Wando - Jeju
Crossing approx. 2 hours 40 minutes
From
€15
Jeju ferries
Ferries to Jeju Island
Which mainland port gets you to Jeju best, with or without a car, and what to expect on board
- Wando - Jeju: fastest car ferry link, about 2 hours 40 minutes, daily
- Mokpo - Jeju: big ships with cabins, night and morning departures
- Nokdong - Jeju: one morning sailing a day, back from Jeju at 16:30
The crossings to Jeju
The ferry crossings to Jeju with sailing time, operator and timetable.
Prices per person, one way
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Route map
Ferry routes to Jeju
Ferry connections between the Korean mainland and Jeju. Click a line for sailing time and operator.
- Hanil Express
- Seaworld Express Ferry
- Namhae Gosok Ferry
Hanil Express2 hours 40 minutes
Check prices →Seaworld Express Ferry4 hours 30 minutes
Check prices →Namhae Gosok Ferry3 hours 30 minutes
Check prices →Route guide
Which ferry to Jeju?
Table of Contents
The crossing, sorted by starting point
Jeju has no bridge and no tunnel. If you want to bring a vehicle, oversized luggage or a pet cabin, or simply prefer the sea route, you cross from one of the ferry ports on the south coast of the mainland. None of them is a big city, so the journey to the departure port is part of the plan. All three corridors are proper car ferries with reserved seating or cabins.
Wando - Jeju, the fast standard
Hanil Express runs the shortest of the crossings, about 2 hours 40 minutes over 104 kilometres. The company sails up to three times a day with the car ferries Silver Cloud and Gold Stella and carries the bulk of the traffic to the island. Wando sits at the end of the peninsula south of Gwangju; intercity buses reach the terminal from Seoul, Gwangju and Mokpo. Details on terminals, check-in and vehicles are on the route page.
Mokpo - Jeju, the big ships
From Mokpo, Seaworld Express Ferry operates the largest ships on any Jeju route, cruise-ferry style vessels with cabin decks, restaurants and pet rooms. The crossing takes about 4 hours 30 minutes. Mokpo is the easiest port to reach by rail: the KTX from Seoul ends a short taxi ride from the terminals. Note that the ships leave from two different piers in Mokpo, the international terminal and the Samhak pier, so check your ticket. More on the route page.
Nokdong - Jeju, the quiet option
Namhae Gosok sails once a day from Nokdong New Port in Goheung county with the Arion Jeju, about 3 hours 40 minutes each way, out in the morning and back from Jeju in the late afternoon. The port is small and calm, parking is easy, and the schedule suits a simple out-and-back trip. The catch is a handful of scheduled rest days each month. Details on the route page.
Jindo - Jeju, the fast catamaran
The high-speed catamaran Santa Monica links Jindo with Jeju in about 1 hour 30 minutes, some sailings calling at the small island of Chuja on the way. It is the fastest sea link to Jeju and carries cars too, but it is not part of the international booking systems; tickets are sold by the operator Seaworld Express Ferry on its own site and through Korean domestic channels. As a fast catamaran it is also the first sailing to be cancelled when the sea gets rough. Treat it as the sprint option for a calm-weather day.
What about Busan and Yeosu?
Both lines are history for now. The overnight ferry Busan - Jeju made its last run in December 2022 and the route has had no operator since; Yeosu - Jeju ended in December 2024 when its operator gave up the line and moved the ship to Wando. If a revival is announced, it will appear here. Until then, the practical answer from the southeast is the bus or train to Wando or Nokdong, or a flight.
FAQ Jeju ferries
FAQ
The short answers to the questions most travellers start with. More in the FAQ.
Which ferries run from the mainland to Jeju?+
Three corridors run year round. The shortest crossing is Wando - Jeju with Hanil Express, about 2 hours 40 minutes. From Mokpo, Seaworld Express Ferry sails with large cabin ships in about 4 hours 30 minutes. From Nokdong (Goheung), Namhae Gosok runs the Arion Jeju in about 3 hours 40 minutes. In addition, the fast catamaran Santa Monica links Jindo with Jeju in about 1 hour 30 minutes; it is booked directly with the operator.
Is there still a ferry from Busan to Jeju?+
No. The Busan - Jeju line ended in December 2022 when the last operator withdrew its ship, and no successor has taken over the route. The Yeosu - Jeju line followed in December 2024. If you start in Busan, take the train or bus to one of the active ferry ports or compare the ferry with a flight; the crossings on this site all leave from ports in South Jeolla province.
Can I take a car on the ferry to Jeju?+
Yes, all three car ferry corridors carry cars, motorbikes and bicycles. Vehicle space is limited and sells out before passenger space, so book the vehicle deck early. If you are driving a rental car, clarify with the rental company first whether their cars may cross to Jeju by ferry at all.
Do I need my passport for a domestic ferry to Jeju?+
Korean coastal ferries check identity documents at boarding. Bring your passport or Korean residence card; the name on the ticket must match it. Without a valid ID you will not board, even with a paid ticket.
How reliable are the sailings?+
The crossings are weather dependent. In strong wind, swell or typhoon warnings, sailings are cancelled at short notice, and the fast Jindo catamaran is the most sensitive of them. Check the timetable on the day of travel and plan a buffer if you have a connecting flight.