Plan · Guide

Travel Guide

Transport, stays, payments, emergencies, and phrase cards — practical notes before your Jeju trip.

Jeju first-day checklist

Sort these before you land and day one is easy. Your ticks are saved on this device.

0/8 ready
  1. Get mobile data (eSIM / SIM)Hallasan, the east coast and Udo can lose signal. Buying an eSIM before you fly is easiest.
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  2. Install Naver Map or KakaoMapGoogle Maps directions are limited in Korea. Use a Korean map app for bus and walking routes.
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  3. Check how you will payCards work almost everywhere, but markets and small eateries sometimes need cash.
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  4. Buses are cashlessSince July 2024 Jeju buses do not take cash. Bring a T-money card or a contactless (NFC) card.
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  5. Renting a car? Check your licenceCarry your International Driving Permit, passport and home licence. IDPs from some countries are not accepted.
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  6. How restaurants workKiosk ordering, minimum orders for two and afternoon break times are common.
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  7. Save emergency numbersPolice 112, fire & ambulance 119, Korea Travel Hotline 1330 (24h, multilingual).
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  8. Save an offline mapSave key places so you can still find your way without signal.
    Read

TripJeju

Korea travel barriers & workarounds

Three friction points every first-time visitor hits in Jeju. Prepare these before you land — Google, your home bank card, and your usual apps often are not enough on their own.

Maps & routing limits

Google Maps cannot provide reliable walking, driving, or transit directions in Korea. Pin search works, but rural Jeju bus times and transfers are often wrong or missing.

What to do

  • Install Naver Map and Kakao Map before arrival. For Jeju buses, Naver’s live arrivals are the most dependable.
  • Save destinations in Korean (copy from Papago) — show the screen to taxi drivers and guesthouse staff.
  • Use TripJeju place and itinerary pages — “Open in Naver/Kakao” deep-links hand off to local apps in one tap.
  • Use Google only to confirm a pin; plan routes in a Korean app.
Naver MapKakao Map

+82 SMS & real-name checks

Restaurant waitlists, some parking apps, and coin lockers often require a Korean mobile number (+82) for SMS verification. A passport alone usually cannot replace that.

What to do

  • Book trending restaurants via Catchtable Global — email signup and international cards, no Korean phone needed for many spots.
  • Naver Map navigation and bus info work for most visitors without real-name verification. Do not verify your Naver ID unless a feature explicitly requires it.
  • If Naver Booking or similar insists on real-name status, submit passport via Naver’s official help center (allow several days).
  • For activities and tours, prefer Klook or GetYourGuide when you want to skip Korean-app signup.
Catchtable GlobalNaver passport guide (official)

Transit payment

Since July 2024, cash is not accepted on any Jeju city bus. Visitors used to struggle with buying and reloading T-money cards.

What to do

  • From Aug 2025, all 868 city buses accept open-loop EMV tap — Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, Apple Pay, etc. Tap when boarding and again when exiting.
  • T-money still works — buy at CU/GS25 convenience stores. You must tap off on exit for transfer discounts within 40 minutes.
  • QR wallets (e.g. Alipay) are also supported; Asian visitors should check their home wallet apps.
  • Airport limousines 600/601/800/801 and tourist loops 810/820/880 — see TripJeju bus guide and our transit map.
Jeju Bus Info (official)TripJeju transit map

Transport

Do I need a rental car?

Jeju works by bus, taxi, and rental car — but your itinerary decides which feels best. As an overseas visitor, factor in an International Driving Permit (IDP), insurance, and parking before you commit.

Rent a car if…

  • East coast (Seongsan, Udo)

    Buses 111/211 reach Seongsan and the ferry to Udo, but connections, luggage, and timetables eat your day. On Udo itself you still need a bike, scooter, or tour.

  • Multiple regions in one day

    e.g. Seogwipo in the morning and Hyewha/Aewol in the afternoon. By bus alone you can lose 2–3 hours to transfers alone.

  • Family, group, or young kids

    Easier with car seats, strollers, and nap-time flexibility. For 3–4 people, rent + fuel often beats several taxi rides.

  • Sunrise, sunset, or fixed-time spots

    First/last buses rarely match Seongsan sunrise or Hyewha sunset. A car buys freedom for cafes and coastal viewpoints.

  • Remote cafes, viewpoints, “hidden” spots

    Many Instagram stops are 15–30 min walk from the nearest bus stop. One car beats repeated bus + taxi hops.

Bus & taxi are enough if…

  • Mostly Jeju City / airport / downtown

    Airport limos 600/800/801 and main lines 240/360 cover the city and airport well. Since 2025, EMV card tap works on all city buses — no T-money required.

  • You accept 1–2 hour bus legs

    One region per day (east OR west) is realistic on transit. Always check last-bus times in Naver Map.

  • Budget, solo, or short 2–3 day trip

    Rent + insurance + fuel often ₩50,000–100,000+/day. Buses at ₩1,200, tourist loops 810/820/880, and occasional Kakao T can cost less overall.

  • Driving or IDP feels stressful

    Rain, fog, and unfamiliar signs add pressure. Bus + taxi with a Korean address on your phone screen is safer for nervous drivers.

  • Major sights only, slow pace

    Theme parks, Camellia Hill, Osulloc, Hyewha Beach — many fit a “bus + one loop + taxi once or twice” pattern.

Middle ground: rent for a few days

  • Days 1–2: rent — focus east (Seongsan/Udo) OR west (Hyewha/Aewol)
  • Remaining days: bus — city meals, airport, Jeju City stays
  • Airport-area pick-up is fast; book 1–2 months ahead in peak season (Apr, Jul–Aug, Oct)

When rental is usually blocked

Indonesia and mainland China are not Geneva/Vienna members and have no Korea IDP mutual-recognition deal — counters usually refuse even with an “international license.” Try day tours, Kakao T, or a chartered van. Hong Kong & Macau IDPs are often accepted.

Taiwan & Vietnam travelers

Korea has a bilateral IDP recognition agreement with Taiwan (since 17 Feb 2022) and Vietnam (since Jul 2023). With an official IDP booklet from your country + home license + passport, Jeju rentals are generally possible. This is separate from the Geneva Convention list — see the Rental accordion for nationality rules.

Default: original IDP booklet + home license + passport + credit card. Online “international license” PDFs are usually refused.

Medical care & emergency

⚠️ Jeju has fewer dedicated “foreigner clinics” than Seoul. Mild issues → pharmacy; moderate → clinic; life-threatening → 119 → ER.

Buy travel insurance before departure. Bring passport, card, and policy PDF/app to hospitals.

🏥 Where to go

SituationGo to
Cold, headache, stomach, mild allergyPharmacy — OTC + pharmacist
Persistent fever, dehydration, stitchesClinic / hospital — prescription
Breathing trouble, chest pain, major trauma119 → Emergency room
Dental, eye, skinSpecialist clinic — search Naver Map or ask 1330

💊 Pharmacy

  • Green cross sign 「약국」 — common near malls & stations
  • OTC: pain relief, digestion, diarrhea, bandages, motion sickness — no prescription
  • Antibiotics & strong painkillers need doctor visit
  • Use Papago to describe symptoms; ask for “cold medicine”
  • Night/holiday: duty pharmacy — ask 1330 or search “Jeju duty pharmacy”

🩺 Clinic / hospital (outpatient)

  • Check-in with passport & card — say “foreign patient”
  • English varies by hospital — Halla Hospital has foreign patient desk
  • No Korean NHIS → pay full price as tourist
  • Request English medical report & receipt for insurance (may cost extra)
  • List below: Jeju hospitals with 24h ER

🚨 Emergency (119)

  • 119 — ambulance. State location & symptoms
  • ER triages critical cases first — minor issues wait longer
  • Jeju National Univ., Halla, Korea Hospital (north); Seogwipo Medical Center (south)
  • Admission/surgery costs can be very high — check insurance & card limit

📋 Travel insurance claims

  1. Purchase before trip — medical, rental, delays
  2. From hospital: English report, diagnosis, itemized receipts
  3. Submit via insurer app/email; keep originals
  4. Tell desk: “I will claim travel insurance”

🎒 What to bring

  • Passport
  • Card + insurance policy on phone
  • List of regular medications (English)
  • Allergy/chronic notes in Papago

Common mistakes

  • Cold at ER — long wait; try pharmacy first
  • No insurance at ER — bills can reach millions of KRW
  • Forgot English diagnosis — claim denied later
  • 1330 for tourism info, 119 for medical emergency

Hospitals below have 24h ER. See guide above for pharmacy vs ER.

  • Jeju National University Hospital ER

    제주 제주시 아란13길 15

    +82-64-717-1900

    Languages: Korean · English · 24h ER

    Major trauma & emergency care

  • Halla Hospital

    제주 제주시 도령로 65

    +82-64-740-5000

    Languages: Korean · English · Chinese · 24h ER

    Foreign patient desk available

  • Korea Hospital (Jeju)

    제주 제주시 서광로 193

    +82-64-750-0000

    Languages: Korean · English · 24h ER

    Insurance paperwork support

  • Seogwipo Medical Center

    제주 서귀포시 장수로 47

    +82-64-730-3000

    Languages: Korean · English · 24h ER

    Main ER for southern Jeju

  • Pharmacies in Jeju City (search)

    Naver Map「약국」 · ☎ 1330

    1330

    Languages: Korean

    Mild issues — ask 1330 for duty pharmacy

Jeju Olle Trail basics

Tap a course marker to open route details on the official Jeju Olle site.

Jeju Olle 27-course trail mapRoute 1Route 1-1Route 2Route 3Route 4Route 5Route 6Route 7Route 7-1Route 8Route 9Route 10Route 10-1Route 11Route 12Route 13Route 14Route 14-1Route 15Route 16Route 17Route 18Route 18-1Route 18-2Route 19Route 20Route 21

Map & route data source: Jeju Olle Trail (official)

  • Jeju Olle Trail basics 1 — 시흥-광치기

    Level: Moderate · Time: 4-5h · Distance: 15.1 km

  • Jeju Olle Trail basics 7 — 월평-서귀포

    Level: Moderate · Time: 4-5h · Distance: 14.3 km

  • Jeju Olle Trail basics 10 — 화순-모슬포

    Level: Easy · Time: 4-5h · Distance: 14.5 km

  • Jeju Olle Trail basics 17 — 광령-제주원도심

    Level: Easy · Time: 4-5h · Distance: 18.4 km

On-the-spot Korean

Show-Korean phrase cards

Tap to enlarge and show the Korean line to staff or drivers. English below is for you.

Taxi · Kakao T
Bus · transit card
Restaurant · market
Café · dessert
Pharmacy
Hotel · guesthouse
Homestay · Airbnb
Store · shopping
Rental car
Hospital · insurance
Emergency · lost items