PSA: Major South Korean airlines have officially banned power bank use in-flight

Planning a K-drama marathon on your next flight to Seoul? You might want to make sure your phone is at 100 percent before boarding. Following a string of lithium-ion battery scares, South Korea’s biggest carriers have pulled the plug on the use of portable power banks on flights.

The ban covers all Hanjin Group airlines, including heavyweights Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, plus budget carriers Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul. South Korea’s Jeju Air has also followed suit as of January 22.

The new safety rules are strict. You can still carry your power bank in the cabin, but it must stay unplugged. To be specific, you cannot charge your phone or laptop using a portable charger, you cannot plug the battery itself into the plane's USB ports, and you must keep your batteries in your seat pocket or under the seat – stashing them in the overhead bin is now a no-go.

This isn't just Korea being cautious. These carriers are joining the likes of Scoot, Thai Airways, and China Airlines, who all implemented similar "no-charge" policies in 2025. The crackdown follows some serious close calls, including an Air Busan fire last January that resulted in a plane being written off at Gimhae International Airport.

Bottom line? Pack a wall charger for the airport lounge, because once you’re in the air, that power bank is essentially a paperweight.

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