New Direct Incheon-Jeju Flight to Launch... Travel from Incheon Airport to Jeju Without Transiting Through Gimpo Starting Q2

Significant Improvement in Travel Convenience for Foreign Tourists and Jeju Residents
Accelerating Efforts to Attract 6 Million Foreign Tourists

Passenger aircraft landing on the runway at Jeju International Airport. Photo by Changwon Park

The government has decided to establish a new direct Incheon-Jeju flight route starting in the second quarter of this year, allowing foreign tourists and Jeju residents to travel directly without transiting through Gimpo International Airport, following the decision made at the 11th National Tourism Strategy Meeting. Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has welcomed this policy and announced plans to maximize tourist attraction by strengthening cooperation with central government ministries.

According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on February 27, this policy is part of the “Major Shift in Korea-Bound Tourism and Major Leap Forward in Regional Tourism” initiative confirmed at the 11th National Tourism Strategy Meeting presided over by the President on February 25.

The core concept is “Easier Access to Korea, Expansion of Regional Entry,” which involves the phased introduction of transfer flights from Incheon International Airport to regional airports, enabling foreign tourists to travel directly from Incheon to regional destinations. Accordingly, the Jeju route will be implemented in the second quarter of this year, with the Gimhae route to be expanded in the third quarter.

Previously, foreign tourists visiting Jeju, as well as Jeju residents traveling overseas, were inconvenienced by the need to transit through Gimpo International Airport. The launch of the direct Incheon-Jeju route is expected to resolve this issue. It is anticipated that this will greatly improve accessibility, nearly equivalent to adding a new direct international flight connecting foreign airports and Jeju.

In line with the government’s pledge to attract “30 million foreign visitors to Korea,” Jeju has set its own target of attracting six million foreign tourists and has begun implementing related follow-up measures.

To respond to the opening of the new direct route, the province plans to actively coordinate with central government ministries to: ▲secure the maximum number of direct flight slots, ▲strengthen promotion of Jeju tourism within Incheon International Airport, and ▲establish customized promotional strategies targeting route passengers.

Oh Young-hun, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, stated, “We will actively support the government’s policy direction of revitalizing inbound tourism and achieving a major leap in regional tourism,” adding, “We will work closely with the central government to ensure that the new Incheon-Jeju direct route becomes an opportunity for a new leap forward in Jeju tourism.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.