Heavy snow and fierce winds turned Jeju International Airport into a scene of travel chaos in early February 2026, with more than 160 flights canceled and an estimated 11,000 passengers stranded on South Korea’s most popular resort island. For travelers planning a winter trip to Jeju or elsewhere in the country, the disruption is a stark reminder that South Korea’s winters can be both beautiful and brutal, and that even a well-run airport network can grind to a halt when conditions deteriorate. Here is what happened, why Jeju is so vulnerable to winter disruption, and what you should know before you book that off-season escape.
What Happened: Inside the Jeju Snowstorm Disruption
On February 8, 2026, heavy snowfall and strong crosswinds forced Jeju International Airport to suspend runway operations until late morning, effectively shutting down the island’s air bridge to the mainland. Airport officials reported that out of 461 scheduled flights that day, 163 inbound and outbound services were canceled outright and several others were diverted to alternative airports. The result was thousands of travelers stuck in terminal halls, many of them families and tour groups who had counted on Jeju’s usually reliable air links.
Local authorities described whiteout conditions and accumulating snow that outpaced the airport’s ability to keep runways clear. Snow-removal equipment was deployed in shifts, but strong gusts quickly blew fresh snow across cleared surfaces. Even after runway operations resumed around midday, airlines faced a long backlog of aircraft and crews out of position, and flight schedules remained severely disrupted into the evening.
In the terminal, electronic boards filled with rows of red cancellations and long delays. Airport staff and volunteers distributed basic information and tried to keep order as lines lengthened at airline counters. For many visitors, especially those on tight itineraries or connecting to international flights through Seoul, the halt to operations meant missed connections, extra hotel nights, and a scramble to rebook at short notice.
While the February 2026 snowstorm grabbed headlines, it was not an isolated incident. Over the past three winters, Jeju has seen repeated episodes of flight disruption linked to heavy snow, wind shear, and blizzard conditions, showing that what was once considered unusual weather is now a recurring seasonal risk for travelers.
Jeju’s Growing Winter Weather Problem
Jeju Island markets itself as a mild, year-round destination, but its climate in midwinter can be surprisingly harsh, especially around Hallasan, the towering volcanic peak that dominates the island’s center. Meteorologists reported more than 20 centimeters of fresh snow in higher elevation areas during the February 2026 storm, with dense cloud and gusty winds funneling toward the coastal lowlands and the airport on the island’s north side.
Jeju’s airport sits close to the sea, exposed to sudden shifts in wind direction and speed that can rapidly push conditions beyond safe thresholds for takeoff and landing. When snow is added to the mix, pilots and controllers face a combination of poor visibility, slippery runways, and hazardous crosswinds. Safety protocols demand that operations be suspended in such circumstances, even if it means large-scale cancellations.
Recent winters underscore that these events are no longer rare spikes. In January 2024, nearly 350 flights at Jeju were canceled in a single day because of heavy snow and strong winds, affecting around 20,000 passengers. The following winter saw more of the same: in early 2025, snowstorms and blizzards again prompted mass cancellations, with some reports estimating 15,000 to 20,000 travelers stranded at various points as airlines such as Korean Air temporarily halted entire blocks of flights from Jeju.
For visitors, the broader trend matters more than the exact statistics. The pattern is clear: from December through February, particularly during cold snaps that sweep down the peninsula, Jeju’s gateway airport is increasingly prone to weather-related shutdowns. A winter trip may bring discounted hotels and fewer crowds on the coastal trails, but it also carries a real risk of sudden, extended delays.
How Authorities and Airlines Responded on the Ground
As the February 2026 snowstorm intensified, Jeju’s airport operator and provincial authorities activated contingency plans designed for mass disruption. Stockpiles of emergency supplies were readied, including several thousand blankets and more than a thousand mattresses, along with bottled water and basic necessities that could be distributed to travelers forced to spend the night in the terminal. Local government stores held additional bedding to bolster the airport’s own supplies if needed.
Airlines simultaneously scrambled to adjust their operations once runway conditions began to improve. To reduce the backlog, Jeju Airport announced plans to operate a set of extra flights on the afternoon and evening of February 8, including additional services by major carriers and low-cost airlines. Some evening flights bound for Seoul’s smaller Gimpo Airport were rerouted to Incheon instead in order to bypass Gimpo’s night curfew, a reminder that constraints at one airport can ripple into decisions across the wider network.
Authorities also considered the knock-on effect of thousands of unscheduled overnight stays. While not all stranded travelers had to remain at the airport, local tourism officials coordinated with accommodation providers and transport operators to extend bus and taxi services and to help visitors find rooms at short notice. Similar measures had been implemented during previous winter disruptions, including the deployment of charter buses, the extension of terminal heating operations, and the posting of additional security and information staff.
For travelers watching from afar, the response may seem chaotic, but in the context of a rapidly evolving weather emergency, Jeju’s airport and provincial agencies now follow a more practiced playbook. That said, the support available still has limits. Bedding and snacks can ease the discomfort of a night on the terminal floor, but they are no substitute for a guaranteed seat on the next plane. Travelers who arrive without contingency plans often find themselves at the mercy of airline rebooking systems and variable hotel availability.
Beyond Jeju: How Winter Weather Disrupts Air Travel Across South Korea
Although Jeju’s airport grabs the most attention when snowstorms hit, winter weather disruptions in South Korea are not confined to the island. Heavy snowfall and high winds periodically affect regional airports across the peninsula, from Busan’s Gimhae International Airport in the southeast to smaller hubs that connect domestic routes. In some recent events, flight cancellations at Jeju were compounded by poor conditions in other cities, narrowing rerouting options and prolonging delays.
South Korea’s aviation network is dense and highly scheduled, with domestic routes linking Jeju to Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and several other cities. When one node in this system goes down, aircraft and crew rotations are thrown off balance, and it can take a full day or longer to restore normal operations. A snowstorm that closes Jeju’s runways, for instance, also prevents aircraft from positioning for later flights elsewhere, making it harder for airlines to add capacity once the weather improves.
Recent winters have also featured other aviation-related incidents, from runway closures due to snow and ice to separate safety investigations that have elevated public awareness of flight risks. While these issues are distinct from weather-driven interruptions, they contribute to a wider sense of fragility in the peak winter period. Travelers are more alert to delays and cancellations, and airlines, regulators, and airport operators face growing pressure to show that they can manage both sudden storms and routine operations without compromising safety.
For visitors planning multi-city itineraries that rely on a sequence of domestic flights, this backdrop matters. A snowstorm in Jeju may not only disrupt your beachside stay but also affect onward connections to the mainland, connecting international departures, or even train journeys if weather affects rail services near coastal or mountainous areas. Building in buffers and understanding your options across different modes of travel has become increasingly important for winter trips.
Planning a Winter Trip to Jeju and South Korea: Timing and Expectations
From a traveler’s perspective, the most critical decision for a winter visit to Jeju or other parts of South Korea is timing. The highest risk of disruptive snow and wind typically falls between late December and late February, with cold waves often peaking in January. Booking during these months may mean lower prices and fewer crowds at major sights, but it also raises the likelihood that at least one leg of your journey will be affected by weather.
If you are eyeing a winter escape, consider building flexibility into your schedule. Avoid scheduling an international long-haul flight on the same day as your planned return from Jeju to Seoul. Instead, give yourself at least one buffer night on the mainland before a major departure. This allows you to absorb a day of cancellations from Jeju without immediately missing a nonrefundable intercontinental flight.
Similarly, plan your Jeju stay with an awareness that extensions are possible. Book hotels and rental cars with cancellation or modification policies that permit changes without large penalties. If you are traveling in a group, coordinate arrival and departure times so that you can respond collectively to disruption instead of being scattered across multiple flights. Families with young children or older travelers may want to avoid the tightest possible connections and choose flights earlier in the day, when there is more time to rebook if something goes wrong.
It is also worth rethinking the imagery of Jeju as purely a summer island. Winter brings striking landscapes, snow-dusted volcanic cones, and fewer tour buses at popular viewpoints. However, it also brings a level of unpredictability that visitors must plan for. Approaching a winter trip with realistic expectations, rather than assuming that blue skies are guaranteed, will make sudden changes feel like an inconvenience rather than a catastrophe.
Practical Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Stranded
While no traveler can control the weather, there are concrete steps you can take to reduce the odds of being stuck at Jeju Airport overnight. The first is to monitor weather forecasts and domestic news in the days leading up to your trip. South Korean media and the national weather agency provide frequent updates on snow warnings, wind advisories, and expected accumulations, particularly around Jeju and Hallasan. If forecasts point to a significant storm, consider moving your flight earlier or later, if your ticket rules permit.
When booking, favor airlines and fare types that offer more generous rebooking options in the event of weather disruption. Many carriers allow fee-free changes when the airline itself cancels or severely delays a flight because of storms, but having a ticket category that is more flexible to begin with makes it easier to adjust proactively before schedules collapse. Check in advance whether your airline’s app or website allows self-service rebooking when flights are disrupted, as queues at physical counters can become very long during major events.
Travel insurance is another tool to consider, but it is important to scrutinize the fine print. Not all policies cover weather-related cancellations, and even those that do may only reimburse specific costs, such as additional nights of accommodation or new flights up to a capped amount. Keep receipts for any extra expenses you incur during a disruption, and document communications with airlines or tour operators, as this can be essential when filing claims.
Finally, think ahead about your personal comfort if stranded. Pack essentials such as prescription medications, a change of clothes, power banks, basic toiletries, and snacks in your carry-on bag rather than checked luggage. While Jeju Airport and local authorities maintain stocks of blankets and mattresses, demand during major disruptions can be high. Having your own warm layers, travel pillow, or eye mask can make an overnight stay on airport seating or the floor significantly more bearable.
What This Means for the Future of Winter Travel to Jeju
The February 2026 snowstorm and the series of similar events in recent years have prompted renewed debate in South Korea about how best to prepare Jeju’s airport and tourism industry for harsher winter realities. Some discussions focus on enhancing snow-removal capacity and refining wind monitoring and runway management systems, while others examine how airlines can adjust their winter schedules to build more resilience into their operations.
For now, however, the responsibility for managing the risks of winter travel to Jeju still falls heavily on individual travelers and tour planners. The island remains a compelling destination in every season, and for many visitors, the off-season charm and lower prices justify the added uncertainty. Yet the images of thousands of passengers sleeping under blankets on the terminal floor highlight a trade-off that should not be ignored when you press the purchase button on a winter ticket.
Looking ahead, travelers can expect that severe weather events will continue to cause periodic, sometimes dramatic, disruption to air travel in South Korea, especially at exposed coastal and island airports like Jeju. Learning from recent winters, from the mass cancellations of 2024 and 2025 to the February 2026 shutdown, is crucial. Building flexibility, staying informed, and having a clear backup plan can turn a potential travel nightmare into a manageable delay.
For your next winter trip to South Korea, the message is not to avoid Jeju or other snow-prone areas altogether, but to travel with eyes open. Respect the power of the weather, give yourself room to adapt, and remember that even in moments of chaos, the systems and people at South Korea’s airports are working to restore order as safely and quickly as possible.