K-food boom powers Incheon Airport’s eateries

Travelers dine at “Culinary Square,” the food court operated by Ourhome in Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport. / Ourhome

The Incheon International Airport is seeing contrasting trends in their various industries. While duty-free shops struggle, the food and beverage outlets are enjoying a boom. This is because airport users have reached an all-time high. Menus building the K-food craze, halal options and anti-aging diets continues to attract domestic and international travelers.

Ourhome, operating food and beverage business at the Incheon International Airport since 2015, saw a 14% airport sales increase in the first half of this year compared to last year. In the airport’s FB3 zone, where Ourhome secured operating rights at the end of 2023, half-year sales for 2025 soared by 110%. Currently, the brand operates 30 food and beverage outlets across Terminals 1 and 2 at Incheon Airport. A company representative said, “To target the growing number of foreign tourists, we plan to open around 10 additional food, beverage, and dessert stores featuring K-food, Asian cuisine, halal options, and more by the end of this year.”

Pulmuone, managing eight lounges and 30 food and convenience facilities at major airports including Incheon Airport. saw its airport sales rise 31% in the first half of this year. It was more than the previous year, and recovered to pre-COVID levels. At the Incheon Airport lounges, Pulmuone runs a “Bean Bar,” which includes plant-based ingredients like tofu kimchi, natto, and soy milk. The recently added a “slow-aging zone” in Terminal 2, where visitors can enjoy anti-aging meals and salads.

SPC Group’s airport performance is reflecting a positive trend as well. Since entering the Incheon Airport in 2007, SPC has operated 41 stores of its affiliated brands—including Paris Baguette, Baskin-Robbins, and Shake Shack—across Terminals 1 and 2.

CJ Freshway saw its food and beverage consignment sales at Incheon Airport rise 22% in the second quarter—it opened this year. The company launched its premium food court, “Gourmet Bridge,” in Terminal 2 in January and opened another location in Terminal 1 at the end of last month. In addition to standard food court offerings, they sell menus reflecting the K-food craze, such as sweet spicy chicken snacks, dried pollack ramen with fried dumplings, and Seoul bulgogi (marinated beef) burgers. A company representative said, “Thanks to the K-food boom, foreign tourists are enjoying more Korean food. We plan to open two more stores at Incheon Airport and introduce a variety of Korean dishes.” An industry insider noted, “Airports, recently, have shown a steady travel demand year-round, making them a stable source of revenue.”