Passenger traffic at Incheon International Airport reached over 74 million in 2025, driven by increased flights to and from Japan and China. This marked the highest annual figure since the airport’s establishment in 2001. The total number of passengers rose by 4.1% from the previous year’s 71.15 million.
Travel demand to Northeast Asian countries notably increased due to extended Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, China’s temporary visa waiver program, and the weakened won currency. Southeast Asia accounted for 26.7% of passenger traffic, followed by Japan at 25.1% and China at 16.7%. The share of Southeast Asian routes decreased from the previous year, partly due to safety concerns following an incident in Cambodia.
Overall freight volumes at the airport increased by 0.3% to 2.95 million tons, supported by the rise in belly cargo transportation. In the upcoming year, Incheon International Airport Corp. anticipates a 2 to 6% growth in passenger traffic, estimating figures between 75.54 million and 78.55 million.
The remains of a South Korean university student, allegedly tortured to death in Cambodia, were repatriated after 74 days. The student, named Park, was brought back to South Korea on a Korean Air flight following a joint autopsy conducted by South Korean and Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh.
