# What is the best way to get from Seoul to Jeju?

> Fly Seoul Gimpo to Jeju in about 1h10 on the world's busiest air route. Fares often ₩45,000–₩70,000 one way, passport needed. Ferry takes most of a day.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/seoul-to-jeju-flight-ferry-guide
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-11-07
- Last updated: 2026-11-11

**Fly from Gimpo Airport (GMP) to Jeju International Airport (CJU): the flight is scheduled at about 1 hour 10 minutes and there are departures all day.** Gimpo–Jeju was the busiest airline route in the world in 2025 by OAG's count, with about **14.4 million seats** a year, or roughly **39,000 a day**. Off-peak one-way fares often sit around **₩45,000 to ₩70,000 (≈ $34–52)**, and you need your **passport** to board. There is no direct ferry from Seoul; going by sea means a train south to Mokpo and a crossing of several hours.

## Flight, train plus ferry, or Incheon: the comparison

For almost everyone the answer is a Gimpo flight. The ferry is for drivers taking a car to the island, or for travellers who want to see the south-west coast on the way.

| Option | Time | Typical one-way cost | Good for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Gimpo (GMP) to Jeju (CJU) flight** | About 1h10 in the air; 3 to 4 hours hotel to hotel | Often ₩45,000–₩70,000 (≈ $34–52) off-peak; ₩145,000 (≈ $108)+ on peak dates | Nearly everyone |
| **Incheon (ICN) to Jeju flight** | About 1h10, but only a few flights a week | Check Jeju Air for the date | Connecting straight off an international arrival at Incheon |
| **KTX to Mokpo + ferry** | About 2.5 hours by KTX, then roughly 4 to 5 hours at sea | ₩48,000 (≈ $36) KTX plus the ferry fare | Taking a car, or avoiding flying |

## The Gimpo–Jeju flight: airlines, frequency and fares

**Airlines:** OAG counted seven airlines on the route in 2025. Korean Air and Asiana are the full-service options; low-cost carriers such as **Jeju Air, Jin Air and Air Busan** fly it too, and aggregators also list Air Seoul, T'way Air and Eastar Jet. Compare the actual times rather than the brand: with this many departures, a flight that suits your hotel check-in usually exists at a similar price.

**Flight time:** schedules show about **1 hour 5 to 1 hour 15 minutes**. Add the trip to Gimpo, check-in and security in Seoul, and the ride from Jeju airport, and most people spend 3 to 4 hours hotel to hotel.

**Fares:** Korean Air's own route page has shown one-way lows of about **₩45,500 to ₩58,200 (≈ $34–44)** on cheap days and highs above **₩145,000 (≈ $108)** on busy ones, and aggregators show lows of around ₩45,000 to ₩51,000 (≈ $34–38). Weekend, school-holiday, **Chuseok** and **Seollal** dates are the expensive ones. Book those weeks ahead.

**Bags:** the cheapest low-cost fares do not always include a checked bag. If you are bringing a suitcase, compare fares with the bag added, not the headline price.

## ID rules: bring your passport

Korean domestic flights check photo ID at boarding. Korean Air's domestic boarding rules list a **passport** among the accepted IDs for foreign nationals aged 19 and over (residents can also use an alien registration card). A photo of your passport or a hotel copy is not the same thing; carry the original in your hand luggage.

You do not go through immigration again: you dealt with entry when you arrived in Korea. For the entry side, see the [K-ETA guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/k-eta-2027-south-korea-how-to-apply-guide).

## Getting to Gimpo from central Seoul

Gimpo is on the **AREX all-stop** airport railway, **Subway Line 5** and **Line 9**, which is why it beats Incheon for this trip. From Seoul Station, the AREX all-stop reaches Gimpo in roughly 20 minutes. Do not board the AREX **Express**: it runs non-stop between Seoul Station and Incheon and skips Gimpo.

Domestic departures use Gimpo's domestic terminal, separate from the international one, so follow the domestic signs from the station. Our [Gimpo Airport transit guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/gimpo-airport-to-seoul-arex-subway-guide) covers which line suits which neighbourhood, and the [T-money guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/south-korea-transit-t-money-card-subway-guide) covers paying for it.

## Flying from Incheon instead

Jeju Air restarted **Incheon–Jeju** on 12 May 2026, the first time in almost ten years, at only **two flights a week** at launch. It is useful if your schedule lines up with an international arrival at Incheon, but you cannot count on it for a random date. If it does not fit, take the AREX all-stop from Incheon to Gimpo (about 33 minutes) and fly from there.

## By train and ferry: possible, but it takes most of a day

There is no passenger ferry from Seoul or Incheon to Jeju: the last Incheon–Jeju operator handed back its licence in 2024. To reach Jeju by sea you go south first. The simplest pairing is **KTX from Yongsan to Mokpo**, about **2 hours 20 to 2 hours 40 minutes** for **₩48,000 (≈ $36)** in standard class, then a **Seaworld Express** car ferry from Mokpo to Jeju, which takes roughly 4 to 5 hours.

**Wando** has a shorter crossing, but getting to Wando from Seoul means a long bus ride. Sailing times change by season and ship, and boats are cancelled in rough seas, so check the operator's own timetable for your date. Our [Busan to Jeju guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/busan-to-jeju-ferry-vs-flight-guide) compares the south-coast ferry routes.

## Arriving in Jeju

Jeju International Airport is on the edge of **Jeju City**, a short bus or taxi ride from the centre. For **Seogwipo** and the south coast, airport limousine and express buses cross the island in roughly an hour. If you are not renting a car, read [Jeju without a car](https://clevertourists.com/resources/jeju-without-a-car-bus-taxi-getting-around-guide) before booking a hotel. Then choose a base with [where to stay in Jeju](https://clevertourists.com/resources/where-to-stay-in-jeju) and plan the days with [how many days in Jeju](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-jeju).

## Frequently asked questions

### How long is the flight from Seoul to Jeju?

About 1 hour 5 to 1 hour 15 minutes from Gimpo Airport. Allow 3 to 4 hours hotel to hotel.

### How much is a flight from Seoul to Jeju?

Off-peak one-way fares often run about ₩45,000 to ₩70,000 (≈ $34–52). Weekends, school holidays, Chuseok and Seollal can push them past ₩145,000 (≈ $108).

### Do foreigners need a passport to fly from Seoul to Jeju?

Yes. Domestic flights check photo ID at boarding, and for foreign visitors that means the original passport.

### Should I fly to Jeju from Gimpo or Incheon?

Gimpo. It has flights all day, while Incheon–Jeju restarted in May 2026 with only a couple of flights a week.

### Is there a ferry from Seoul to Jeju?

No. The nearest practical sea route is KTX to Mokpo (about 2.5 hours) and then a ferry of roughly 4 to 5 hours.

## Official sources

- [Korean Air: domestic flight boarding and accepted ID](https://www.koreanair.com/contents/plan-your-travel/at-the-airport/boarding-procedure/domestic-flights-boarding?hl=en)
- [Korea Airports Corporation: Gimpo International Airport](https://www.airport.co.kr/gimpoeng/main.do)
- [Korea Airports Corporation: Jeju International Airport](https://www.airport.co.kr/jejueng/main.do)
- [OAG: Jeju–Seoul Gimpo, world's busiest airline route in 2025](https://www.oag.com/pressroom/south-koreas-jeju-cju-seoul-gimpo-gmp-worlds-busiest-airline-route-in-2025)