Severe weather forces cancellations or delays to hundreds of flights at South Korea's Jeju Airport on Sunday and Monday. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Thousands of Chinese tourists stranded for days because of heavy snow at South Korea's Jeju airport have finally set out for home.

Severe weather forced cancellations or delays to hundreds of flights at the Airport on Sunday and Monday.

Sun Liming, officer of the Chinese Consulate General in Jeju, says most of the trapped Chinese passengers have now departed.

"5000 Chinese people stuck in the airport left Jeju on Tuesday morning. 48 flights were dispatched by several Chinese airlines. As the airport is getting back to normal and increasing numbers of Chinese flights were sent to Jeju, the stranded passengers basically have departed from the airport."

The delays created a shortage of emergency blankets and a number of passengers had to bunk down on the floor to sleep.

Many Chinese passengers reportedly crowded around airline counters to complain, with one man throwing chairs.

The man is said to have been detained after the airport brawl.

Sun says no Chinese citizens have been arrested by local police.

He says it was chaotic for some at the airport, but the consulate endeavored to assist trapped Chinese tourists.

"There were thousands of Chinese people stuck at the airport and it was a mess in the airport at that time. Later we went to the airport to arrange the passengers and some of them were led back to their buses. Meantime, we also broadcasted in the airport to the visitors, reminding them to keep in order. The effect was good."

Jeju Island is South Korea's southernmost resort.

It has become one of the leading destinations for Chinese tourists in recent years, as Chinese citizens can land on the island without a VISA.