Most local airports nationwide are mired in chronic deficits, but Daegu Airport and Cheongju Airport posted profits for two straight years in 2024–2025. Among all domestic airports, only Daegu and Cheongju swung to profit in 2024 after being in the red through 2023 and stayed profitable in 2025. Analysts attribute this to a surge in travelers to Japan using the two airports.
◇ Daegu, Cheongju airports become gateways to Japan for residents of Yeongnam and Chungcheong
According to the Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) and others on the 12th, Daegu Airport (operating profit 632 million won) and Cheongju Airport (operating profit 4.518 billion won) posted profits from January to November last year. In 2024 as well, both Daegu Airport (operating profit 2.147 billion won) and Cheongju Airport (5.788 billion won) were in the black.
Previously, the two airports posted deficits in 2023 of 261 million won and 7.136 billion won, respectively. In 2022 as well, they recorded deficits of 12.087 billion won and 12.018 billion won, respectively.
Daegu Airport and Cheongju Airport returned to profit in 2024 and stayed profitable in 2025 thanks to rising international passenger traffic. Daegu Airport's total passengers reached about 3.58 million last year, up 1.2% from the previous year. Domestic passengers fell 2.4%, but international passengers rose 6.4%. Cheongju Airport also saw total passengers increase to 4.67 million from the previous year.
The number of passengers on Japan routes at the two airports rose sharply in particular. Daegu Airport's Japan-route users reached 592,590 last year, up about 17% from 505,975 the previous year. Cheongju Airport's Japan-route users came to 935,425 last year, up about 36% from 687,793 the previous year.
In the airline industry, some say, "If Japan-bound travelers had long crowded into Gimpo and Incheon airports, a recent trend shows dispersion to Daegu and Cheongju airports, centered on residents outside the capital region."
Japan is the most preferred overseas destination for Korea's travelers after China. The number of travelers to Japan has steadily increased, from 19.38 million in 2023 to 25.14 million in 2024 and 27.32 million last year. In particular, over the past two years, many chose Japan over China or Southeast Asia because the weak yen made travel cheaper.
Daegu Airport and Cheongju Airport kept pace with growing demand by expanding routes focused on Japanese small and mid-sized cities. Last year, Cheongju Airport broadened its destinations from its existing focus on Sapporo, Fukuoka, Tokyo (Narita), and Osaka (Kansai) to Hiroshima, Kitakyushu, Kumamoto, Matsuyama, Nagoya, and Okinawa. Daegu Airport also added Toyama last year to its existing Asahikawa, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Osaka, and Tokyo routes. Accessibility improved significantly not only to major Japanese cities but also to regional smaller cities. In addition, Daegu City and Cheongju City helped boost local airports by expanding transit options from train stations to the airports.
◇ Yangyang Airport lost 18.2 billion won last year… total deficits at airports nationwide top 81.7 billion won
According to the Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) and others, among all 14 domestic airports (excluding Muan Airport, which suspended operations), only four—Incheon Airport, Gimpo Airport, Jeju Airport, and Gimhae Airport—were profitable (based on operating profit) in each of the past three years (2023–2025).
The remaining 10 airports were all in the red even in 2023, when the government declared the end of COVID-19. Yangyang Airport (17.639 billion won), Yeosu Airport (15.758 billion won), and Ulsan Airport (15.717 billion won) in particular posted large deficits.
Of these 10, only Daegu Airport and Cheongju Airport turned to profit in 2024. The other eight remained in the red last year (January–November). Deficits at Yangyang Airport (18.235 billion won), Yeosu Airport (15.354 billion won), and Ulsan Airport (15.129 billion won) increased or stayed about the same as two years earlier. Other local airports' deficits ranged from the 4 billion won level to as much as the 12.5 billion won level. The total deficit at airports nationwide last year was tallied at 81.777 billion won.