Seasonal direct flights by Asiana to boost business links between Victoria and South Korea
In February 2024, Asiana Airlines announced the return of seasonal flights between Melbourne and Seoul (Incheon International Airport), operating four times a week between 2 July and 2 September 2024.
The announcement comes amid a three-month trial of twice-weekly direct flights from 26 December 2023 to 29 February 2024. This is the second successful seasonal trial that Asiana has operated between Melbourne and Seoul.
The seasonal direct flights, using a newly procured Airbus 350, demonstrate the increasing importance of business links between Victoria and South Korea, particularly following the success of Hanwha Defense Australia in securing the tenders for the Land 8116, and more recently, the Land 400 Phase 3, Commonwealth defence projects. Another recent success by a Korean chaebol in Victoria was Lotte winning the contract to manage Melbourne Airport’s duty-free business in June 2023.
Victorian businesses are also increasingly interested in exporting to South Korea in a range of sectors from traditional trade areas such as food and beverages to newer areas including defence, gaming and e‑sports. In November 2023, four Victorian businesses participated in G-STAR (November 2023), South Korea's largest annual gaming trade show in Busan. In the defence sector, four companies exhibited at the Australian stand at ADEX (October 2023), a major aerospace and defence exhibition in Seoul.
Victoria’s food industry would be a major beneficiary of ongoing direct flights given the strong interest from the Korean market in Victorian seasonal produce. Leveraging this interest, Global Victoria is supporting Victorian companies to exhibit at Seoul Food and Hotel (June 2024), a food and hospitality trade show.
There is also an opportunity to strengthen sporting connections between Melbourne and Seoul. Senior level representation from South Korea is expected at the leading sport summit in the Asia-Pacific region, SportNXT (March 2024), being held in partnership with the Victorian Government in Melbourne. Furthermore, the Korean Eagles baseball team is using Victoria as its summer training base.
The flights will also benefit international education links, with Global Victoria facilitating eight inbound delegations to university and vocational education and training partners in January 2024 alone. These short-term study programs were delivered by RMIT University, Victoria University, Swinburne University, and Box Hill Institute with three student groups travelling on Asiana direct flights.
Activities on the horizon
- Inbound delegation from Korea to SportNXT (March 2024), the leading sport summit in the Asia-Pacific region held in Melbourne
- Trade mission to BioKorea (May 2024), a major bio and life sciences trade show in Seoul
- Attendance at Study in Australia Fair Seoul (May 2024), an education fair promoting universities, VET and other institutions in Australia
- Trade mission to Seoul Food and Hotel (June 2024), a food and beverages trade show.