Ferry to Jeju from Korea's Mainland: Which Routes Still Run, Fares, Crossing Times and Ferry vs Flying

Last updated: 14 October 2026. Routes and times come from Jeju Port Passenger Terminal's October 2026 ferry timetable (제주항 여객선 운항시간표, dated 16 September 2026). Fares were read on 14 October 2026 from the operators' own fare pages (Seaworld Express Ferry, Hanil Express, Hyunsung MCT) and from the Jeju terminal's fare tool. Sources are at the end.

If you search for a ferry to Jeju in English, you will still find Yeosu, Busan and Incheon on the list. None of the three sails in October 2026. The Jeju–Busan ferry stopped in December 2022, Incheon–Jeju stopped in April 2023, and Yeosu–Jeju stopped on 30 December 2024. The Jeju terminal's October 2026 timetable doesn't list any of them.

What does run is six routes, all from the south-west and south coast: Mokpo, Wando, Jindo, Wando via Chuja Island, Nokdong (Goheung) and Samcheonpo (Sacheon). The fastest crossing is about 1½ hours, the longest about 6½. A seat or floor space in the cheapest class costs ₩29,850 to ₩48,000 before the fuel surcharge.

With fuel, that's about what a cheap Gimpo–Jeju flight costs, and the trip takes most of a day instead of three or four hours. So the ferry makes sense in three cases: you're bringing a car or a motorbike, you're already in the south-west, or you want the crossing for its own sake.

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Quick Guide: every ferry to Jeju running in October 2026

Times are from the Jeju terminal's October 2026 timetable. Fares are one-way, adult, Monday–Friday where the operator distinguishes, as of 14 October 2026. Seaworld adds 10% on weekends, holidays and special-transport periods, and Hanil's weekend fare is about 10% higher.

The line that matters most: for a passenger without a car, Wando's Silver Cloud (09:20, 2 h 40, about ₩35,250 with fuel ≈ $24) and Mokpo's Queen Mary (08:30, 4 h 50, ₩41,500 with fuel ≈ $29) are the two daytime crossings on big ships. The rest are overnight, on small ships, or from ports far from Seoul.

All dollar figures in this guide use ₩1,450 = $1, an approximate October 2026 rate.

Where you land decides where you sleep

All six routes arrive at Jeju Port (제주항) in Jeju City, not Seogwipo. Jeju Port has two passenger terminals: the Coastal Passenger Terminal (연안여객터미널, Pier 2, 111 Imhang-ro) and the International Passenger Terminal (국제여객터미널, Pier 7, 191 Imhang-ro). Your ticket names one of them, and the taxi driver needs the right one when you leave.

Ferries land at awkward hours: 05:10, 05:30 and 06:00 for the overnight boats, between 10:00 and 18:40 for the rest. If you arrive before dawn, a room in Jeju City that lets you check in early, or one you booked from the night before, is worth more than a resort in the south. For bases by bus, see Where to Stay in Jeju Without a Car: Korea's Five Best Bases by Bus.

Which routes stopped, and why English sites still list them

Jeju's ferries never recovered from the Sewol disaster of April 2014, when an Incheon–Jeju ferry sank. Sea passengers to Jeju had peaked at about 2.91 million in 2013 (Seoul Shinmun). Since then, three routes have gone:

• Busan–Jeju: the New Star (뉴스타) stopped in December 2022 and was sold abroad.
• Incheon–Jeju: the Beyond Trust (비욘드트러스트) reopened the route in December 2021, stopped in April 2023 after breakdowns and losses, and the operator closed in January 2024.
• Yeosu–Jeju: Hanil Express first said it would stop in March 2024, kept sailing through that year, and closed the route on 30 December 2024 (Yeosu Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries notice of 27 December). Its ship, Gold Stella, moved to Wando–Jeju in January 2025. The Jeju terminal's fare tool still offers "Yeosu Expo".

So in October 2026 there is no ferry to Jeju from Seoul, Incheon or Busan.

Route by route: times, fares and who each one suits

Mokpo (목포): the biggest ships, 4½–5 hours

Seaworld Express Ferry (씨월드고속훼리) runs the largest ferries to Jeju. In October 2026 two are sailing:

• Queen Mary (퀸메리, 14,919 tons): leaves Mokpo 08:30, arrives Jeju 13:20; returns from Jeju 16:45, arriving Mokpo 21:35.
• Queen Jenuvia II (퀸제누비아2, 26,546 tons): leaves Mokpo 01:00, arrives Jeju 05:30; returns from Jeju 13:40, arriving Mokpo 18:10.

The first Queen Jenuvia has been in inspection since 28 May 2026, with its return "to be announced". Queen Jenuvia II ran aground on an uninhabited islet off Sinan with 267 people aboard on the night of 19 November 2025 (Kyunghyang Shinmun) and was taken out of service for repairs; it is back on the October 2026 timetable.

Fares (one way, from 11 May 2026): economy (이코노미, a shared floor room) ₩35,400 Mon–Fri / ₩38,800 Sat–Sun; multi-bed berth or Queen Mary's premium seat ₩68,000 / ₩74,600; suites from ₩263,600. The October fuel surcharge is ₩6,100 each way. Seaworld isn't offering its usual online discount at the moment.

The Mokpo terminal trap: Seaworld uses two terminals in Mokpo, the International Passenger Terminal (목포항국제여객터미널) and the Samhak Pier terminal (삼학부두 여객터미널, 65 Samhak-ro 158beon-gil), about 2.1 km from Mokpo Station. Queen Mary normally leaves from Samhak Pier (it moved to the International terminal only for 10–14 October 2026 because of pier works). Seaworld's own pages disagree on which terminal Queen Jenuvia II uses, so read the terminal name on your ticket.

Who it suits: anyone coming from Seoul by KTX, people with a car, and anyone who wants a proper cabin. Mokpo Station is the end of the Honam KTX line from Yongsan: about 2 hours 35 minutes and ₩48,000 in standard class on the 14 October 2026 timetable.

Wando (완도): the shortest big-ship crossing, 2 hours 40

Hanil Express (한일고속) runs two ships from Wando Coastal Passenger Terminal (완도연안여객선터미널, 339 Jangbogo-daero), about five minutes by taxi from Wando's bus terminal:

• Silver Cloud (실버클라우드, 20,263 tons): Wando 09:20 → Jeju 12:00; Jeju 16:00 → Wando 18:40. No sailing on 24 October.
• Gold Stella (골드스텔라, 21,989 tons): Wando 02:30 → Jeju 05:10 and Wando 15:00 → Jeju 17:40; Jeju 08:40 → Wando 11:20 and Jeju 19:30 → Wando 22:10. On Saturdays only the early pair runs, on Sundays only the late pair, and a few October dates are off.

Fares (one way, weekday / weekend): Silver Cloud third class (3등객실, floor room) ₩29,850 / ₩32,800; Gold Stella economy ₩32,250 / ₩35,500, capsule berth ₩59,400 / ₩65,300. Fuel surcharge in October and November 2026: ₩5,400 (Silver Cloud), ₩5,800 (Gold Stella), with no exemptions. A terminal fee is charged on top.

Who it suits: the cheapest and shortest big-ship crossing. The catch: Wando has no railway station.

Jindo (진도): the fastest crossing, on a small ship

Seaworld's Santa Monica (산타모니카, 3,500 tons) sails from Jindo Port (진도항) at the south-west tip of Jindo Island:

• Monday–Thursday: Jindo 08:00 → Chuja 08:45 → Jeju 10:00; back Jeju 16:20 → Chuja → Jindo 18:20.
• Friday–Sunday, two round trips: Jindo 08:10 (via Chuja) → Jeju 10:00 and Jeju 11:00 → Jindo 12:30 direct; Jindo 13:30 → Jeju 15:00 direct and Jeju 16:20 → Jindo 18:20 via Chuja.

Fares Jindo–Jeju: economy ₩44,100, standard ₩51,400, ocean-view ₩60,500, plus ₩7,650 fuel in October. Weekend and holiday sailings are 10% higher.

The trade-off is size: at 3,500 tons, Santa Monica is a quarter the size of Queen Mary and is the route most likely to be cancelled. On 14 October 2026, the day we checked, Seaworld listed its morning Jindo sailings as 결항 (cancelled) and posted a cancellation certificate.

Wando via Chuja Island (완도·추자도): the slow island hop

Songrim Blue Ocean (송림블루오션, 2,374 tons) leaves Jeju 08:00, calls at Chuja (10:00) and reaches Wando 13:10; it leaves Wando 13:40, calls at Chuja (16:20) and reaches Jeju 18:40. Third class costs ₩31,200 (Jeju terminal fare tool). It's a ferry for visiting Chujado (추자도); for Wando–Jeju, Hanil's ships take half the time.

Nokdong, Goheung (녹동·고흥): the east-of-Wando option

Namhae Express's Arion Jeju (아리온제주, 6,266 tons) sails from Nokdong New Port Coastal Ferry Terminal (녹동신항연안여객선터미널) at 09:00, arriving Jeju 12:40; it leaves Jeju at 16:30. Fares (Jeju terminal fare tool): third class ₩35,500, second-class berth ₩75,600.

Samcheonpo, Sacheon (삼천포·사천): the overnight from the south-east

Hyunsung MCT's Ocean Vista Jeju (오션비스타제주, 20,500 tons) is the only route from the Gyeongsang side of Korea. It leaves Samcheonpo at 23:40 and reaches Jeju at 06:00; it leaves Jeju at 14:30 and reaches Samcheonpo at 21:00. No sailings on 17, 24 and 31 October.

Fares (2026): economy ₩48,000 (₩52,800 at peak), multi-bed berth ₩70,000. The operator adds a terminal fee of ₩1,500 per adult and a fuel surcharge that depends on the booking date.

Who it suits: people from Busan, Jinju or Tongyeong with a car, and anyone who wants to sleep through the crossing.

Taking a car or motorbike to Jeju

This is the ferry's strongest case. Sample one-way car fares, as of October 2026, for the vehicle only; every person in it still needs a passenger ticket:

On Queen Mary, bikes run from ₩21,900 (up to 100 cc) to ₩126,020 (801 cc and over) on weekdays. For touring motorcyclists there is no other way across.

What to know before you book a car space:

• Arrive early. Seaworld closes car check-in 1 hour before daytime sailings and 1 hour 30 minutes before night sailings; Hanil starts loading 1½ hours before departure and closes 30 minutes before. Passengers' boarding closes 10 minutes before departure on both lines.
• The driver loads the car alone. Passengers get out at the terminal; the driver follows the crew into the car deck and should note the deck and zone where the car is parked.
• A rental car is a different question. Most visitors rent on Jeju instead. If you plan to take a mainland rental across, check that your contract allows a sea crossing before you book a vehicle space.
• Weekend-and-holiday surcharges apply to vehicles as well as passengers, and Gold Stella may add a night surcharge for vehicles on extra sailings.

How foreigners book, and what to bring

• Where to book: each operator's site (seaferry.co.kr, hanilexpress.co.kr, oceanvista.co.kr) or the Korea Shipping Association's ferry booking site 가보고싶은섬 (island.theksa.co.kr, also an app). Seaworld (Mokpo, Jindo) has an "English Reservation" button in its site header; Hanil, Hyunsung MCT and the KSA site are in Korean only as of October 2026. Browser translation works on the operator sites; if a site asks for a Korean mobile number you don't have, buy at the terminal counter instead.
• ID is compulsory. Every passenger must show ID to get a ticket and again at the gate. For foreigners, Hanil accepts a valid passport or a Korean alien registration card; without ID you can't be issued a ticket.
• Book vehicle spaces and cabins first. They are the limited part of each ship, especially on weekends and holidays. Seaworld has already opened bookings for 2027.
• Fuel surcharges change monthly. Hanil and Hyunsung MCT charge the surcharge of the month you book in, not the month you travel.

Seasickness and cancellations

Ferries are cancelled for wind and waves. The Korea Meteorological Administration issues a wave advisory (풍랑주의보) when sea winds of 14 m/s or more are expected for three hours or more, or when significant wave height of 3 m or more is expected. Whether a ship sails is then decided route by route. On 4 September 2026, when the outer winds of Typhoon Krovanh reached Jeju, Yonhap reported that some Jeju–Jindo and Jeju–Samcheonpo ferries were cancelled while the island's small-boat routes all stopped.

Practical rules:

• Big ships ride it out better. Queen Jenuvia II (26,546 tons), Gold Stella, Silver Cloud and Ocean Vista Jeju (20,000–22,000 tons) are six to eleven times the size of Santa Monica (3,500 tons) and Songrim Blue Ocean (2,374 tons). If you're prone to seasickness, take Mokpo or Wando.
• Check on the morning. The Korea Shipping Association posts a daily notice for each port (for example "10월 14일(수) 제주항 여객선 운항안내"), and Seaworld's site shows the day's status for every sailing.
• Overnight floor rooms are noisy. Economy on the overnight boats is a shared floor room. Earplugs such as Loop Quiet 2 (Amazon affiliate link) help more than a better pillow.
• A cancelled ferry can still cost you a hotel night. Book refundable rooms when you travel by sea in typhoon season (roughly July to early October) and winter. See Jeju in Winter, Korea: Tangerine Picking and Camellia Gardens — Prices, Seasons and Which Farms by Bus if you're planning a December–February trip.

Staying overnight in Mokpo before the morning ferry

The daytime Mokpo sailing leaves at 08:30, and ticketing and boarding close 10 minutes before departure. The first KTX from Yongsan (05:08) reaches Mokpo at 07:41, which leaves about 40 minutes to get across town and buy a ticket. That works for a foot passenger if nothing runs late. It doesn't work for a driver, who must be at car check-in by 07:30, or for anyone starting outside central Seoul. For most people, the morning sailing means a night in Mokpo.

The useful areas are the old town around Mokpo Station, about 2.1 km (roughly ₩4,800 by taxi, Seaworld's estimate) from the Samhak Pier terminal. The same logic applies to Wando (09:20 Silver Cloud) and Nokdong (09:00 Arion Jeju): if you can't reach the port by 08:00, sleep there.

Ferry vs flying: which makes sense for whom

Flight figures are approximate: KAYAK Korea's Gimpo–Jeju page (read 14 October 2026) showed one-way fares from about ₩37,000, typical autumn round trips of roughly ₩120,000–₩190,000, about 90–115 direct flights a day and a flight time of about 1 hour 15 minutes. These change daily. Airline fuel surcharges rose with oil prices in 2026: Korean Air's domestic surcharge was ₩20,900 one way for tickets issued in September (Money Today). For the bus once you land, see Jeju Buses, Korea (2026): ₩1,150 a Ride, the 600 and 601 Airport Buses to Jungmun, Foreign Cards That Tap, and Getting Around Without a Rental Car.

Take the ferry if:

• You're bringing your own car or a motorbike, especially for a week or more.
• You're already in Mokpo, Wando, Jindo, Goheung or Sacheon.
• You want the crossing as part of the trip: a cabin, a sunrise into Jeju harbour, or a stop on Chuja Island.

Don't take the ferry if:

• You start in Seoul or Busan and have no car. Flying is faster and, on most dates, cheaper once you add the train and a night in Mokpo.
• You get seasick and the only sailing that fits is Jindo or Chuja. Pick a bigger ship or fly.
• Your schedule has no slack. A wave advisory can cancel a day's sailings with little warning, and there's no "next flight in an hour".

FAQ

Q: Is there still a ferry from Busan or Incheon to Jeju? A: No. Busan–Jeju stopped in December 2022 and Incheon–Jeju in April 2023, and neither appears on Jeju Port's October 2026 timetable. The nearest ports for a ferry to Jeju are Samcheonpo (Sacheon) in the south-east and Mokpo, Wando, Jindo and Nokdong in the south-west.

Q: Does the Yeosu–Jeju ferry still run? A: No. Hanil Express closed the Yeosu–Jeju route on 30 December 2024, and Yeosu isn't on the October 2026 timetable. The ship, Gold Stella, has sailed Wando–Jeju since January 2025.

Q: What is the cheapest ferry to Jeju? A: Hanil's Silver Cloud from Wando: ₩29,850 in third class on weekdays, plus a ₩5,400 fuel surcharge and a terminal fee, as of October 2026. From Mokpo, economy is ₩35,400 plus ₩6,100 fuel.

Q: How long is the ferry from Mokpo to Jeju? A: About 4 hours 50 minutes on Queen Mary (08:30 → 13:20) and 4 hours 30 minutes on Queen Jenuvia II (01:00 → 05:30), on the October 2026 timetable.

Q: Can foreigners take the ferry to Jeju? A: Yes. Bring your passport; every passenger needs ID to be ticketed and to board. Apart from Seaworld's English reservation page, the booking sites are in Korean, so use browser translation or buy at the terminal counter.

Q: Can I take my car on the ferry to Jeju? A: Yes, on the Mokpo, Wando, Jindo, Nokdong and Samcheonpo routes. A compact car costs about ₩136,000 one way from Mokpo or Wando on a weekday, plus a passenger ticket for everyone in it. Check in an hour early.

Sources

• Routes, ships, tonnage, times and days off: Jeju Port Passenger Terminal, 제주항 여객선 운항시간표, October 2026 (dated 16 September 2026), read 14 October 2026. Fares for Songrim Blue Ocean and Arion Jeju: the same site's 운임안내 fare tool, queried for 20 and 23 October 2026.
• Seaworld Express Ferry: 요금정보 (fares, Queen Mary, Queen Jenuvia II, Santa Monica; rise from 11 May 2026); October 2026 fuel surcharge; Queen Mary terminal change, 10–14 October 2026; Samhak Pier terminal directions; boarding with a vehicle; Santa Monica cancellation, 14 October 2026. All read 14 October 2026.
• Hanil Express: Gold Stella fares and vehicle fares, Silver Cloud fares, fuel surcharge notice, October–November 2026, accepted ID and Wando check-in, read 14 October 2026.
• Hyunsung MCT (Ocean Vista Jeju): 2026 passenger fares, read 14 October 2026.
• Korea Shipping Association booking site: 가보고싶은섬 / KSA 여객선 예매, read 14 October 2026 (Korean only).
• Closed routes and passenger history: Seoul Shinmun, 9 February 2024; Incheon–Jeju closure: Kyeonggi Ilbo, 25 January 2024. Yeosu–Jeju closure and Gold Stella's move to Wando: Haesa Shinmun, 8 January 2025.
• Queen Jenuvia II grounding, 19 November 2025: Kyunghyang Shinmun, 21 November 2025.
• Wave advisory criteria: Yeosu City, weather advisory criteria (citing KMA). Typhoon cancellations on 4 September 2026: Yonhap via Supple, 4 September 2026.
• Flights (approximate, secondary): KAYAK Korea, Gimpo–Jeju, read 14 October 2026; Korean Air domestic fuel surcharge: Money Today, 5 August 2026. KTX Yongsan–Mokpo times and fare for 14 October 2026: train.asamaru.net (national timetable data).
• Exchange rate: EpicKor's approximation, ₩1,450 = $1.

The short version: six routes run, all from the south coast. Take the ferry when you have a car, a bike or time, take Mokpo or Wando if the sea worries you, and fly when you're starting in Seoul with only a backpack.