From Busan
Busan to Jeju by ferry
The Busan ferry is history; how the journey to Jeju works today, with or without a car
- No Busan ferry since December 2022
- Car ferries from Wando and Mokpo
- Flight in about an hour, no car
Your options from Busan
The ferry ports are all in South Jeolla, on the far side of the peninsula. Count the land leg as part of the journey.
Busan to Jeju without the direct ferry
Busan to Jeju today
Table of Contents
The Busan ferry is gone
The Busan - Jeju overnight ferry made its last run in December 2022, and the route has had no operator since. The Yeosu - Jeju line, the other link from the southeast, followed in December 2024. Neither has a revival on the table. Every ferry to Jeju now leaves from South Jeolla in the southwest: Wando, Mokpo and Nokdong, all car ferries, plus the fast catamaran from Jindo, which is sold only by its operator and cannot be booked through this site.
From Busan, that turns the trip into two legs: a bus or train across the south of the peninsula, then the crossing. The flight from Gimhae airport is the alternative for anyone without a vehicle.
Option 1: bus to Wando, then the short crossing
Intercity buses leave Busan Seobu terminal in Sasang for Wando several times a day; count on roughly four to five hours depending on the stops. The Wando ferry terminal is a short taxi ride from the bus terminal. Hanil Express then sails to Jeju in about 2 hours 40 minutes, up to three times a day, with the car ferries Silver Cloud and Gold Stella. It is the shortest crossing and the one with the most departures, so a missed bus connection rarely costs a whole day. Terminals, check-in and vehicle rules are on the route page.
Option 2: bus or train to Mokpo, then the night ship
Buses from Busan Seobu terminal reach Mokpo in about four and a half hours; by rail you change once, at Osong or Gwangju-Songjeong, for a similar total. In Mokpo, Seaworld Express Ferry runs the biggest ships on any Jeju route: the night ship leaves at 01:00 and arrives in the morning, the crossing takes about 4 hours 30 minutes, and a cabin replaces the hotel night. A morning ship from the Samhak pier is listed separately in the timetable. The Mokpo option suits travellers with a car who prefer to sleep through the crossing. Details on the route page.
Option 3: fly
Gimhae airport has frequent flights to Jeju, about an hour in the air. Without a vehicle this is the fastest way, and on a rough-weather day it is also the most reliable: Korean coastal ferries cancel early when wind and swell come up. The ferry keeps its point when a car, motorbike or pet travels with you, or when the overnight cabin from Mokpo fits the plan.
Nokdong from the Busan side
Nokdong New Port in Goheung county is the ferry port nearest to Busan by road, but it is bus country via Suncheon and Goheung, and the Arion Jeju sails only once a day in the morning, with the return from Jeju at 16:30. It works for an overnight stop in Goheung, less for a same-day connection from Busan. See the route page.
Busan questions
FAQs
Is there a ferry from Busan to Jeju? +
Can I still take my car from Busan to Jeju? +
Yes, via Wando or Mokpo. Both corridors are car ferries; drive west along the south coast to the port, book the vehicle slot early because vehicle space sells out before passenger space, and check the operator's rules on ground clearance and cargo weights on the route pages if you carry a van or trailer.
What about the ferry from Yeosu? +
Yeosu - Jeju ended in December 2024 when its operator gave up the line and moved the ship to Wando. Yeosu is no longer a Jeju port; from the Yeosu side the practical ferry is Nokdong - Jeju further west, one morning sailing a day.
Flight or ferry from Busan? +
The flight from Gimhae takes about an hour and is the choice without a vehicle. The ferry wins when you bring a car, a motorbike or a pet, or when you want the overnight cabin from Mokpo that saves a hotel night. Compare the whole journey, including the bus or train to the port, not just the crossing.
Book the crossing from Wando or Mokpo
Compare sailings and fares for the two corridors that replace the Busan ferry, in your language and currency.