How To Get To Jeju Island in Korea
Seems like everyone made it to Jeju (제주도) at least once last year and with a lot of travel restrictions still in place, it’ll be another summer of trips around Korea. Should you go to Jeju Island? Absolutely. Called the Hawaii of Korea, it’s got the palm trees, the beaches, and plenty to do if you want but also plenty of natural scenery for relaxing.
Planning a trip to Jeju Island can be a bit overwhelming if you’ve never been, but it’s actually super easy to make the trip. I’ve already got a guide for where to stay on Jeju Island that you should use for that part of planning, but for this post, it’s all about how to get to Jeju. You can fly for quick access, but you could also take a road trip to one of the port cities if you have some extra time and take a ship! The options are there so let’s see what there is to see.
Let’s get you ready to travel to Jeju.
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)
What To Prepare
Whether you’re traveling by plane or ferry, there are a few things you should make sure you’ve prepared for the trip.
- Valid form of identification. If you’re a resident in Korea, you can take your ARC. If not, you can take your passport. Travel to Jeju Island is domestic travel, however you do need some form of ID for check-in procedures whether you’re going by ferry or plane.
Travel By Plane
Most people choose to fly to Jeju and you can get there from a few different airports in Korea so figure out which airport is closest to you and it’s that easy. The bigger airports in Seoul and Busan have more frequent flights, but the smaller regional airports have flights too so don’t discount that option if you live outside of the major cities. Check the current rates and deals on Kayak.com.
Gimpo Airport (김포공항) To Jeju Airport (제주공항)
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Cost: W10,000 ~ W100,000
- Gimpo Airport Address: 38 Haneul-gil Gangseo-gu Seoul (서울 강서구 하늘길 38)
Cheongju Airport (청주공항) To Jeju Airport (제주공항)
- Duration: 1 hour
- Cost: W9,000 ~ W50,000
- Cheongju Airport Address: 980 Ochang-daero Naesu-eup Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si Chungcheongbuk-do (충북 청주시 청원구 내수읍 오창대로 980)
Wonju Airport (원주공항) To Jeju Airport (제주공항)
- Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cost: W29,000 ~ W80,000
- Wonju Airport Address: 42 Hoengseong-ro Hoengseong-eup Hoengseong-gun Gangwon-do (강원 횡성군 횡성읍 횡성로 42)
Gimhae Airport (Busan) (김해국제공항) To Jeju Airport (제주공항)
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Cost: W9,000 ~ W80,000
- Gimhae Airport Address: 108 Gonghangjinip-ro Gangseo-gu Busan (부산 강서구 공항진입로 108)
Travel By Ferry
Maybe you live down south so it’s easy enough to get on a ferry and head over. Or maybe you want a little different experience getting to Jeju Island? There’s always a ferry option. Take a ride on the high seas to get to the Hawaii of Korea. That’ll sure be an adventure.
What You Should Know About Travel Via Ferry In Korea
- The ferry terminal on Jeju Island is the Jeju Ferry Passenger Terminal (제주항연안여객터미널).
- Address: 111 Imhang-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju Island (제주 제주시 임항로 111)
- You can book tickets prior to departure online however, most sites still only use Korean so you’ll either need a Korean friend to help, use a service like Wonderful, or see if the Chrome translation extension works.
- If you book your tickets online, you’ll still need to check in at the ticketing booths for them to check IDs. Ticket booths close 10 minutes prior to departure even if you’ve reserved seats so make sure you’re there prior to that time or you won’t be able to receive your tickets.
- You can just show up. Walk-in passengers are asked to arrive at the passenger terminal at least 40 minutes prior to departure. Ticket booths close 10 minutes before departure so don’t get there too close to departure.
- Passengers taking a car on the car ferries are asked to arrive 1-2 hours before departure.
- The seas can be pretty choppy at times so if you might get seasick, make sure to bring something for it.
Yeosu To Jeju
Yeosu is a beautiful port city on the southern coast of Korea. If you’ve got some time this summer, you could head to Yeosu and see what there is to see and then hop onto a ferry to get to Jeju for a bit too!
- Terminal Name: Yeosu EXPO Cruise Terminal (여수엑스포여객선터미널)
- Address: 320-66 Expo-daero Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do (전남 여수시 엑스포대로 320-66)
- Book Ticket: You can book tickets between Yeosu and Jeju on 12go.co
- Ferry Operator: Hanil Express
- Ferry Name: Gold Stella
- Duration: 5 hours 20 minutes
- Cost: W47,500 ~ W64,750
- Departure Times: Runs every Monday through Saturday and departs at 1:20pm.
- Return Times: Runs daily at 4:50pm except for Saturdays.
Mokpo To Jeju
Mokpo is another neat place to visit if you have the chance and also being a port city has a ferry too!
- Terminal Name: Mokpo Passenger Terminal (목포항국제여객터미널)
- Address: 14 Haean-ro 148 beon-gil, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do (전남 목포시 해안로148번길 14)
- Book Ticket: You can book tickets between Mokpo and Jeju on 12go.co
- Ferry Operator: Seaworld Express Ferry
- Ferry Name: Santa Luchino, Queen Mary
- Duration: The Queen Mary Ferry takes 4 hours while the Santa Luchino takes 5.5 hours.
- Cost: W32,300 ~ W62,000
- Departure Times: The Queen Mary runs every day except the first and third Mondays of the month and departs at 9:00am. The Santa Luchino runs daily except for Sundays and the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
- Return Times: The Santa Luchino departs daily however there are no departures on Saturdays or the second and fourth Mondays. The Queen Mary departs daily except for no departures on the first and third Mondays of the month.
- Website: http://www.seaferry.co.kr/
Goheung To Jeju
- Terminal Name: Goheung Nokdong New Port Passenger Terminal (녹동신항연안여객선터미널)
- Address: 266-16 Bibong-ro, Doyang-eub, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do (전남 고흥군 도양읍 비봉로 266-16)
- Ferry Operator: Namhae Express
- Ferry Name: Arion Jeju
- Duration: 3 hours 40 minutes
- Departures Times: Ships depart daily at 9:00am except for the first and third Sunday of the month.
- Return Times: Ships depart daily at 4:30pm except for the first and third Sunday of the month.
Wando To Jeju
- Terminal Name: Wando Passenger Terminal (완도연안여객선터미널)
- Address: 339 Jangbogo-daero, Wando-eub, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do (전남 완도군 완도읍 장보고대로 339)
- Book Tickets: You can book tickets between Wando and Jeju on 12go.co
- Ferry Operator: Hanil Express
- Ferry Name: Hanil Red Pearl (via Chujado Island), Silver Cloud, Hanil Blue Narae
- Duration: There are three ferries that run from this port. The Red Pearl and Silver Cloud take 2 hours and 40 minutes and the Songlim Blue Ocean takes 5 hours.
- Cost: W29,900 ~ W36,300
- Departures Times: Silver Cloud departs at 2:30am and 3:00pm. Blue Narae departs at 9:00am and 3:00pm
- Return Times: Silver Cloud departs at 7:20am and 7:30pm. Blue Narae departs at 4:00pm.
- Website: www.hanilexpress.co.kr
Haenam To Jeju
- Terminal Name: Haenam Usuyung Passenger Terminal (해남우수영여객선터미널)
- Address: 96 Usuyungan-gil, Munnae-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do (전남 해남군 문내면 우수영안길 96)
- Ferry Operator: Seaworld Express Ferry
- Ferry Name: Queenstar No. 2 (via Chujado Island)
- Duration: The trip takes 3 hours
- Departures Times: Departs daily however there are no departures on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
- Return Times: Daily
- Website: http://www.seaferry.co.kr/
Busan To Jeju
If you’ve got some extra time and like a more leisurely trip there, the Seokyung Ferry from Busan is overnight and takes 11 hours. Spend some time in Busan and then head to Jeju. What a trip that would be!
- Terminal Name: Busan Port International Passenger Terminal (부산항 연안여객터미널)
- Address: 24 Choongjang-daero Jung-gu, Busan (부산 중구 충장대로 24)
- Book Tickets: You can book tickets between Busan and Jeju on 12go.co
- Ferry Operator: MS Ferry
- Ferry Name: New Star
- Duration: This ferry takes 11 hours.
- Cost: W51,500 ~ W76,500
- Departure Times: Departs at 7:00pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and arrives at 6:00am.
- Return Times: If you want to return via this ferry, it returns on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Get tickets when you arrive at the terminal in Jeju before you head out for fun on the island.
- Website: http://msferry.haewoon.co.kr/
What To See On Jeju Island
Now you’ve figured out how to get there. Now to figure out what to see. Here are some of the awesome things you can and really really should do on Jeju Island:
- Bike around Gapa Island
- Go for a swim at Hamdeok Beach
- Visit Jeongbang Waterfall
- Hike on Mt. Halla
- Dance in O’Sulloc Green Tea Fields
- Walk along Yeongmeori Coast
Whether you get to Jeju by plane or ferry, have a fantastic trip. The island is definitely worth one, two, or maybe even three trips while you’re here.
Did you like this post? Pin IT!
15 Comments
Chris
Hi Hallie,
I really appreciate all that you have shared about Korea! They have helped a lot in our Korean trip planning!
One question–we (4 people) are planning to take the ferry from Mokpo to Jeju in the middle of September but cannot buy ferry tickets anywhere online! Seaworld has NOT been helpful as their site/customer service keep telling me that there are no further sailings but I know that this is a very popular route. Should I be worried? Will we be able to purchase ferry tickets on the same day or the day before so I stop being stressed over not being able to buy tickets ahead of time? We do not have a vehicle. Your help would be greatly appreciated!
Hallie Bradley
Honestly, I’ve taken a lot of transportation in Korea including ferries and have (almost) always bought tickets the day of. The only ferry tickets I’ve pre-purchased was to Ulleung-do. Especially if you don’t have a car, it’s very easy to walk in, buy a ticket, and jump on. Even with a car, I didn’t pre-book when taking the ferry between islands in Incheon and was fine. I’d say almost certainly you’ll be fine to just walk up and get tickets, though that is weather dependent always as ferries may not run if weather is bad.
Tennille Miller
Hi Hallie, I’m travelling to Korea in November 2022 and we will be visiting Seoul, Busan and Jeju.
I’m starting to organise a travel plan, what’s the best way to get from Busan to Mokpo (to catch the ferry to Jeju)?
and can it all be on the same day? or should an over night stay in Mokpo be better?
Thank you, Tennille
Liza
Hi Hallie
We are planning to Seoul, Busan & Jeju from 1 to 11 Jan 2023. Arrival at Seoul around 3.30pm. What us your recommendation pls?
Hallie Bradley
What’s my recommendation for how to get to Jeju? What are you looking for Liza? Let me know more.
Kezia
Hi Hallie, thank you for sharing these information and making it easy for everyone. Can i just ask you how can i go about booking for the car ferries? As i’m planning to rent a car from seoul airport and to drive all the way to jeju.
Thank you in advance!
Hallie Bradley
Hi Kezia, I’ve taken my car on ferries in Incheon and didn’t have to book in advance unless it was a holiday. I haven’t done it for Jeju though. I think you can find some good information on getting to Jeju with a car from these guys though: https://afuncouple.com/ferry-jeju/
Sheila
Hii! I’m planning to go to jeju from seoul by flight. Do u know if there is any covid test that need to be done before fly off from seoul or arrival in jeju?
Thanks for your help!!
Hallie Bradley
You don’t need a covid test for that flight. ^^
Julien
Hi Hailie!
I have bought a round trip from Mokpo to Jeju on 12go a while ago and still haven’t received my tickets!
I asked customer support and they said seaferry delivers them within 5 days of the departure date, does that seem suspicious to you?
In case I don’t get my reserved tickets on time, what time should I go to the port if I want to buy them on the day for the 9 AM ferry!
Thanks!
Hallie Bradley
I wouldn’t say it is suspicious. In my experience though, we’ve usually gotten to the ferry terminals at least an hour before and had no issues. Good luck with the trip!
Tang Julien
Turned out 12go is an absolute scam! Avoid it at all cost please!
They told me just today they won’t be able to issue a ticket and they refunded me (I haven’t yet received the refund, but it might take some days, but I’m going to be really mad if I don’t get my money back!)
I guess I’ll try my luck on the day of my departure although I’m a bit nervous about it, do you know if I can get a ticket the day before? (I can’t really find the business hours as I don’t speak Korean…)
Or maybe I wasn’t lucky, but I really don’t recommend 12go!
Thanks for the help Hallie!
Hallie Bradley
Oh no! Thank you for letting me know. I’ll look into them more. I’ve always just gotten my tickets the day of departure and arriving an hour or 1.5 hours in advance. I’m so sorry about that experience though. I’ve had friends use 12go in Thailand and said it was great to get all of their ferries.
Emily
Hi Hallie, did you have to quarantine upon arrival to Jeju airport? I will be in Seoul for 6 weeks and would plan to leave for Jeju on the 7th week. So I will have been in the country and completed my Seoul quarantine already. I read on this airport website (https://www.airport.co.kr/jejueng/cms/frCon/index.do?MENU_ID=440)
“Are passengers required to quarantine on arrival at the airport?
Yes. Yes, there is a mandatory quarantine of 14 days for all inbound passengers.”
but it sounds like you did not need to do that? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Hallie Bradley
Once you’ve finished quarantine in Seoul, you don’t have to do it again upon arrival in Jeju. That’s just for first time arrivals (at the moment). There’s expected to be an update and possibly dropping of quarantine from the 15th but we have to wait and see on taht. Either way, you don’t have to re-quarantine on Jeju Island.