How to Get to Jeju Island: The Quickest and Easiest Routes Explained

Knowing how to get to Jeju Island is important if you’re planning to visit South Korea’s largest island.

Last year, I was under the impression that the easiest way to reach Jeju was by ferry. However, after arriving in South Korea, I quickly realised that the ferries were more expensive and time-consuming than I’d thought.

In the following blog post, I’ll explain why flying is typically the best way to reach Jeju, unless you’re already near the ferry ports in Wando, Mokpo and Yeosu.

I’ll also give you a step-by-step guide on how to get to Jeju Island from Seoul.

Planning your South Korea itinerary? Head over to my detailed guide to visiting South Korea for ideas, inspiration and logistics.

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1. How to Get to Jeju Island From Seoul

The best way to get to Jeju Island from Seoul is to take a direct flight from Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport (GMP) to Jeju International Airport (CJU).

The flight only lasts one hour and 15 minutes.

There are several airlines that offer this route, including Jeju Air, T’Way Air, and Jin Air. A one-way ticket costs ₩16,700+ (£9+).

How to reach Gimpo International Airport (GMP): There is a direct 20-minute train from Seoul Station. It costs ₩1,600 – ₩3,100 (£0.80 – £1.70).

You can check flight availability directly on 12Go:

⛴️ Can you take a ferry to Jeju from Seoul?

There are no ferries from Seoul to Jeju.

If you want to take a ferry, you need to travel to a ferry port first.

Here’s how to reach the ferry ports from Seoul:

• Wando: 5 hours by bus from Seoul Central City Bus Terminal. Book your tickets directly at the bus terminal.
• Mokpo: 2.5 hours by KTX. Check availability for the Seoul – Mokpo KTX.
• Yeosu: 3 hours and 15 minutes by KTX. Check availability for the Seoul – Yeosu KTX.

2. Taking the Ferry to Jeju Island

There are three direct ferry routes to Jeju Island:

1. Wando – takes 2 hours and 40 minutes and costs ₩31,900 (£17).
   • Check availability for Wando -Jeju ferry tickets on Klook.
2. Mokpo – takes 4.5 hours and costs ₩33,500 (£18).
   • Check availability for Mokpo – Jeju ferry tickets on Direct Ferries.
3. Yeosu – takes 6 hours and 40 minutes.
   • Book your ferry at the port or visit HanilExpress (Korean only).

As you can tell, some of these ferry journeys are significant in length.

The main benefit of travelling by ferry is that you get to see the views over the ocean.

However, if you’re prone to seasickness, the journey may prove difficult. You’re better off taking the quickest ferry crossing from Wando.

⛴️ How to Take the Ferry from Wando to Jeju

The quickest ferry to Jeju Island is from Wando. Operated by Hanil Express, it takes 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach the island.

It’s also the easiest ferry to book, as tickets are sold on foreigner-friendly website Klook. You can easily check the availability for the Jeju-Wando ferry tickets in advance.

The only thing is, to reach Wando from Seoul, there is no KTX. You need to take a five-hour bus from 5 hours by bus from Seoul Central City Bus Terminal.

⛴️ How to Take the Ferry from Mokpo to Jeju

The ferry from Mokpo, operated by Seaworld Express Ferry, takes slightly longer to reach the island: 4.5 hours.

However, on the flip side, it’s easier to reach Mokpo from Seoul. There is a high-speed KTX train, taking 2.5 hours.

⛴️ Is it worth taking the ferry from Yeosu to Jeju?

The ferry from Yeosu takes a whopping 6 hours and 40 minutes to reach Jeju. So, is it worth it?

I don’t think so, especially when you can take a flight that will get you there in under one hour.

Yeosu

I took the direct flight from Yeosu to Jeju, and it couldn’t have been easier.

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I hope you found this guide helpful! Let me know how your trip goes – and, if you choose to go by boat, whether you thought the ferry views were worth it…