Korean Air History

Korean Air grew from a small, struggling national airline into one of Asia's major carriers, and in 2024 it brought rival Asiana into its group. Here's a short history of Korean Air, plus the Korean Air collection that celebrates it.

Korean National Airlines (1946-1968)

Korean Air traces its roots to Korean National Airlines, founded in 1946 by Captain Shin Yong-wook. Its first official passenger flight ran from Seoul to Busan on 30 October 1948. The young airline flew small aircraft such as the Stinson Voyager, and by 1957 it had a weekly DC-4 service to Hong Kong. In 1962 the government took over the company and renamed it Korean Air Lines.

The Hanjin era begins (1969-1983)

The state-run airline struggled to stay afloat. On 1 March 1969, the Hanjin Group, founded by Cho Choong-hoon, took over Korean Air Lines. Growth came quickly. In 1973 the airline put its first Boeing 747s on trans-Pacific routes. The same year it began its first regular service to Europe, a cargo flight to Paris.

A new name and look (1984-2023)

On 1 March 1984 the airline became Korean Air and introduced a new livery and the Taegeuk symbol. In 2000 Korean Air was a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance. The Airbus A380 joined the fleet in 2011.

One group with Asiana (2024-today)

On 12 December 2024 Korean Air completed its purchase of a 63.88% stake in Asiana Airlines. On 11 March 2025 it unveiled its first major rebrand since 1984, created with the design firm Lippincott. The new livery uses metallic sky-blue paint with a modernised deep-blue Taegeuk, and a smooth curve replaces the old cheatline. It debuted on Boeing 787-10 HL8515, which entered service on 12 March 2025 between Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Narita.

A few things collectors love

• The Taegeuk symbol, introduced in 1984, became a recognised emblem of both the airline and the country.
• Korean Air's first 747 went straight into service on a Seoul to Los Angeles cargo route in 1973.
• The 2025 rebrand gave the "Korean Air" logotype brushstroke-inspired details and enlarged the word "Korean" on the fuselage.

Shop Korean Air

Browse Korean Air logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Korean Air collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for a gift any Korean Air fan will enjoy.

AirlineEmployeeShop.com is an independent retailer of airline memorabilia. This page is for historical interest and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Korean Air.