Korean Air takes the next step in its premiumisation with new Seoul Incheon lounges

Korean’s new lounges are a massive upgrade to its airport offerings — and the biggest pointer yet to a substantial repositioning of one of Asia’s key network airlines

By John Walton 10 min read
Interior, lounge. Six people celebrate behind a sign that says "Korean Air Lounge Unveiling"

Korean Air’s ongoing brand and aesthetic evolution continues as it merges with former hometown rival Asiana Airlines, with the latest milestone an impressive set of new and refurbished lounges at its hub airport at Seoul Incheon.

For Korean, the lounges are a huge leap in both hard product and soft product, with elegant, refined interior design and major investment on the food and beverage side as well.

The airline (and indeed its former competitor and now mergee Asiana) have historically offered lounges that can only objectively be described as “sub-par”, with unimpressive aesthetics, serried-ranks-style seating, and paltry food and beverage offerings.

But that seems to be all changing with its new lounges.

The Up Front AnalysisKorean AirSeoul IncheonAirportsLoungesLTW Designworks
John Walton

Editor in chief of The Up Front, with two decades of experience reporting across the global aviation industry, specialising in business and first class, seats, cabins and the passenger experience.