Direct Flights from Chicago to Seoul
Seoul · South Korea
Nonstop service from ORD to ICN on Korean Air. Here's the schedule at a glance — plus what to do once you land.
How rare is this nonstop?
Only 15 cities have a nonstop to Seoul, so this is a route worth knowing about — most travelers connect to get there.
How long to go to Seoul for, from Chicago
13h 35m in the air, 6,536 miles. Give Seoul a week: the first day goes to the journey and the jet lag, whatever you intend.
About Seoul
Seoul (서울) is the capital of South Korea. With a population of over 9 million, Seoul is by far South Korea's largest city and one of East Asia's financial and cultural centers. A fascinating blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge digital technology, home to endless street food vendors and vast nightlife districts, an extraordinarily high-pressure educational system and serene Buddhist temples, a dynamic trend-setting youth culture and often crushing conformism, extraordinary architecture and endless monotonous rows of grey apartment buildings, Seoul is a city filled with stark contrasts, contradictions, and paradoxes. People in Seoul can enjoy various artistic activities such as plays, musicals, and concerts.
Summary from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA).
Top things to do in Seoul
- Hwaseong Fortress or Suwon Hwaseong is a Korean fortress surrounding the centre of Suwon, the provincial capital of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
- Namdaemun, a.k.a. the Sungnyemun, is the southern gate of The Eight Gates of Seoul making part of the Seoul City Wall marking the city's original boundary during the Joseon period, although the city has since significant…
- The National Library of Korea is located in the Seocho District of Seoul, South Korea. It was established in 1945.
- The National Museum of Korea (Korean: 국립중앙박물관) is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea.
- Namhansanseong is a historic Korean fortress city in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fortress lies atop the mountain Namhansan and stretches 12 km in length.
- Cheonggyecheon is a 10.9-kilometre-long (6.8 mi) stream and public space in downtown Seoul, South Korea.
- Namsan Seoul Tower, also known as the YTN Seoul Tower, Namsan Tower, Seoul Tower or N Seoul Tower, is a communication and observation tower located on the summit of Namsan in central Seoul, South Korea.
- Lotte World or Lotte World Adventure is a theme park and major recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea.
- Everland (Korean: 에버랜드) is South Korea's largest theme park. It is located at the Everland Resort in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
- National Folk Museum of Korea (Korean: 국립민속박물관) is a national museum located on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea.
- Gwanghwamun is the main and south gate of the palace Gyeongbokgung, in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It is located at a three-way intersection at the northern end of Sejongno.
- Heunginjimun, a.k.a. Dongdaemun, is one of The Eight Gates of Seoul in the Seoul City Wall, a prominent landmark in central Seoul, South Korea.
Attraction descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA); place data from Wikidata (CC0).
Seoul weather, compared with Chicago
Within 2° of Chicago on the annual average, so pack much as you would at home — but the two cities do not track each other month to month:
- January
- Seoul 34°F · Chicago 31°F · 3° warmer
- April
- Seoul 59°F · Chicago 59°F · much the same
- July
- Seoul 82°F · Chicago 84°F · 3° colder
- October
- Seoul 67°F · Chicago 62°F · 5° warmer
January bottoms out near 34°F — a real coat, not a layer.
Daily highs averaged from Meteostat station records (CC BY 4.0), measured at each city's airport.
Planning a trip to Seoul
- Best time to visit
- The best time to visit Seoul is May–July and September–October, when daytime highs are a comfortable 67–82°F.
- How long to stay
- Seoul rewards a longer visit — a full week lets you explore its many sights, from Hwaseong Fortress, Namdaemun, and National Library of Korea and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a direct flight from Chicago to Seoul?
- Yes — you can fly nonstop from Chicago (ORD) to Seoul (ICN) on Korean Air.
- Which airlines fly nonstop from Chicago to Seoul?
- Korean Air flies nonstop between Chicago (ORD) and Seoul (ICN).
- How many nonstop flights are there from Chicago to Seoul?
- There is about 1 nonstop departure per day (roughly 7 per week) from Chicago to Seoul.
- How far is Seoul from Chicago?
- Seoul is about 6,536 miles from Chicago by air.
- Is there a direct flight from Chicago to South Korea?
- Yes — Seoul (ICN) has nonstop service from Chicago on Korean Air, making it a nonstop gateway to South Korea.
- What is there to do in Seoul?
- Popular things to do include Hwaseong Fortress, Namdaemun, National Library of Korea, National Museum of Korea, and more.
More nonstop destinations from Chicago near Seoul
Airports near Chicago
The closest other departure airports to Chicago — each opens up more nonstop destinations.