Korea Pushes Regional Airports to Spread Tourism Beyond Seoul

South Korea is investing in regional airports like Cheongju and Daegu to shift international tourism away from Seoul and Incheon. The strategy is working—Cheongju Airport saw over 50,000 foreign arrivals in just five months, up 114% from last year, driven largely by chartered flights. The government aims for 30 million annual foreign visitors with regional tourism as a major growth pillar.