It’s Not About Pay — Here’s the Real Reason 15,000 South Korea Airport Workers Are on Strike

South Korea’s 15 major airports launched a strike from 12:01 a.m. on Oct 1, involving about 15,000 workers in core roles such as airport maintenance, firefighting, and power supply.

The participation reaches 15,000 people (security personnel not joining), covering key positions in maintenance, firefighting, and power, accounting for over 60% of total manpower.

This strike, initiated by the National Airport Workers’ Union, stems from long-standing grievances over manpower shortages, unfair shifts, and wage disparities.

The union’s main demands include changing the “three-shift two-rest system” that includes consecutive night shifts to a “four-shift two-rest system,” supplementing manpower and shortening hours, improving unfair contract structures between parent and subsidiary companies, and abolishing arbitrary practices like bid success rate systems and manpower cost refunds.

The union states that negotiating only with subsidiaries has limitations and demands direct involvement from the Korea Airports Corporation as the contract principal.

The strike coincides with the Chuseok holiday and consecutive vacations, with expected widespread impacts. The union vows to continue actions without a set end date until demands are addressed and insists on direct negotiations with the Korea Airports Corporation.

According to the Incheon International Airport Corporation’s forecast, from Oct 2 to 12 over 11 days, 2.453 million passengers will use Incheon Airport, averaging 223,000 per day.

Strike Background Issues

1. Chronic Manpower Shortages Lead to Overwork and Frequent Safety Incidents
   Airport workers have long faced severe manpower shortages and excessive workloads, especially night shifts and high-intensity rotations, increasing workplace safety risks.
   Multiple work-related fatalities have occurred this year, with the union criticizing Incheon Airport as a “death workplace where workers die one after another”.
   Media compilations show 7 Korean airport worker deaths this year alone, including a 20-something subsidiary worker falling to death during a night shift (March 15), a subsidiary worker collapsing from cerebral hemorrhage during night commute (March 20), and a cargo warehouse worker dying on duty (Aug 6).
2. Unfair Shift System Leaves Frontline Workers Exhausted Subsidiary workers still endure the high-load “three-shift two-rotation system,” often forced into consecutive night shifts.
   Without shift replacements, even exhausted workers can’t rest, fearing pay deductions or job loss, causing severe occupational fatigue and safety concerns. The union demands a full switch to the more reasonable “four-shift two-rotation system.”
3. Large Wage Gaps with Unfulfilled Promises Frontline and subsidiary workers’ pay lags far behind regular staff. Despite adjustment promises in 2022 and 2024, substantial improvements are delayed, with the union accusing management of “saying one thing and doing another.”
4. Expansion Adds Burden Without Manpower Boost Incheon’s fourth-phase expansion has increased frontline workloads, but new staffing is delayed. The union argues that as business volume grows, manpower must be added simultaneously to maintain operations and worker rights.
5. Escalating Tensions Between Management and Union Spark Litigation Backlash In August, the union protested outsourcing contract renewals by occupying the Incheon terminal lobby, leading to 20 workers’ unemployment, but faced lawsuits from management for “business obstruction and building trespass”.
   Seen as union suppression, it triggered greater backlash and became a fuse for the strike escalation.

The Incheon Airport Corporation and other operators estimate limited strike impacts. Per regulations, airports must maintain essential staffing even with shortages. For instance, boarding bridge operations directly related to flights require 78% manpower, and security personnel are not striking. The Incheon Airport Corporation has activated contingency systems, enhancing monitoring and deploying replacements, while considering adding security equipment and adjusting outbound hall hours.

Affected Airports List