South Korea Air Passenger Traffic Hits Record 124.8 Million in 2025: Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Peak

The sky's no longer the limit—it's the new baseline for Korea's travel industry. In 2025, South Korea's air passenger traffic soared to a record-breaking 124.8 million, finally eclipsing the pre-pandemic high of 123.4 million set in 2019. According to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, this marks a 3.9% increase from the previous year.

International Boom Drives South Korea Air Passenger Traffic 2025

The surge was fueled almost entirely by international travel demand. International passengers jumped 6.3% to approximately 94.5 million. In contrast, domestic travelers saw a slight dip of 2.8%, falling to 30.2 million. It seems South Koreans are increasingly looking past their borders for vacations, preferring global destinations over local ones.

Visa Waivers and Weak Yen: The Growth Catalysts

Travel to Japan remains a dominant trend, with over 27.3 million travelers—an 8.6% increase—buoyed by the weak Japanese Yen. However, the most striking growth came from China. Thanks to mutual visa-waiver programs, passenger numbers to China skyrocketed by 22% to 16.8 million. Long-haul routes weren't far behind, with the United States and Europe seeing gains of 4.7% and 5.5% respectively.