Incheon International Airport, opened in 2001, is currently recognized as one of the world’s leading airports and is preparing for a second phase of development as a Northeast Asian hub. The ongoing terminal expansions at Beijing Airport and Japan’s strategic transfer operations linking Haneda, Narita, and Kansai airports pose significant challenges to Incheon Airport’s ambition to establish itself as the premier hub in Northeast Asia. To be regarded as a future transportation nexus hub airport, it requires not only scale but a high level of functional excellence satisfying both cargo and passenger needs. Efficient staging plans for passenger terminals connecting runways and aprons are paramount.

The Terminal 2, located opposite Terminal 1 along a central axis, comprises a central space, curbside concourse, and airside concourse. When this central space is effectively utilized, unnecessary elements are removed, resulting in a very clear and simple terminal layout. The elliptical southern garden within the airside, surrounded by the concourse, will become another central focal point of the airport upon final completion. Terminal 2’s seemingly conflicting elements — airside and landside, passengers and aircraft, nature and technology, city and airport — are harmonized through an efficient design, creating a highly refined terminal experience, which reinforces the airport’s status as a Northeast Asian hub.