COVID-19 concerns have suspended all international flights departing from and arriving to the island.
There are no scheduled international flights until the end of this month, except for a single flight which is returning illegal immigrants voluntarily to China.
As the number of international visitors plunge, duty free businesses are being hit hard.
Mike Laidman reports.

Jeju’s usually bustling international airport is ghostly quiet, due to the fact that it’s so empty. The main halls lie quiet, and most check-in counters are deserted.

Fear of COVID-19 has suspended all international flights departing from and arriving to Jeju Island.

Routes between Jeju and Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia have all been closed for the first time in 51 years.

However, a single flight linking the island with China is planned. Most of the passengers will be illegal Chinese immigrants who are voluntarily leaving the island.

Terminals all around the airport are mostly empty, and very quiet - a far cry from the usual situation at this time of year.



As the number of international visitors plummets, duty-free businesses are taking huge hits, with many of them simply empty.



According to the duty-free industry, sales were down a staggering 50% in February compared with a month before.

With international flights not expected to resume until the end of this month, it is likely that the economic shock from COVID-19 will stick around for some time more.

Mike Laidman, KCTV