29.5 Million International Passengers in H1 2023 as Recovery Uneven Across Regions
International passenger traffic through South Korea’s airports totaled 29,506,492 from January through June 2023. According to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport aviation statistics cited by Yonhap News Agency, that was equivalent to 64.8% of the 45,562,378 international passengers recorded in the first half of 2019, before COVID-19.
The previously reported figures of “50.48 million passengers” and “a 10.8% increase from the first half of 2019” do not match total international passenger traffic for the first half of 2023. Although the aviation market had entered a recovery phase, it had not yet returned fully to pre-pandemic levels.
Japan Routes Lead the Recovery in International Passenger Traffic
The pace of recovery varied widely by route in the first half of 2023. Passenger traffic on Japan routes recovered to roughly 76% of the level recorded during the same period in 2019, marking a relatively strong rebound among major regions.
A weaker yen, Japan’s easing of pandemic restrictions and growing demand for short-haul travel all contributed to the recovery of Japan routes. Low-cost carriers also expanded services to Japan and increased capacity not only from Incheon, but also from regional airports including Gimhae, Daegu and Cheongju.
China Routes Recover More Slowly
By contrast, international passenger traffic between South Korea and China totaled about 1.83 million, or just 21% of the 8.75 million recorded in the first half of 2019. China routes lagged behind other major regions, constraining the overall recovery in international aviation.
The delayed return of demand from Chinese tour groups and differences in the pace of restoring route capacity are cited as key factors. As a result, the first-half 2023 aviation market showed a clear gap between the recovery of short-haul routes, including Japan, and that of China routes.
More Than a Northeast Asia Shift, the Key Story Was Japan’s Lead and China’s Slump
It would be misleading to characterize the first-half 2023 aviation market simply as a broad-based expansion across Northeast Asia. While Japan routes recovered rapidly, China routes remained at just one-fifth of their 2019 level.
The defining feature of the market was therefore not broad growth across Northeast Asian routes, but a regional imbalance in which demand concentrated on Japan routes while China’s recovery lagged. Passenger traffic on routes to the Middle East and Africa exceeded first-half 2019 levels, while routes to the Americas recovered to about 99% of their 2019 level, underscoring the divergent regional trends.
Regional Airport Expansion and Airline Strategy
In April 2023, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it would support efforts to attract charter flights to regional international airports, including Gimhae, Daegu, Muan, Cheongju and Yangyang, as part of a plan to restore international operations to 90% of pre-pandemic levels.
Expanding international services at regional airports can help ease congestion at airports in the greater Seoul area and make overseas travel more convenient for residents outside the capital region. But launching routes alone does not guarantee sustainable demand, so airlines and local governments must consider service frequency, tourism demand and airport access together.
Route Diversification Is the Next Challenge
The aviation industry needs a strategy that maintains the recovery of short-haul routes such as Japan while gradually reviving demand for China and long-haul destinations. If demand becomes concentrated in a particular country or region, performance can become highly vulnerable to external factors such as exchange rates, diplomatic relations and public-health policies.
International passenger figures for the first half of 2023 showed that air travel demand was recovering, but also highlighted significant differences in the pace of recovery across regions. The next phase of normalization will depend on how effectively demand can be spread beyond the Japan-led short-haul rebound to China, Europe and other long-haul markets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. How many international passengers traveled in the first half of 2023?
A. A total of 29,506,492 international passengers used South Korean airports from January through June 2023.
Q. Did international passenger traffic exceed pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2023?
A. No. Traffic recovered to 64.8% of the first-half 2019 level and had not fully surpassed pre-pandemic performance.
Q. Which international routes recovered the fastest?
A. Japan routes posted the strongest recovery. Traffic reached about 76% of the first-half 2019 level, one of the highest recovery rates among major regions.
Q. Why did China routes recover more slowly?
A. Demand from Chinese tour groups and route capacity recovered more slowly than elsewhere. Passenger traffic on South Korea–China routes remained at about 21% of the level recorded during the same period in 2019.
Q. Why is expanding international services at regional airports significant?
A. Expanding international services at regional airports such as Gimhae, Daegu, Cheongju and Muan can make overseas travel more convenient for local residents and help reduce the concentration of traffic at airports in the greater Seoul area.
