From Seoul
Seoul to Jeju by ferry
No ship leaves from Seoul, but train plus night ferry make a comfortable overnight journey
- KTX to Mokpo, night ship at 01:00
- Bus to Wando, 2 hrs 40 min at sea
- Cars and pets on both corridors
The two ways from Seoul
Both start with a land leg of several hours. The train version ends with a night in a cabin, the bus version with the shortest crossing.
Seoul to Jeju by ferry
Seoul to Jeju, leg by leg
Table of Contents
No ship from Seoul, but a good overnight route
Seoul has no ferry to Jeju and never had one; the sea corridors all begin in South Jeolla, four hundred kilometres to the south. What the capital does have is the KTX, which ends at Mokpo, the one Jeju ferry port with a proper rail link. Train plus night ship is the classic ferry journey from Seoul: leave in the afternoon, board after midnight, wake up on the island.
Way 1: KTX to Mokpo and the night ship
The KTX from Yongsan station reaches Mokpo in about three hours, with departures roughly every hour through the day. From Mokpo station a taxi takes you to the pier in a few minutes. Seaworld Express Ferry's night ship leaves at 01:00 and arrives on Jeju in the morning after about 4 hours 30 minutes; the cruise-ferry style vessels have cabin decks, restaurants and pet rooms, so the cabin doubles as the night's hotel. A morning ship from the Samhak pier is listed separately in the timetable. Which pier your ship uses is printed on the ticket. Terminals, check-in and vehicle rules are on the route page.
Way 2: express bus to Wando and the short crossing
Express buses from Seoul Central City terminal reach Wando in about five hours, a few times a day; more frequent are the connections via Gwangju, where buses to Wando leave through the day. The Wando ferry terminal is a short taxi ride from the bus terminal. Hanil Express then crosses in about 2 hours 40 minutes, up to three times a day, with the car ferries Silver Cloud and Gold Stella. This is the way for a daytime crossing and for the most departures. Details on the route page.
Nokdong as the third option
Nokdong New Port in Goheung county has one morning sailing a day with the Arion Jeju, about 3 hours 30 minutes to the island. From Seoul it is the long way round, bus via Suncheon and Goheung, and worth it mainly if you stay on the south coast anyway. See the route page.
Timing the connection
Build the journey backwards from the ferry: for the night ship, be at the Mokpo terminal by 23:30 with a vehicle, an hour before departure on foot; for Wando, plan the bus so that you arrive at the terminal about an hour before the sailing. Korean coastal shipping cancels early in strong wind, so check the timetable on the day of travel before you board the train.
Seoul questions
FAQs
Is there a ferry from Seoul or Incheon to Jeju? +
How do I get from Mokpo station to the ferry? +
By taxi, a short ride. Mokpo has two piers, the international passenger terminal on the harbour front and the Samhak pier about a kilometre east; the pier is printed on the ticket, so name it to the driver. Vehicles should be at the terminal 90 minutes before the night ship.
Does the night ship save a hotel night? +
Yes. The 01:00 departure from Mokpo arrives on Jeju in the morning, and a cabin, from shared sleeping rooms to family rooms, replaces the night's accommodation. Cabins on the night sailing sell out first, so book early for weekends and Korean holidays.
Can I take the car from Seoul? +
Yes, both corridors are car ferries. The drive from Seoul to Mokpo or Wando is a long day on the expressway; many travellers leave the car on the mainland and rent on the island instead. If you do bring it, book the vehicle slot with the ticket; check-in times and vehicle rules are on the route pages.
Book the crossing from Mokpo or Wando
Compare sailings and fares for the two corridors that connect with the train and the bus from Seoul.