On October 1, 2025, the airport workers’ union in South Korea initiated an indefinite strike at 15 airports nationwide, demanding improvements in wages, increased vacation time, and better working conditions. The strike comes just before the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday with over 5 million passengers expected to pass through the airports during this time.
Union members at the 15 airports in South Korea began their strike at 6 a.m. on October 1, with demands including salary increases, additional rest days, and a safer working environment.
The workers stated that unless their demands are met, the strike will continue until Friday, October 3, which is South Korea’s National Foundation Day, and will extend throughout the entire Mid-Autumn Festival holiday until October 9, until an agreement is reached with the management.
Data from Incheon International Airport and the Korea Airports Corporation show that during the holiday period, more than 5.26 million passengers are expected to travel through the 15 airports nationwide, with Incheon Airport alone expecting over 2.45 million passengers. The strike could potentially impact flight operations.
The Korea Airports Corporation noted that the workers participating in the strike are mainly responsible for airport facilities maintenance, including runway repairs, firefighting, electrical maintenance, cleaning, luggage cart arrangements, and parking lot management. Security personnel responsible for airport security have not joined the strike, and authorities have mobilized all available resources to minimize inconvenience to passengers, expecting limited impact on flight operations.
The National Solidarity of Airport Workers in South Korea covers around 15,000 employees in the 15 airports nationwide. The union had previously staged a one-day warning strike in September, calling for changing the current three-shift system to a four-shift system and improving the treatment of subcontracted workers.
The Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union (KPTU) also joined the strike on Wednesday, with about 2,300 workers participating.
To expedite outbound passenger procedures, Incheon Airport will increase X-ray inspection equipment at Security Gate 1 in the second terminal and augment the number of security personnel. The opening hours of the departure hall will also be moved up from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m., and airlines will deploy additional counter staff to assist with boarding procedures.
An additional 1,300 parking spaces will be created at the airport, and more late-night bus services will be provided to meet the increased demand. The number of dedicated “Smart Pass” (facial recognition outbound service) channels will be increased from three to five.
Currently, flights by Taiwanese airlines such as China Airlines, EVA Air, and Tigerair have not been affected. However, airlines have stated that they will closely monitor the situation and adjust flight schedules accordingly based on actual circumstances.
Travelers planning to visit South Korea are advised to check their flight status in advance and stay in touch with airlines and travel agencies to receive the latest information.
(This article references reports from the South Korean newspapers “Chosun Ilbo,” the Korea News Agency, and Reuters.)