Flight Disruptions
Government system outage delays 44 flights at South Korea’s airports

Government system outage delays 44 flights at South Korea’s airports

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Checked by Matteo Floris

Last updated on November 4, 2026

Disruption overview

Morning departures across South Korea were disrupted on 3 November 2026 when the Ministry of Justice's passenger verification system failed, leaving airline check-in counters unable to operate normally and delaying 44 of 201 flights. Airlines were instructed to issue tickets manually at 6:20 am, and the ministry said communication response speeds had recovered by 8:25 am; the delay figures included 36 flights delayed by at least 30 minutes and 8 by at least 60 minutes. If you were affected, compensation is unlikely because the outage was outside airline control, but support may still be available depending on your flight and circumstances.

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Disruption details

A Ministry of Justice system outage disrupted morning check-in at airports across South Korea on 3 November 2026, delaying 44 flights. For passengers, this meant a slower start to their journey as airline counters couldn't process check-in normally.

The problem was detected around 6:05 am, when the Incheon Airport Immigration Office and Foreigners Service noticed that passenger ticketing information from airlines had stopped arriving.

The failure affected the ministry's pre-boarding verification system, known as IPC. It receives passenger information from airlines and checks whether a traveler is permitted to depart before a boarding pass is issued. With that connection interrupted, airline check-in counters linked to the system couldn't operate as usual.

At 6:20 am, the immigration office instructed airlines to issue tickets manually. Passenger data started reaching airline systems again at 7:25 am. By 8:25 am, the ministry said communication response speeds with airlines had recovered.

During the outage, 44 of 201 flights were delayed. The figures included 36 flights delayed by 30 minutes or more and 8 delayed by 60 minutes or more.

The ministry described the disruption as being within the normal range. It also said every passenger on the affected flights had completed exit screening before their scheduled departure time, despite the delays to flights.

The ministry linked the outage to increased system load during an additional update of pre-boarding verification data. This followed a storage replacement operation that had been paused for 2 hours from 1:30 am.

The ministry plans to investigate the cause more closely and replace equipment to prevent the same problem from affecting the system again.

If your flight was delayed, compensation is unlikely because the disruption came from a government system outside your airline's control, rather than an airline-controlled issue.

That doesn't mean you're without support. Depending on your flight and the length of your delay, you may have rights to care and assistance, or options for rebooking or a refund. Ask your airline what applies to your journey. You can also use AirHelp's free flight checker to better understand whether compensation could apply to your circumstances.

Know your rights

These are your air passenger rights

When your flight's disrupted, you may be entitled to various forms of care and compensation under EC 261 and other applicable laws.

Rerouting or refund

If your flight is canceled, your airline must provide an alternative. You may also get a full refund if you no longer wish to travel.

Care and assistance

Your airline must provide food and refreshments if your journey is delayed more than a few hours.

Accommodation

If you are away from home and your journey is delayed overnight, the airline must offer you accommodation and transportation to it.

Communication

Under EC 261 you are entitled to 2 phone calls or emails if your journey is delayed over 1 hour. No compensation when a disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances, as this appears to be.

This advice is provided to help you if your flight is delayed or canceled. However, the exact care and compensation you are entitled to will depend on your specific circumstances and flight. Always follow the directions of your airline, particularly with regard to check-in and boarding times.

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Quick facts

Summary

Disruption

Delays

Cause

Other

Status

Past disruption

Compensation

Not eligible for compensation

Flights affected

Countries affected

South Korea

Start date

2026-11-03

End date

2026-11-03

Checked by

Matteo Floris

Date updated

November 4, 2026

What to do if your flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked

If you're traveling to, from, or within the European Union, here's what you should do when you experience a disruption.

Gather evidence that your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked.

Get the airline to provide written confirmation of the disruption and the reason behind it.

Request an alternative flight to your destination — or a refund if you no longer wish to travel.

Make a note of the arrival time at your final destination.

Ask the airline to provide vouchers for meals and refreshments.

Avoid signing documents or accepting offers that may waive your passenger rights.

If an overnight stay is required, ask the airline to provide accommodation.

Save receipts for any additional expenses caused by the disruption.

Information on this page is AI generated, but always checked by a (human) passenger right expert.

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