Prestige and perks: Why young Koreans are aspiring to become flight attendants

"Heart Signal 4" participant Kim Ji-young, a flight attendant / Screen capture from online community

Choi Hyun-ji, 25, believes that the best parts about being a flight attendant are “meeting diverse people and having the opportunity to travel to so many different places around the world.”

Choi, a former Qatar Airways crew member, has been to 42 countries, logging 2,432 flight hours. She has forged long-lasting friendships with people all over the world, from Qatar to the United States.

Although being a flight attendant has many positive sides, Choi doesn’t hide the negatives. “The most difficult part of being a flight attendant is maintaining a balanced lifestyle because of the time differences and irregular working hours,” she told The Korea Times.

These working experiences are well-documented in today’s age of social media, with videos and posts of flight attendants and their daily lives racking up millions of views across different platforms.

In Korea, many flight attendants boast a large following as they not only share their life in the sky, but also double as models and influencers. This has led to nationwide fascination with the profession, with many young Korean women curious about the process of becoming a flight attendant.

The profession, long associated with elegance, travel and prestige, continues to attract thousands of applicants every year. Exact application figures and acceptance rates are not revealed by Korean Air, but estimates on online communities say that roughly 17,000 people applied for the flight attendant position in 2010, yet fewer than 150 were hired — an acceptance rate of under 1 percent.

As interest has grown, online job-searching companies estimate that today’s applicant pool could be as high as 20,000. Many compare the difficulty of getting hired to passing a K-pop trainee audition, underscoring the job’s idealized view among young Koreans.

Korean Air, considered one of the world’s leading airlines for cabin service, remains the top choice among aspiring flight attendants.

Instagram content about flight attendants / Screen capture from Instagram

What draws young Koreans to the profession

Despite long working hours and limited rest, the job remains popular. Flight attendants not only have the opportunity to travel the world, but often earn more than the average office employee while working fewer hours.

As of 2025, Korea’s minimum wage stands at 10,030 won per hour ($7.40). Exact numbers are not provided by the airlines, but online sources claim that Korean Air interns and first-year flight attendants get around $25,000 a year, while seniors get paid up to $55,000 a year. Alongside the higher pay, many flight attendants enjoy additional benefits.

Choi recounted that airline employees receive discounted tickets for family and friends, free housing and transportation. Being a flight attendant also gave her the freedom to travel to different destinations during her days off.

Influencers and celebrities who previously worked as crew members helped the profession gain popularity by placing it under a spotlight.

Park Hyun-ji, a flight attendant who starred in Season 4 of the popular dating show “EXchange” (also known as “Transit Love”), was told by fellow cast members that the second they saw her, they knew which job she had. When it was her turn to reveal her job, the female participants said “flight attendant” in unison. Her height, demeanor and physical appearance had given her away.

Kim Ji-young, who worked as a flight attendant for seven years, first rose to fame on the dating show “Heart Signal 4” in 2023. Kim is now working as a model and influencer, even hosting a small radio show segment on SBS Power FM.

Additionally, actor Pyo Ye-jin, who starred in shows like “Taxi Driver” (2021) and “Dreaming of a Freaking Fairy Tale” (2024), gained fame for her background as a flight attendant.

The online presence of former cabin crew who later became celebrities and influencers has offered the general public a glamorized look into the lifestyle.

"EXchange 4" participant Park Hyun-ji / Courtesy of TVING

Beauty, poise, manners

In Korea, flight attendants are often associated with beauty, poise and refined manners — traits that complement the country’s deeply entrenched beauty standards.

Korean Air, which many aspiring flight attendants aim to work for, is known for its rigorous training, job competitiveness and polished image, requiring applicants to meet high standards.

The Korean flag carrier was named one of the world’s top three airlines in the 2025 USA Today 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards, gaining praise for its business cabin and in-flight services. It also received accolades for Best Cabin Crew, ranking third in the world.

Hwang Ji-yeong, 24, currently a member of the Emirates cabin crew, noted that most airlines consider height an important requirement for safety and service duties because crew members must be able to reach the overhead bins.

While beauty is not an official requirement, it remains an unspoken factor for Korean Air applicants. According to Choi, Korean Air “usually prefers someone with a clean and friendly impression. Interviewers focus heavily on a bright smile, clear skin, balanced features and a neat, professional image.”

“Appearance isn’t completely ignored,” Choi said. “However, I do think that Asian airlines — such as Korean, Singaporean, Japanese and Middle Eastern airlines — tend to consider facial features more compared to European or American airlines.”

This beauty standard has led some aspiring flight attendants to even get plastic surgery. Many beauty clinics in Korea now have special packages specifically for flight attendants.

Flight attendants at Korean Air also have established guidelines when it comes to speaking, emphasizing speech and tone. Cabin crew are expected to have a soothing and calm voice when serving customers.

“According to my colleagues at Korean airlines, the atmosphere tends to be more professional and somewhat strict,” Choi said. “Seniority must be followed, and Korean airlines maintain a specific tone and style when speaking to passengers.”

Flight attendant academy training / Courtesy of Orda Crew Academy

What it takes to become a flight attendant

Applicants must meet strict vision standards of at least 1.0. English proficiency tests such as OPIc and TOEIC are mandatory, and all candidates must pass medical and physical exams, including a swimming test to demonstrate emergency preparedness.

The recruitment process involves document screening and multiple interview rounds. As a result, applicants place great importance on their resumes, focusing not only on job qualifications but also on the photo submitted with the application.

In the past, students from various academic backgrounds could apply without extensive preparation. However, as competition has intensified, many now attend flight attendant academies.

Choi recalled that her academy had about 10 to 15 adult students in one class, with even more enrolled in entrance exam preparation programs.

Flight academies have different programs, with varying costs and durations. Due to confidentiality, these academies do not provide public information regarding their prices. Various online communities note that some academies offer six-month courses ranging between $2,000 and $4,000. Other academies allow monthly payments starting at $800.

These academies offer a wide range of training that prepares applicants for both the hiring process and the demands of the job. Students receive instruction in English, posture, speech, customer service and safety procedures. Many academies conduct simulated cabin service sessions and also require swimming practice and first aid training to meet emergency standards.

In addition, grooming and makeup classes help candidates match each airline’s preferred image, while interview coaching and application support guide students through the competitive recruitment cycle.

Hwang’s academy provided “interview preparation classes, including English interview practice, role-playing and image training.”

Composite photo of K-pop group SATURDAY member Yuki posing in front of a Korean Air poster and her acceptance certificate to Inha Technical College department of aviation operations. Courtesy of Yuki's Instagram

The intense competition is further amplified by Korea’s tight job market. Youth employment has reached its lowest level in 12 years, pushing many aspiring flight attendants to enter specialized university programs in flight services. This route allows applicants to gain qualifications while earning a degree, providing a safer path to success. Some choose two-year programs, while others enroll in four-year degrees that come with industry connections and opportunities.

According to Air Premia, its July 2024 recruitment period attracted around 6,200 applicants, with an acceptance rate of 1 in 62. With Korean Air and Asiana Airlines scheduled to finalize their merger this year, it is expected that the competition will become even fiercer.

Koreans who dream of becoming flight attendants invest far more than $4,000 in rigorous training and beyond, to meet the high standards of the profession. But despite the job’s grueling nature and difficult requirements, its glamorous image and perceived social prestige has led to renewed interest, as young Koreans pursue less traditional career paths in hopes of finding success.

Kim Sur-hyun is a Korea Times intern.