Bilateral Agreement Between South Korea and China Regarding the Expansion of Aviation Traffic Rights.

韓國與中國關於擴展航空運權的雙邊協議

Jun 4, 2026, 02:16
AsiaInternational

Introduction

South Korea and China have concluded an agreement to increase the frequency of weekly passenger and cargo flights between their respective territories.

韓國與中國已達成協議，增加兩地之間每週客運與貨運航班的班次。

Main Body

The current rapprochement in bilateral relations is evidenced by the outcome of aviation negotiations conducted in Seoul from May 27 to 28. This agreement represents the first expansion of traffic rights between the two nations since 2019. Specifically, the quota for passenger flights has been augmented by 56 weekly rotations, elevating the total from 608 to 664. Simultaneously, cargo flight allocations have increased by 14 weekly rotations, rising from 54 to 68.

目前的雙邊關係緩和，可由 5 月 27 日至 28 日在首爾舉行的航空談判結果中得到體現。此次協議代表了兩國自 2019 年以來首次擴展運權。具體而言，客運航班配額增加了每週 56 班，使總數從 608 班提升至 664 班。同時，貨運航班配額增加了每週 14 班，從 54 班上升至 68 班。

This institutional adjustment is predicated on the saturation of existing rights on high-demand corridors, notably those connecting Incheon to Shanghai and Guangzhou. Furthermore, the agreement facilitates the extension of services from regional South Korean hubs, such as Cheongju and Busan, to ten Chinese urban centers, including Chongqing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Xian.

此次制度調整是基於高需求航線（尤其是連接仁川與上海、廣州的航線）的運權已達飽和。此外，該協議促進了從韓國地區樞紐（如清州和釜山）前往中國 10 個城市（包括重慶、深圳、成都和西安）的服務延伸。

Quantitative data provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport indicates that first-quarter passenger traffic reached approximately 4.39 million, thereby surpassing the pre-pandemic benchmark of 4.14 million. Consequently, the South Korean administration intends to distribute these newly acquired rights to domestic carriers during the second half of the current calendar year.

國土交通部提供的量化數據顯示，第一季客運流量達到約 439 萬人次，超過了疫情前 414 萬人次的基準。因此，韓國政府計劃在今年下半年將這些新獲得的運權分配給國內航空公司。

Conclusion

The two nations have increased their weekly flight capacities to accommodate rising passenger and cargo volumes.

兩國增加了每週航班容量，以因應上升的客運與貨運量。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of 'Institutional Nominalization'

To move from B2 to C2, a student must shift from describing actions to conceptualizing states. The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs (actions) into nouns (concepts) to achieve a high-density, objective academic register.

◤ The Linguistic Pivot: Action →\rightarrow Concept

Observe how the text avoids simple active sentences in favor of conceptual anchors. A B2 learner describes a process; a C2 writer describes an institutional framework.

B2 Approach (Action-Oriented)C2 Approach (Nominalized)
The two countries are getting closer again.The current rapprochement...
This happened because they negotiated....evidenced by the outcome of aviation negotiations.
This change is based on the fact that...This institutional adjustment is predicated on...

◤ Analytical Deep Dive: "Predicated on"

The phrase "This institutional adjustment is predicated on the saturation of..." is the pedagogical heart of this text.

  1. Lexical Precision: Instead of using 'based on' (B2), the author uses 'predicated on'. In C2 English, predicated implies a logical or formal foundation upon which a subsequent action depends. It transforms a cause-effect relationship into a structural requirement.
  2. Noun Stringing: "Institutional adjustment" and "saturation of existing rights" remove the need for subjects and verbs, allowing the writer to pack maximum information into a minimal space. This is the hallmark of diplomatic and legal prose.

◤ Syntactic Sophistication: The 'Resultative' Transition

Note the use of "thereby surpassing".

*"...reached approximately 4.39 million, thereby surpassing the pre-pandemic benchmark..."

Rather than starting a new sentence with 'As a result', the C2 writer uses a participial phrase starting with an adverb (thereby). This creates a fluid, unbroken logical chain that signals a high level of syntactic control, bridging the gap between raw data and analytical conclusion.

Vocabulary Learning

bilateral (adj.)
involving two parties or sides
Example:The bilateral trade agreement was signed by representatives from both countries.
rapprochement (n.)
a friendly or cooperative relationship between two previously hostile parties
Example:The rapprochement between the two nations was evident in the new diplomatic talks.
saturation (n.)
the state of being fully occupied or filled to capacity
Example:The market reached saturation, leaving little room for new entrants.
high-demand (adj.)
experiencing a high level of demand or desire
Example:The high-demand routes between the capitals were prioritized for expansion.
augmented (v.)
increased or made larger
Example:The airline augmented its weekly rotations to accommodate more passengers.
allocations (n.)
the distribution or assignment of resources
Example:The new allocations of flight slots were announced by the aviation authority.
rotations (n.)
repeated cycles or turns
Example:The schedule included 56 weekly rotations for passenger flights.
concurrently (adv.)
at the same time or simultaneously
Example:The cargo and passenger services were expanded concurrently.
facilitates (v.)
makes an action easier or smoother
Example:The agreement facilitates the extension of services to new urban centers.
benchmark (n.)
a standard or point of reference for comparison
Example:The pre-pandemic benchmark was surpassed by the new traffic volumes.
outcome (n.)
the result or consequence of an action
Example:The outcome of the negotiations was a significant increase in flight frequencies.
negotiations (n.)
discussions aimed at reaching an agreement
Example:The negotiations were conducted over two days in Seoul.
territories (n.)
geographic areas under jurisdiction
Example:The agreement covers flights between the territories of both nations.
expansion (n.)
the act of increasing in size or scope
Example:The expansion of traffic rights was the main goal of the treaty.
frequency (n.)
how often something occurs
Example:The frequency of weekly flights has risen after the new accord.
quota (n.)
a fixed share or portion allotted
Example:The passenger flight quota was increased by 56 rotations.
carrier (n.)
an entity that transports goods or passengers
Example:Domestic carriers will receive the newly acquired rights.
capacity (n.)
the maximum amount that can be contained or handled
Example:The airline’s capacity was expanded to meet rising demand.
volumes (n.)
quantities or amounts, especially of goods
Example:Passenger and cargo volumes increased significantly after the agreement.
pre-pandemic (adj.)
before the outbreak of a pandemic
Example:The pre-pandemic benchmark was set at 4.14 million passengers.
administration (n.)
the management or governing body
Example:The South Korean administration will distribute the new rights.
domestic (adj.)
pertaining to one's own country
Example:Domestic carriers are the primary beneficiaries of the new rights.
consequently (adv.)
as a result; therefore
Example:Consequently, the airline increased its flight frequencies.
Practice C2 words in a crossword→