.airport.co.kr/gimhaeeng/' sources: - 'https://www.airport.co.kr/gimhaeeng/' - >- https://www.airport.co.kr/gimhaeeng/cms/frCon/index.do?CONTENTS_NO=3&MENU_ID=110 - 'https://www.airport.co.kr/gimhae/' - 'https://www.airbusan.com/content/common/service/lounge' - 'https://jp.airbusan.com/content/common/service/loungePurchase' - 'https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/south-korea/gimhae-international' - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/south-korea/gimhae-international/pus5-air-busan-lounge - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/south-korea/gimhae-international/pus4-sky-hub-lounge - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/south-korea/gimhae-international/pus6-n-sky-hub-lounge - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimhae_International_Airport' - 'https://www.busan.com/view/busan/view.php?code=2025010918073908181' - >- https://en.sedaily.com/finance/2026/04/27/gimhae-cheongju-airports-to-double-capacity-in-364-billion - >- https://www.hapskorea.com/gimhae-international-airport-surpasses-10-million-international-passengers-for-the-first-time/ - 'https://www.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2025033109400427464' - 'https://www.g-airport.or.kr/en/content.do?key=2409260004' - >- https://aim.koca.go.kr/eaipPub/Package/2022-03-10/html/eAIP/KR-AD-2.RKPK-en-GB.html quickFacts: - >- Gimhae International Airport (IATA PUS / ICAO RKPK) sits in Gangseo-gu on the western edge of Busan, South Korea’s second city. Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) runs the civil passenger side; English passenger site: airport.co.kr/gimhaeeng/. The IATA code is the old romanization “Pusan.” Do not confuse PUS with ICN (Incheon), GMP (Gimpo), or CJU (Jeju). - >- Two passenger buildings on one campus: Domestic Terminal and International Terminal. They are a short walk / free inter-terminal shuttle apart — there is no sterile airside walk between them. A same-day domestic↔international self-connect is a full landside transfer with re-screening and (on the international leg) immigration. International Terminal expanded with a new departure/arrival hall opened 26 April 2024 (Air Busan-focused capacity lift; published international design capacity rose from about 6.3M toward about 8.3M) — traffic has already pushed past that envelope. - >- Traffic: Korea Airports Corporation / Busan Ilbo figures for calendar 2024 show about **15.75 million** total passengers (≈**9.01M** international / ≈**6.75M** domestic) and about **94,870** movements. Calendar 2025 international traffic reached about **10.5 million** (Seoul Economic Daily citing KAC; Busan City noted the first-ever 10M international milestone in mid-December 2025). Hub / focus city for Air Busan; major Korean Air and LCC presence (Jeju Air, Jin Air, and others). - >- Airfield: civil runway **18R/36L** concrete about **3,200 × 60 m**; parallel **18L/36R** about **2,743 m** is primarily the ROKAF Gimhae Air Base side (civil use remains constrained). Elevation about **2 m / 6 ft**. AIP noise rules restrict civil takeoffs and landings **23:00–06:00 local** (1400–2100 UTC) except limited dispensations — this is a hard reliability and schedule constraint, not a soft preference. Photography of the apron / runway / military areas is prohibited on the airport’s own rules. - >- Lounges (Sep 2026 Priority Pass + Air Busan pages): International airside — **Air Busan Lounge** (3F after passport control; 06:00–22:00; PP / LoungeKey / paid ₩27,000 online or ₩32,000 walk-up; max 3h; walk-up and card entry often cut off after 21:30), **Sky Hub Lounge** (2F between Gates 9–10; 06:30–21:30; PP; max 3h), **N Sky Hub Lounge** (2F opposite Gates 2–3; 06:30–21:30; PP; max 5h), **Korean Air Lounge** (near Gate 4; PP lists 07:00–13:00 and Korean Air / selected SkyTeam-operated flights only). Domestic is thin for cardholders — Korean Air landside entitlement lounge plus airport paid waiting rooms (advance application), not a Priority Pass product. - >- Ground: **Busan–Gimhae Light Rail (BGL)** Airport Station is linked by overpass from the passenger campus (KAC: near Domestic Gate 1 / Gate 3 side depending on which door you exit). Ride to Sasang for Metro Line 2 (Seomyeon / Haeundae) or Daejeo for Line 3. Adult card fares on BGL are about **₩1,600–1,800** by section; integrated card transfers into Busan Metro keep a Seomyeon-type journey commonly under about **₩2,600**. Airport limousine buses toward Seomyeon / Haeundae corridors and metered taxis fill the gaps when you have heavy luggage or land after the last train. bentoTips: - label: Timing title: International CIQ still wants a real buffer — and the curfew is real detail: >- International departures want about 2–2.5 hours curb-to-gate on a normal Korea–Japan / Korea–China bank, and more when the new departure hall’s peak morning CIQ is stacked. Domestic cabin-bag passengers who already know the light-rail arrival can often work nearer 75–90 minutes when the hall is calm. Civil movements are noise-restricted 23:00–06:00 local — late inbound delays do not magically create a midnight departure bank. summary: >- International ~2–2.5 hours; domestic cabin-bag can work ~75–90 minutes off-peak; no civil night bank 23:00–06:00. category: timing - label: Terminal title: Domestic and International are separate landside buildings detail: >- Read the boarding-pass terminal line before you commit to a lounge, meal, or light-rail exit. Domestic↔international same-day connections require a landside walk or free shuttle, re-check, and a second security / CIQ pass — there is no sterile link. The April 2024 international expansion added a second departure hall used heavily in peak morning banks (Air Busan emphasis); follow live FIDS and check-in zone signs, not a memorized 2019 blog map. summary: >- Two buildings, free shuttle / short walk, no sterile domestic↔international transfer. category: terminal - label: Food title: CU / food-court Korean plates beat most gate snacks detail: >- Landside CU convenience stores and the domestic food-court decks are the reliable everyday fuel — kimbap, noodles, fried chicken, coffee. Buy sealed water there before security. International airside adds duty-free and a thinner café set after passport control; useful once you are airside, poor value if you still have time landside. Most kitchens wind down in the evening — do not plan a sit-down dinner after a late curfew-edge arrival. summary: >- Landside CU and Korean food courts are the value play; airside is thinner and closes earlier than hub airports. category: food - label: Status title: Priority Pass works internationally — watch KE’s morning-only window detail: >- Cardholders should open Priority Pass the same day. Default flexible rooms are Sky Hub (Gates 9–10, max 3h) and N Sky Hub (Gates 2–3, max 5h), both 06:30–21:30. Air Busan Lounge (3F, 06:00–22:00) is the strongest published paid/PP product and accepts other airlines’ walk-ups. Korean Air’s international lounge is PP-listed but only 07:00–13:00 and only on Korean Air / selected SkyTeam-operated flights — useless for an evening departure. Domestic passengers without Korean Air entitlement should use paid waiting rooms or the open hall, not PP. summary: >- PP: Sky Hub / N Sky Hub / Air Busan; KE international is morning + metal restricted; domestic has no PP room. category: status lounges: - name: Air Busan Lounge zone: >- International Terminal airside — after passport control, turn right and take stairs/escalator to 3F (Priority Pass + Air Busan pages) hours: '06:00–22:00 daily (Air Busan / Priority Pass)' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey when contracted - >- Paid entry: ₩27,000 online (buy by 2 days before departure per Air Busan) or ₩32,000 walk-up on the day; other airlines’ passengers may buy on site - >- Air Busan Premium / Smart Up bundle guests when the bundle includes lounge - >- Walk-up and Priority Pass / LoungeKey entry commonly restricted after 21:30 — pre-purchased Air Busan vouchers are the late-evening path bestFor: - Priority Pass holders on international afternoon and evening banks - Walk-up guests who want a published KRW price instead of a opaque desk summary: >- Best all-around international soft product at PUS. Air Busan publishes clear hours (06:00–22:00), clear paid tariffs, massage chairs, snacks and drinks, and a 3-hour max stay. Aggregate Priority Pass scores sit around the low-4s / 5. Confirm the 21:30 card/walk-up cutoff if your flight is at the edge of the curfew window. verdict: worth-it terminal: International Terminal amenities: - Soft drinks / standard alcoholic drinks (PP facilities list) - Snacks / light refreshments - Complimentary massage chairs - Wi-Fi / flight information / air conditioning - Digital card acceptance - name: Sky Hub Lounge zone: >- International Terminal airside, 2F between Gates 9 and 10 (Priority Pass pus4 listing) hours: '06:30–21:30 daily (Priority Pass; hours may vary with flight schedule)' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass / Diners when contracted - Paid walk-up when the operator posts a day rate (often ~USD 39 class) bestFor: - Priority Pass holders gating on the south / high-number gate stub - >- Travellers who want a mainstream contract lounge without airline metal rules summary: >- Primary Plaza Premium–style contract lounge on the Gate 9–10 side. Priority Pass lists 06:30–21:30, a 3-hour maximum stay, children under 3 free, snacks, soft drinks, standard alcohol, Wi-Fi, and flight boards. Aggregate PP scores around 4.0 / 5 — usable AC and a plate of food, not a destination lounge. Pick N Sky Hub instead if your gate is on the 2–3 stub. verdict: worth-it terminal: International Terminal amenities: - Soft drinks / standard alcoholic drinks - Snacks / newspapers - Wi-Fi / flight information / air conditioning - Digital card acceptance / disabled access - name: N Sky Hub Lounge zone: >- International Terminal airside, 2F opposite Gates 2 and 3 (Priority Pass pus6 listing) hours: '06:30–21:30 daily (Priority Pass)' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass / Diners when contracted - Paid walk-up when the operator posts a day rate bestFor: - Priority Pass holders whose gate is on the north / low-number stub - Longer waits that benefit from the 5-hour max-stay rule summary: >- Sister Sky Hub room on the Gate 2–3 side. Same 06:30–21:30 published hours as Sky Hub, but Priority Pass lists a **5-hour** maximum stay (vs 3 hours at Sky Hub) and aggregate scores a notch higher (about 4.3 / 5). Choose by gate geography first, max-stay second. verdict: worth-it terminal: International Terminal amenities: - Soft drinks / standard alcoholic drinks - Snacks / flight information - Wi-Fi / air conditioning - Digital card acceptance - name: Korean Air Lounge (International) zone: >- International Terminal airside near Gate 4 on the upper departures level (Priority Pass Korean Air listing) hours: '07:00–13:00 daily (Priority Pass; flight-schedule dependent)' access: - >- Priority Pass only when flying Korean Air or selected SkyTeam-operated flights (PP condition) - >- Korean Air prestige / first / SkyTeam Elite Plus entitlement per KE rules bestFor: - >- Morning Korean Air / SkyTeam metal departures that clear CIQ before 13:00 - Entitled KE elites who already match the ticket and the clock summary: >- Compact Korean Air international room with a hard morning window — Priority Pass currently publishes 07:00–13:00 and metal restrictions. Aggregate PP scores sit in the high-3s / 5. Skip the walk if your departure is afternoon/evening or you are not on KE / eligible SkyTeam metal; use Air Busan or Sky Hub instead. verdict: depends terminal: International Terminal amenities: - Soft drinks / light snacks when stocked - Wi-Fi / flight information / air conditioning - Digital card acceptance (when PP unlocks the door) - name: Korean Air Lounge (Domestic) zone: >- Domestic Terminal landside 2F near check-in (airline / directory listings; before domestic security) hours: 'About 05:50–20:20/20:30 (directory listings; confirm KE day-of board)' access: - >- Korean Air prestige / first, Morning Calm / Million Miler, SkyTeam Elite Plus, and other KE-published entitlements only bestFor: - >- Entitled Korean Air domestic passengers who want a landside quiet room before security summary: >- Domestic KE product is entitlement-only and landside — useful before you clear domestic security, useless as a Priority Pass plan. Directories describe snacks, drinks, and Wi-Fi with roughly early-morning to mid-evening hours. Not a walk-up lounge. verdict: depends terminal: Domestic Terminal amenities: - Soft drinks / light snacks when stocked - Wi-Fi / seating waterOptions: - kind: purchase name: Landside CU sealed water zone: landside price: Ordinary Korean convenience-store PET pricing (confirm shelf tag) summary: >- CU and similar landside convenience counters in both terminals sell sealed water at normal shop prices — the best-value hydration move before domestic security or international check-in / CIQ. Buy here if you want water during the queue. location: >- CU and other convenience counters in the Domestic and International public halls before security (commonly near the main departures atriums) terminal: Domestic / International landside isBestValue: true - kind: purchase name: Airside café / shop sealed water zone: airside price: Airport markup over landside CU (confirm tag) summary: >- Fine once you are through screening or passport control; poor value if you still have time to buy landside. International airside shops and cafés stock chilled PET; domestic airside coverage is thinner. location: >- Cafés and travel retailers after security in Domestic departures and after passport control in International departures terminal: Domestic or International airside - kind: free name: Restroom drinking fountains / bottle refill zone: landside summary: >- Traveler guides and facility inventories note drinking fountains near many restrooms in the public halls. Korean municipal water is treated to drinking standard — still prefer a sealed CU bottle for long queues or if a fountain is taped off. location: >- Beside restrooms in Domestic and International public areas (and commonly after security where signed) terminal: Both terminals - kind: free name: Lounge drinking water (entitled guests only) zone: airside summary: >- Soft drinks and water inside Air Busan, Sky Hub, N Sky Hub, and Korean Air lounges are part of lounge access — not a public fountain programme. location: Drink stations inside the matching lounge after reception terminal: Matching international (or domestic KE) lounge airportistScore: 6.7 slug: pus region: Asia-Pacific --- > Markdown for [/airports/pus](/airports/pus). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/pus) - [Lounge directory](/airports/pus/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Gimhae International Airport (PUS) Busan, South Korea · Asia-Pacific Busan’s dual-terminal gateway with a usable Priority Pass cluster airside international and a genuine light-rail link into the Metro — capped by a hard 23:00–06:00 civil curfew, military-shared airfield limits, and international throughput already above the 2024 expansion envelope. ## Airportist Score **6.7 / 10** Weighted sum of the six published categories (no holistic fudge). - Ease of use (25%): 6.8 — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout. - Comfort & amenities (20%): 6.2 — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet. - Food & retail (15%): 6.4 — Food and retail quality and variety. - Ground access (15%): 8.0 — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city. - Reliability (15%): 5.9 — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience. - Lounges (10%): 6.8 — Worth-it density and access quality. ## At a glance - Passengers: ~15.75M calendar 2024 (KAC/Busan Ilbo); international ~10.5M in 2025 - Terminals: Domestic Terminal + International Terminal (Apr 2024 expansion hall); no sterile link - Typical security: 18 min - On-time: 74% - Disruption: minor ## Best for - Japan / China / Southeast Asia short-haul departures that can use Air Busan or Sky Hub after CIQ - Travellers who will ride Busan–Gimhae Light Rail into Sasang / Seomyeon with light bags - Air Busan hub passengers who want a published paid lounge price - Domestic Korea hops that stay entirely inside the Domestic Terminal ## Watch out for - Assuming a sterile walk exists between Domestic and International - Planning evening Priority Pass around the Korean Air lounge (07:00–13:00 + metal rules) - Civil night curfew 23:00–06:00 local — late delays do not create a midnight bank - Confusing PUS with ICN, GMP, or CJU ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/pus/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/pus/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/pus/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/pus/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/pus/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/pus/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/pus/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/pus/reviews.md)