[SUB/PDF] S1 E32 | At the Airport: Departing for Vacation 출국하기 | Intermediate | Focus Korean Podcast

Hello, everyone. This is Professor Jeong from Focus Korean. I recently went on an overseas trip.

So today, I’m going to talk about the process of departing from the airport. I’ll speak slowly. So listen carefully.

When I travel abroad, I usually arrive at the airport about three hours before my flight. I used to go just two hours before, but these days, airports are so crowded that I go a bit earlier. When I get to the airport, the first thing I do is go to the airline counter to check in my luggage.

I usually pack everything into one large suitcase and check it in as baggage. Then, I just bring a small backpack with me on the plane. These days, many airports have self-check-in and self-bag-drop kiosks, so you can print your boarding pass and check in your luggage yourself.

If the airport is busy, I also use the self-check-in kiosks, but most of the time, I just go straight to the counter. When I travel to warm countries during the winter, I often use the coatroom service. The coatroom is where you can store your winter coat while you travel.

Many airlines now offer this service. Since I don’t need a thick coat in warm destinations, it’s much more convenient to leave it at the coatroom. This time, I went to Phu Quoc, Vietnam.

It’s winter in Korea right now, but in Phu Quoc, it’s summer. So I left my thick winter coat in the coatroom and picked it up again when I came back. I think coatroom services are super helpful for people traveling in the winter.

After checking in my luggage, I go to exchange currency. I usually use an online currency exchange service. You can exchange money at the airport banks too, but online services often offer better rates.

So I place an order online ahead of time and pick up the cash at the airport. These days, many places abroad accept credit cards, so I don’t need to exchange too much cash. So I only exchange as much as I need, and if I need more cash, I exchange more once I’m there.

Next, I head to the security check and immigration. First, I have to go through security, and the line for security always seems to be the longest. Since everyone has to go through the security scanner one by one to make sure there’s nothing dangerous, it takes a while.

You have to take off your coat and shoes and take out your laptop or tablet from your bag, which makes it a bit of a hassle. Once I pass security, I go to immigration control. These days, most Korean airports have automatic immigration gates.

You just scan your passport, and once the machine recognizes your face and fingerprints, you're done in no time After immigration, you enter the duty-free zone. After immigration, I go to the duty-free pickup counter to get the items I pre-ordered. Airport duty-free shops have tons of products, but online duty-free stores are often cheaper.

So I usually buy what I need online beforehand. Every time I travel abroad, I stock up on the skincare products I use regularly. At the airport duty-free shops, I usually buy gifts for my friends.

If I’m visiting a friend abroad, I like to get them a gift from the duty-free store. Airport duty-free shops sell a lot of Korean souvenirs, and they often have pop-up stores, so it’s a great place to buy special gifts. If I have a lot of time before my flight, I go to the airport lounge to pass the time.

One of my credit cards comes with free lounge access, so I can use it whenever I travel. In the lounge, I relax in a comfortable chair, have a meal, or grab some snacks. Because I can take a quick shower or remove my makeup before a long flight, if I have extra time, I usually use the airport lounge.

Once boarding time approaches, I head to my gate to get on the plane. The process from arriving at the airport to boarding the plane is pretty long, isn’t it? What do you usually do when you have extra time at the airport?

Leave a comment below! Now, everyone, listen to the story once again. I’ll read it a bit faster.