Korean Air will expand service between Seoul and Honolulu beginning June 12, adding three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, state tourism officials announced yesterday.

The flights will bring 780 more air seats a week to the islands.

Hawaii Tourism Authority officials said they have been trying to increase demand for Hawaii travel in the growing Korea market.

“;The additional flights come at a time when we are seeing tremendous growth—91 percent for the first quarter of 2010—from the Korea market,”; said Mike McCartney, president and chief executive officer of the tourism authority.

HTA's contractor, Hawaii Tourism Korea, plans a major promotion to draw attention to the Korean Air flights, specifically targeting honeymooners, individual travelers and groups, officials said.

“;With eased restrictions for overseas travel following the visa waiver, there is pent-up demand to travel, and we have beefed up our marketing efforts in South Korea to make sure Hawaii is top of mind as an ideal destination to visit,”; McCartney said.