24th Anniversary of Incheon Airport Opening... President Lee Hak-jae: "Soaring as an Aviation AI Innovation Hub"

Annual Capacity of 106 Million Achieved Through Fourth-Phase Expansion
"Leading the Future Airport Paradigm and Strengthening AI Competitiveness"

Incheon International Airport, celebrating its 24th anniversary this year, is preparing to leap forward as an 'Aviation AI Innovation Hub' leading the era of artificial intelligence (AI).

Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, is declaring the 'Aviation AI Innovation Hub Vision' at the '24th Anniversary Ceremony of Incheon Airport Opening' held at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the 28th. 2025.3.28. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

On the afternoon of the 28th, Incheon International Airport Corporation held the 'Incheon Airport 24th Anniversary Ceremony and Aviation AI Innovation Hub Vision Proclamation Ceremony' at the Millennium Hall of Terminal 1.

About 200 attendees, including Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, officials from the corporation and its subsidiaries, resident airport organizations, airlines, and logistics companies, participated in the event. They reviewed major achievements since the opening of Incheon Airport on March 29, 2001, through a special 24th-anniversary commemorative video. The ceremony also included the proclamation of the Aviation AI Innovation Hub vision and an awards ceremony recognizing organizations that contributed to strengthening Incheon Airport's service competitiveness.

Incheon Airport has grown into one of the world's top airports, ranking third globally in both international passengers and international cargo after 24 years since its opening. Additionally, last year, by completing the 4th phase expansion of Terminal 2 (T2), it secured infrastructure capable of accommodating 106 million passengers annually.

To lead the future airport paradigm represented by AI, the corporation proclaimed the 'AI Innovation Hub Vision' on this day. It was judged essential to leap into the 'Incheon Airport 4.0 era,' where new values such as AI technology centered around the airport are created, to gain a competitive edge in the global airport market.

To achieve this vision, the corporation plans to promote the Aviation AI Innovation Hub development project, which includes an aviation AI data center, aviation research and development (R&D), a business center, and attracting global big-tech companies. After reviewing proposals from related companies through a public contest, it plans to recruit actual private operators in the future. The consortium selected as the top proposer includes Seoul National University AI Research Institute, SK Telecom, LG CNS, KAIST Kim Jaechul AI Graduate School, and Samchully Asset Management.

Meanwhile, coinciding with the proclamation ceremony, the corporation launched a pilot service of an autonomous shuttle operating on the 15 km connecting road between Incheon Airport Terminals 1 and 2, in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company. This autonomous shuttle is capable of full autonomous driving, including high-speed driving at 80 km/h. One driver remains on board at all times to operate the vehicle in case of emergencies.

President Lee Hak-jae of the corporation said, "I am grateful for the government’s support, the public’s encouragement, and the hard work of over 94,000 resident airport employees that have helped Incheon Airport grow into a world-class airport in 24 years since its opening." He added, "Going forward, Incheon Airport will accelerate the creation of the aviation AI innovation hub and industrial ecosystem to lead the future airport paradigm and contribute to strengthening the nation’s AI competitiveness."