Cheap Flights from Seoul to Shanghai from US$71

Flying from Seoul to Shanghai: What You Need to Know

Seoul and Shanghai sit only about 510 miles (roughly 820-865 km) apart, and a direct flight takes around 2 hours 10 minutes. The route is busy, with about 164 flights a week across all carriers, so there is plenty of choice on timing and price.

Route Overview

Direct flights from Seoul to Shanghai take about 2 hours 5 minutes at the fastest, with an average of around 2 hours 10-15 minutes. The distance between the two cities is roughly 510 miles (about 820-865 km).

Seven airlines fly nonstop between Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG): Asiana Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Eastar Jet, Korean Air, Shanghai Airlines and Spring Airlines. A separate pair of airports is also connected, with Asiana Airlines, China Eastern, Korean Air and Shanghai Airlines flying about 24 nonstop services a week between Seoul Gimpo (GMP) and Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), an average of 3 a day.

On the main ICN-PVG route there are about 70 nonstop flights a week, around 10 a day. China Eastern is the largest carrier, taking roughly 34% of departures with about 31 direct flights a week; Asiana operates around 28 and Korean Air about 24. Trip.com data from the past 4 weeks shows about 164 flights a week on the whole Seoul-Shanghai route, with the earliest departure at 08:25 and the latest at 22:30.

Book your Seoul to Shanghai flight on Trip.com to compare fares across these carriers and pick the schedule that suits you.

Airline Details

Korean Air

Asiana Airlines

China Eastern

China Southern

Other Airlines on the Route

Airport Information

Incheon International Airport (ICN)

Incheon is Seoul's main international airport and the departure point for most Seoul-Shanghai flights. The Airport Railroad Express (AREX) is the fastest way into central Seoul, with a City Airport Terminal at Seoul Station where you can check bags and print boarding passes before taking the train. A regular taxi covers the run in comfort if you are traveling with luggage.

Gimpo International Airport (GMP)

Gimpo is the older, closer-in Seoul airport, about 13 km from downtown, and it is the departure point for the GMP-SHA services. The subway is the cheapest way into the city, while the airport bus drops passengers near hotels and the taxi runs around the clock.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

Pudong is Shanghai's main international gateway, about 30 km east of downtown, and it handles roughly 60% of the city's air traffic, so most Seoul-Shanghai flights arrive here. The Maglev is the fastest transfer into the city, running to Longyang Road station in about 8 minutes before you change to Metro Line 2.

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

Hongqiao sits about 13 km west of the city centre and is the main arrival point for the GMP-SHA flights, favored for domestic and East Asia regional travel. It is closer to downtown than Pudong, so a metro ride into the city takes about half an hour.

If you need to move between the two Shanghai airports, Metro Line 2 takes 80-90 minutes at about 7-14 CNY (US$1-2), the airport shuttle bus takes 70-90 minutes at about 27-34 CNY (US$4-5), and a taxi or ride-hailing (DiDi) takes 50-70 minutes at about 168-202 CNY (US$25-30).

Destination & Booking Info

Visa & Entry

South Korea is one of the 50 countries whose nationals can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days under the unilateral visa waiver, covering tourism, business, family visits, conferences, sports or study tours. For South Korean passport holders the waiver is currently valid until Dec 31, 2026.

China also offers a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit for citizens of 55 countries, including South Korea, when transiting through China to a third country, at 60 designated entry and exit ports. The document requirement is a valid ordinary passport (not temporary or emergency documents) with remaining validity at least as long as the intended stay, and at least 3 months for the 240-hour transit.

For travelers who do need a visa, the main categories are the L visa for tourism, the M visa for commercial and trade activities, and the G visa for transit through China to a third country.

Customs & Currency

Non-Chinese residents arriving in China get a duty-free allowance of up to 2,000 RMB for personal items intended to remain in the country; anything above that is subject to duty, with rates generally from 10% to 50%. For tobacco and alcohol, the allowances are up to 1,500 ml of alcohol (at least 12% content), up to 400 cigarettes (or 100 cigars, or 500 g of tobacco); anything beyond that must be declared and taxed.

On cash, the RMB carry-on limit is 20,000 RMB, and foreign currency of US$5,000 or more (or equivalent) must be declared on both entry and exit. Items that must be declared on entry include cash at or above 20,000 RMB or foreign currency at or above US$5,000, animals, plants and their products (such as meat, milk, eggs and fresh fruit), medicines, and electronics such as radio transmitters and drones.

Booking Tips

With about 164 flights a week across the route and departures from 08:25 to 22:30, you can usually find a schedule to fit. On the main ICN-PVG corridor, China Eastern, Asiana and Korean Air together operate most of the direct services. Fares move with season and booking lead time, so compare carriers and dates on Trip.com before you lock in a Seoul to Shanghai flight.

※ Fares, schedules and policies are subject to change. Confirm with official sources before booking.