Chuseok ferry ridership falls below 5-year average, but Baengnyeongdo route bucks trend

Coastal ferry ridership during this year's Chuseok holiday fell 15.6% below the five-year average, though the Baengnyeongdo route ran against the tide — posting an 18.5% increase.

The Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, known as KOMSA, released the findings Wednesday, comparing ferry usage over the five-day special transport period from Sept. 23 to 27 against the Chuseok holidays of 2021 through 2025. To account for differences in holiday length across years, the authority measured the two days before and after Chuseok Day itself in each year.

A total of 315,808 passengers used coastal ferries this year, reaching only 84.4% of the five-year average of 374,278. Vehicle transport also came in below average, with 65,131 vehicles — 88.7% of the five-year mean of 73,389.

While overall ridership declined, some routes told a different story. The Baengnyeongdo route carried 9,490 passengers, up 18.5% from the five-year average. The Geumodo route also outperformed, with 15,326 passengers — 2.4% above its five-year average.

KOMSA said improved access to the five West Sea islands, including Baengnyeongdo, has been driving stronger demand, partly due to Incheon's expansion of ferry fare support. According to Incheon city, visitors to the five West Sea islands last year rose 66% from the previous year.

The timing of peak ridership also shifted this year. Thursday drew the highest single-day count at 75,929 passengers, followed closely by Friday — Chuseok Day itself — with 75,697. In recent years, the day after Chuseok had typically seen the heaviest traffic as holidaymakers returned home, but this year demand was concentrated on the eve of the holiday and the holiday itself.

By vessel type, ro-ro ferries carrying both vehicles and passengers accounted for the largest share at 63.6% of total ridership. Passenger-only ferries followed at 19.6%, car ferries at 14.9% and high-speed car ferries at 2.0%. The breakdown showed little change from the five-year average.

KOMSA plans to use the holiday travel data to improve ferry safety management and passenger information services. The authority currently offers an AI-based service called "Tomorrow's Voyage Forecast Plus," which provides sailing forecasts up to three days ahead, along with real-time vessel locations and terminal congestion updates nationwide.

"Ferry usage patterns vary by season and route, so it is important to analyze the data closely and translate it into practical information for passengers," KOMSA Chairman An Yeong-cheol said. "We will strengthen our data-driven ferry safety and operations information service to deliver the maritime travel information people need in a more timely manner."