Lunar New Year is a big holiday in South Korea. This year, around 1.34 million are traveling abroad, as the holiday has been extended, for some, to up to 10 days.
Around 1,343,000 people will depart from six international airports—Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, Cheongju, Daegu, and Jeju—between Jan. 24 and Feb. 2, according to the Incheon International Airport Corporation and the Korea Airports Corporation on Jan. 26. This translates to an average of 134,000 outbound passengers per day, a 13.8% increase compared to last year’s Chuseok holiday in September.
The surge in travel is the second highest since 2020, trailing only last year’s Chuseok holiday, which saw an average of 137,000 outbound travelers per day. The number of passengers, including arrivals and departures, at Incheon Airport during this Lunar New Year holiday is expected to reach a record daily average of 214,000.
To accommodate the growing demand for air travel, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport has expanded the total number of flights by 7% during the holiday. Airlines have also added extra flights, including irregular routes to international destinations. Travel agencies have reported a 10% to 30% increase in package deal sales compared to last year.
This year’s Lunar New Year holiday, known as Seol (설) in Korea, has been officially extended to six days after the government designated Monday, Jan. 27, as a public holiday to bridge the weekend and the actual Lunar New Year holiday (Jan. 28-30). Those who decided to take leave on Jan. 24 or Jan. 31 can enjoy a nine-day break through Feb. 2, and those taking both days off can stretch their holiday to 10 days.
