Foreign arrivals at regional airports surge 37.4 percent

Foreign arrivals through Gimhae, Jeju, Cheongju and Daegu airports rose 37.4 percent from January through September, according to Korea Airports Corporation data released Thursday. The four airports handled 3.24 million foreign nationals, as more visitors entered Korea directly through regional gateways instead of the Seoul metropolitan area. Taiwanese arrivals led the increase, while arrivals from Japan and China also grew.

Cheongju International Airport recorded a 59.5 percent increase in foreign arrivals, followed by Gimhae at 47.9 percent, Jeju at 27.9 percent and Daegu at 0.8 percent.

Foreign arrivals through Incheon and Gimpo international airports rose 17.2 percent over the same period.

Taiwanese arrivals through regional airports totaled 960,000, including 650,000 through Gimhae, where arrivals from Taiwan increased 76.7 percent year-on-year.

Arrivals from Japan rose 43.5 percent to 450,000, while arrivals from China increased 29.4 percent to 1.3 million.

Korea Airports Corporation President Kim Won-joon said the corporation expanded air routes and conducted joint overseas marketing, and plans to develop airport-specific international route strategies with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Published Oct 31, 2026 4:38 pm KST

Gimhae International Airport / Courtesy of the Korea Airports Corporation

The number of foreign nationals entering Korea through regional airports rose by more than 37 percent in the first nine months of this year, with arrivals from Taiwan surging by 60.4 percent, according to data released by the Korea Airports Corporation (KAC).

An analysis of airport-by-airport arrival figures for January through September, released by KAC on Thursday, showed that 3.24 million foreign nationals entered the country through Gimhae, Jeju, Cheongju and Daegu airports, up 37.4 percent from the same period last year.

By airport, arrivals increased 59.5 percent at Cheongju International Airport, 47.9 percent at Gimhae International Airport, 27.9 percent at Jeju International Airport and 0.8 percent at Daegu International Airport.

By comparison, the number of foreign arrivals through Incheon and Gimpo international airports in the Seoul metropolitan area rose by just 17.2 percent over the same period.

The Korea Airports Corporation attributed the trend to a growing number of foreign tourists entering Korea directly through regional airports, bypassing the capital region.

Among foreign visitors arriving through regional airports, Taiwanese nationals accounted for 960,000, up 60.4 percent from a year earlier.

At Gimhae International Airport alone, arrivals from Taiwan reached 650,000, marking a 76.7 percent increase year-on-year.

Arrivals from Japan also climbed 43.5 percent to 450,000, driven in part by the expansion of routes connecting Gimhae and Cheongju airports with regional cities in Japan.

The number of Chinese arrivals rose 29.4 percent to 1.3 million, supported by an increase in flights operated by Chinese airlines to regional airports.

"We have worked to create more opportunities for foreign tourists to enter South Korea directly through regional airports by expanding air routes and conducting joint overseas marketing campaigns," said Kim Won-joon, president of the Korea Airports Corporation.

"Going forward, we will pursue strategies to boost international routes tailored to the characteristics of each airport, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's policy to develop five major tourism zones, with Gimhae, Daegu, Cheongju, Yangyang and Muan airports serving as gateways connecting visitors to surrounding cities," he added.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

根据韩国机场公社周四公布的数据，今年1月至9月，经金海、济州、清州和大邱机场入境的外国游客数量增长了37.4%。这四个机场共接待了324万外国游客，原因是越来越多的游客选择经由这些地区门户机场而非首尔都市圈直接入境韩国。台湾地区的游客数量增幅最大，来自日本和中国的游客数量也有所增长。

清州国际机场的外国游客到访量增长了 59.5%，其次是金海机场（增长 47.9%）、济州机场（增长 27.9%）和大邱机场（增长 0.8%）。

与上年同期相比，经由仁川和金浦国际机场入境的外国旅客人数增长了17.2%。

台湾旅客经由区域机场入境人数总计96万人次，其中经由金海机场入境人数为65万人次，金海机场台湾旅客入境人数同比增长76.7%。

来自日本的入境人数增长了 43.5%，达到 45 万人；来自中国的入境人数增长了 29.4%，达到 130 万人。

韩国机场公社社长金元俊表示，该公司扩大了航线，开展了海外联合营销，并计划与文化体育观光部共同制定针对特定机场的国际航线战略。

发布于2026年10月31日下午4:38（韩国标准时间）

金海国际机场 / 图片由韩国机场公社提供

根据韩国机场公社（KAC）公布的数据，今年前九个月，通过地区机场进入韩国的外国公民人数增长超过37%，其中来自台湾的入境人数激增60.4%。

韩国机场理事会（KAC）周四发布的1月至9月各机场入境人数分析显示，共有324万外国公民通过金海、济州、清州和大邱机场入境韩国，比去年同期增长37.4%。

按机场划分，清州国际机场的到港旅客人数增加了 59.5%，金海国际机场增加了 47.9%，济州国际机场增加了 27.9%，大邱国际机场增加了 0.8%。

相比之下，同期首尔都市圈仁川和金浦国际机场的外国旅客入境人数仅增长了 17.2%。

韩国机场公社将这一趋势归因于越来越多的外国游客绕过首都地区，直接通过地区机场进入韩国。

在通过地区机场抵达的外国游客中，台湾国民占96万人，比上年增长60.4%。

仅金海国际机场，来自台湾的旅客人数就达到 65 万人次，比上年同期增长 76.7%。

来自日本的入境旅客人数也增长了 43.5%，达到 45 万人次，部分原因是金海机场和清州机场与日本地区城市之间的航线扩大。

受中国航空公司增加飞往地区机场的航班支持，中国游客入境人数增长了 29.4%，达到 130 万人次。

韩国机场公社社长金元俊表示：“我们通过拓展航线和开展联合海外营销活动，努力为外国游客创造更多机会，让他们能够通过地区机场直接进入韩国。”

他补充说：“展望未来，我们将根据每个机场的特点，制定促进国际航线发展的战略，并与文化体育观光部发展五大旅游区的政策相协调，其中金海、大邱、清州、襄阳和务安机场将作为连接游客与周边城市的门户。”

本文来自《韩国日报》（《韩国时报》的姊妹报），由人工智能生成系统翻译，并由《韩国时报》编辑。