Traveling Around Jeju by Bus (2018)

When I was preparing for the trip, I could not find enough information in English about bus routes in Jeju. All of the blogs I came across suggested to rent a car or hire a taxi to get around. Since I was traveling alone and on a budget, those were out of the question.

I scoured the internet for days on end and found the Jeju Bus website...in Korean! I was able to get the information I needed (routes, schedules, fares), but it was a lot of work translating the schedules which were in PDF format. (Google translate wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing.)

Jeju Bus Terminal (Photo from Visit Jeju)

So here's what I found out before and during my trip:

Bus Routes
The buses in Jeju are color and number coded:

• Red / Express Bus / Route 1xx – travels between Jeju City and Seogwipo City with only a few stops
• Blue / Main Line / Routes 2xx, 3xx – travels between Jeju City and Seogwipo City with many stops
• Green / Feeder or Municipal Line / Routes 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx – covers a small area within a city
• Yellow / Tourist Bus / Routes 810, 820 – goes to major tourist spots

Bus Fares

• Red / Express Bus / Route 1xx
• Cash: 3000 won, fixed rate
• Transportation Card: 2000 to 3000 won, depending on distance
• Blue / Main Line / Routes 2xx, 3xx
• Cash: 1200 won, fixed rate
• Transportation Card: 1150 won, fixed rate
• Green / Feeder Line / Routes 4xx, 5xx, 6xx
• Cash: 1200 won, fixed rate
• Transportation Card: 1150 won, fixed rate
• Green / Municipal Line / Route 7xx
• Cash: 1000 won, fixed rate
• Transportation Card: 950 won, fixed rate
• Yellow / Tourist Bus / Routes 810, 820
• Cash: 1200 won, fixed rate
• Transportation Card: 1150 won, fixed rate

Payment
You can pay for your fare in cash or by transportation card (such as T-Money). Fares will be cheaper when using a transportation card. You can buy a transportation card and add credits to the card from any convenience store.

Bus Stops
Major bus stops (where many bus lines stop) usually have a digital screen with English translation. The digital screen will show the coming buses and what time the bus will arrive, but will not show the entire schedule. Bus stops where only very few bus lines stop do not have a digital screen. All bus stops have print outs of bus schedules on the wall, but these printouts are in Korean. Inside the bus, there is a digital screen announcing the stops. There is an English translation for stops for tourist sites.

Tips
* If you can read Korean, download the Jeju Bus app.
* If you can't read Korean, use Google Maps to find nearby bus stops and what buses to take.
* If you can't read Korean, but have the patience to use Google translate, you can find the bus schedules for all routes in the Jeju Bus website.
* If you are going to an area visited by few tourists, buses in that area will most likely be infrequent. Research for the schedule ahead (see previous tip) and be conscious of time.



South Korea Spring 2018
Jeju Accommodation: Sum Guesthouse Jeju Airport
Traveling Around Jeju by Bus (you're here!)
Checking out Cafes in Jeju
Location, Location, Location (for a Photoshoot)
Jeju Eats
History and Nature in East Jeju
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Jeju
Hiking Hallasan via Yeongsil and Eorimok Trails
Daegu International Airport to Gyeongju
Gyeongju Accommodation: Chacharang Guesthouse
UNESCO World Heritage: Gyeongju Historic Areas
Walking Around Gyeongju
UNESCO World Heritage: Gyeongju Yangdong Historic Village
Joining the Cherry Blossom Loving Crowds in Jinhae
Cherry Blossom Binge Continues in Busan
Busan Museum of Art
Spring 2018 Jeju and Southeast South Korea Itinerary and Expenses