What should travelers know about The quick decision?

Item Starting point Next check Ordinary liquid, spray or gel, 100 ml or less Put it in the one transparent 1 L bag Confirm it is not otherwise hazardous Partly empty container larger than 100 ml Not accepted under the ordinary cabin-liquid rule Use a suitable smaller container or check hold-baggage rules Necessary liqu.

Liquids on international flights from Korea: the 100 ml carry-on rule

Published and last verified August 25, 2026 · Scoped to current Incheon Airport international-departure and transfer guidance

Carry-on liquid packing check with one 1 L transparent bag of 100 ml containers, a larger rejected bottle, documented medicine and sealed duty-free liquids — Start with container capacity and one clear bag, then check medicine and duty-free purchases through their separate documentation and transfer rules. Koursea original editorial illustration.

For an ordinary carry-on liquid, spray or gel on an international flight from Incheon, each container must hold 100 ml or less. All containers must fit inside one transparent, sealed ziplock bag of 1 L or less per passenger. Container capacity controls—not how little product remains.

The quick decision

Item	Starting point	Next check
Ordinary liquid, spray or gel, 100 ml or less	Put it in the one transparent 1 L bag	Confirm it is not otherwise hazardous
Partly empty container larger than 100 ml	Not accepted under the ordinary cabin-liquid rule	Use a suitable smaller container or check hold-baggage rules
Necessary liquid medicine over 100 ml	Supporting document and security review required	Contact the airline and carry a Korean- or English-language prescription or doctor's note
Supplies for a child under six traveling with you	Incheon permits the amount needed during the flight	Keep them accessible for screening
Duty-free liquid over the ordinary limit	Keep it sealed in the designated duty-free liquid bag	Check every transfer airport before purchase

Container capacity matters

A 150 ml lotion bottle with only 20 ml left remains a 150 ml container. Use the capacity printed or molded on the bottle. Each compliant container must fit in the single clear 1 L bag and the bag must close.

Prepare the bag before screening and keep it accessible. An opaque toiletries pouch does not replace the required clear bag. Incheon says bags may be sold at terminal convenience stores or bookstores, but shop access and inventory are not a reliable plan.

What counts as liquid, spray or gel

Incheon lists drinks, perfume, toner, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, sunscreen, lip gloss, hair spray and body insect repellent. Creams, pastes and spreadable foods can fall under the rule even when they are not described as drinks.

Korean foods need attention. The airport identifies kimchi, gochujang and doenjang as liquid- or gel-containing foods. It distinguishes solid side dishes such as dried squid or dried anchovies, but destination customs and quarantine remain separate checks.

Do not decide from a marketing word alone. “Balm,” “mist,” “serum” and “solid” can describe different physical forms. Ask about the exact product when its classification is unclear.

International and domestic departures differ

Incheon's restricted-items page says this listed volume restriction does not apply to domestic flights. That does not allow every substance: airline baggage limits, dangerous-goods rules and product-specific restrictions still apply.

If a domestic segment connects to an international flight, pack for the international screening point. Acceptance at the first airport does not promise acceptance at the next checkpoint.

Liquid medicine over 100 ml

Incheon's FAQ says liquid medicine exceeding 100 ml requires a doctor's note or prescription in Korean or English. Cabin quantity is limited to what is needed during the flight and remains subject to security review.

Contact the operating airline before travel. Keep original labeled packaging where possible, carry current documentation, and allow extra screening time. Ask separately about needles, cooling materials and equipment batteries. Destination medicine-import rules are different from security permission.

Milk and food for a young child

For a child under six traveling with the passenger, Incheon permits milk, water, juice, liquid or gel food, porridge-type food and wet wipes in the quantity needed during the flight. Keep the child and supplies together for screening.

This is not an unlimited family-food allowance. Pack a reasonable journey quantity and check the airline when refrigeration, warming, formula water or special dietary needs matter.

Ice packs, coolers and dry ice

Incheon treats ice packs under the liquid, spray and gel volume rule. An empty cooler does not exempt its contents. Dry ice requires airline approval and follows separate dangerous-goods conditions. Ask the carrier about the exact coolant, quantity, ventilation and documentation.

Duty-free liquids and transfers

Incheon permits duty-free liquids beyond the ordinary volume limit only in the designated duty-free liquid bag. Keep the bag sealed, with its receipt, until boarding the final-destination flight.

A sealed duty-free bag is not a worldwide guarantee. Incheon warns that a foreign transfer airport may apply different security rules and require liquids to be surrendered. Check re-screening and security-bag rules for every connection before buying. If connecting at ICN, use the Incheon international transfer guide for the airline-confirmation and airside-route decisions.

Checked baggage is not an all-liquids fallback

Incheon publishes separate conditions for non-flammable sprays, self-defense sprays, flammable insecticides, alcohol and hazardous materials. Check the exact product with the operating airline. Protect pumps and caps, contain leaks, and never pour an unknown chemical or aerosol into an unmarked travel bottle.

Before-security checklist

Confirm whether the next screened flight is domestic or international.
Read the capacity on every ordinary liquid, spray and gel container.
Put containers of 100 ml or less in one transparent 1 L ziplock bag and close it.
Treat toothpaste, cream, sunscreen, paste and liquid-containing food as possible liquid/gel items.
Carry current supporting documents for necessary liquid medicine over 100 ml and contact the airline.
Pack only the in-flight quantity of eligible supplies for a child under six.
Get airline approval for dry ice.
Keep duty-free security bags sealed and check transfer rules before purchase.
Review destination customs, quarantine and medicine-import rules separately.

Official sources

Incheon Airport: Restricted Items — rechecked August 25, 2026
Incheon Airport: Restricted Items FAQ — rechecked August 25, 2026
Incheon Airport: Transfer Security Screening — rechecked August 25, 2026