Gimpo International Airport (GMP) sits on the western edge of Seoul, South Korea, and functions primarily as a domestic hub with a smaller share of short-haul international flights, mostly to nearby Japan and China, rather than the long-haul gateway role played by Incheon further out. A rental car picked up at GMP is a genuinely convenient option for visitors planning to explore beyond central Seoul, since the airport sits closer to the city center than Incheon and connects easily onto the capital's expressway network. Rental counters at Gimpo are operated by established Korean companies alongside a few international brands, and the terminal's more compact domestic-focused layout generally means a faster pickup process than the busier Incheon hub.
From GMP, central Seoul is roughly thirty to forty-five minutes away depending on traffic and destination within the sprawling capital, while day-trip destinations like the DMZ area or the port city of Incheon itself are each within an hour or so along well-developed expressways. Seoul's traffic can be dense at almost any hour, so allow extra time for city-center driving in particular, and consider that public transport may be a faster option within the city itself, with a rental car earning its keep more on longer regional trips.
Driving is on the right throughout South Korea, and the expressway network is modern, well signed and generally excellent, with electronic Hi-Pass tolling common on many of the country's toll roads; exact toll amounts and coverage vary by route, so it is worth checking with your rental company how tolls are billed for your specific vehicle rather than assuming a single flat system applies everywhere. Fuel stations are plentiful throughout the greater Seoul area, and city driving involves narrow lanes, frequent lane changes and assertive local traffic, so a cautious, attentive approach suits first-time visitors driving in Korea considerably better than an aggressive one.