APEC 2025: South Korea Ops Impact

South Korea is gearing up to host the APEC Leaders Summit in Gyeongju from Oct 31 to 1 Nov 1. Both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to attend, along with leaders from 21 member countries. That means tight security and plenty of disruption at airports across the country from around Oct 25 to Nov 3.

If you’re operating a BizAv flight to Korea during that week, what you can do depends on whether you’re flying with APEC pax or without them. So that means delegates, government officials, or anyone else going to the event. To not make the rest of this article too wordy, we’re going to call these “APEC-related” flights!

If you’re APEC-related

Your life will be easier, but still tightly controlled.

RKSI/Incheon: The main international gateway and the primary arrival point for heads of state. Only APEC-related flights will be allowed to park or operate here until Nov 3. Expect strict ramp control and ground handling reserved for official delegation movements.
RKTN/Daegu and RKTH/Pohang: Both near Gyeongju and being used as APEC support airports. Only APEC-related flights will be allowed in here during this period, but only for quick turns. Parking is limited to about an hour and a half, with no overnights. RKTH/Pohang is a domestic airport but will open to international flights between Oct 25 – Nov 1.

If you’re not APEC-related

For regular BizAv flights, options are limited.

RKSS/Gimpo: This is your best shot. It’s open for everyone – regular BizAv, diplomatic, APEC-related and non-APEC related, though ramp space is scarce. Parking is capped at five days, and slot requests should be made early. Expect congestion.
RKPK/Busan: A confusing one! It’s only available to diplomatic flights from Oct 27 – Nov 2. So that’s only the highest tier of APEC-related flights, we’re guessing. PPR is also required, as RKPK is a military airport.
RKPU/Ulsan: Domestic only, not available for APEC flights, and parking suspended.

As of now, there are no SUPs, AICs, or Notams published setting out these restrictions. Expect last-minute Notams later this week once security plans are finalised.

If you’re carrying APEC pax, expect strict time limits at RKTN/Daegu or RKTH/Pohang. If you’re flying a regular BizAv flight into South Korea, plan on using RKSS/Gimpo and book now! RKSI/Incheon and the nearby regional airports will be off-limits for you.

A high-security, high-traffic week is coming – plan accordingly and keep checking for updates! And if you need help with handling at any of these airports during this period, we recommend getting in touch with Nexus Jet Support at support@nexusjet.net.

APEC 2025: South Korea Ops Impact