Over 10m people travel between S. Korea, Japan in first 5 months in 2025
More than 10 million air passengers traveled on routes between South Korea and Japan in the January–May period, despite the strengthening yen, the transport ministry said Sunday.
A record 11.25 million passengers flew between South Korea and Japan during the first five months of the year, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a press release.
The figure represents a 10.7 percent increase from the 10.16 million recorded during the same period last year and a 19.8 percent rise from the 9.39 million in the first five months of 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the airline industry.
Industry officials said that years of a weak yen and the expansion of budget carrier flights to Japan have helped stimulate pent-up travel demand in recent years.
They expect demand to continue rising in the second half, with the number of air traffic between the two countries likely to exceed last year's total of 25.14 million. (Yonhap)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
6 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Seoul births and marriages increase for 12 months
Childbirths and marriages in Seoul have increased for 12 consecutive months, bucking the national trend as South Korea grapples with one of the world's lowest birth rates. The official figure for newborn babies in Seoul in March reached 3,786, an 8.7 percent increase from the same period a year earlier, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The city government explained that the figure was the highest number of monthly childbirths since March, 2022, when it saw a total of 4,027 babies born. The number of marriages also increased to 3,814, up 20 percent from the same period last year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government added that Seoul has seen a continuous increase in monthly childbirths and marriages for 12 consecutive months since April 2024. This led its fertility rate to stand at 0.65 for the first quarter of this year — an 8.3 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. The city government attributed the rising number of births and marriages to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing support for newborn babies and various measures to reverse the declining birth rate. Since 2023, the city has been offering subsidies for fertility treatment to all couples, who experience infertility, regardless of their income levels. And pregnant women living in Seoul can also receive a 700,000-won ($514) transportation subsidy to cover their taxi, bus and subway fares. While launching a half-price discount mall for child care products, the city government began the country's first housing subsidy program for the childbearing couples without homes in May. The initiative allows the households to receive a monthly support of up to 300,00 won ($220) to cover housing costs for two years. The city government explained that the eligible households are those who gave birth this year, earn no more than 180 percent of the median income, live in a rental housing using a Korean lump-sum 'jeonse' deposit of up to 300 million won or a monthly rent of up to 1.3 million won.
Korea Herald
7 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Over 10m people travel between S. Korea, Japan in first 5 months in 2025
More than 10 million air passengers traveled on routes between South Korea and Japan in the January–May period, despite the strengthening yen, the transport ministry said Sunday. A record 11.25 million passengers flew between South Korea and Japan during the first five months of the year, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a press release. The figure represents a 10.7 percent increase from the 10.16 million recorded during the same period last year and a 19.8 percent rise from the 9.39 million in the first five months of 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the airline industry. Industry officials said that years of a weak yen and the expansion of budget carrier flights to Japan have helped stimulate pent-up travel demand in recent years. They expect demand to continue rising in the second half, with the number of air traffic between the two countries likely to exceed last year's total of 25.14 million. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
Trump says he had 'very good' call with Xi, claims 'very positive' conclusion
US President Donald Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday to discuss trade in what he termed a "very good" call that resulted in a "very positive" conclusion, as tensions between the two countries have risen despite last month's truce in their trade fight. In a social media post, Trump said he had the 90-minute conversation with XI, while announcing that the two countries' respective teams will meet "shortly" at a location to be determined. The call came after Washington and Beijing agreed last month to temporarily reduce tariffs for 90 days. "I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, Trade Deal. The call lasted approximately one and a half hours, and resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products. Our respective teams will be meeting shortly at a location to be determined," he added. In the upcoming talks, the US delegation will be represented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the president said. During the call, Xi invited Trump and first lady Melania Trump to visit China, and Trump reciprocated. "As Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing," he said. "The conversation was focused almost entirely on TRADE. Nothing was discussed concerning Russia/Ukraine, or Iran. We will inform the Media as to scheduling and location of the soon to be meeting. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Under last month's agreement on the 90-day reduction, US tariffs on Chinese goods have been lowered to 30 percent from the current 145 percent, while Chinese tariffs on U.S. exports have been cut to 10 percent from 125 percent. (Yonhap)
