Traveling Around Jeju by Bus Plus KakaoMap (2019)

When I traveled to Jeju in 2018, the bus system had just been upgraded with newer and more routes, but there was very little information in English. But with a lot of prior research and preparation, I did get around just fine.

A year later, the same routes, fares, and payment options were still in place...

Bus Routes
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
Fares can be paid 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 in 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.

...but this time looking for transportation information was a breeze because I found a very convenient app (with the option to set the language in English!): KakaoMap.

KakaoMap is very easy to use and works like Google Maps. Type in your destination in the search box, select the directions icon, enter your location or turn on your phone's location setting for the map to detect your current location, and the app will show you the transportation options, including the duration of the journey, fare, and a map to show you the nearest bus stop. (A word of warning: some bus stop locations on the map might not be up to date. We encountered at least one when we were making a transfer. Good thing the bus driver of the first bus we were on pointed us where to find the bus stop for our transfer.)

KakaoMap shows the transportation options with pertinent information

You don't have to worry about finding the right bus stop!

Thank you, KakaoMap, for making traveling around Jeju (and anywhere around South Korea, for that matter), so much easier!!

Jeju and Busan, April 2019
Jeju Accommodation: Jeju R Hotel & Guesthouse
Traveling Around Jeju by Bus Plus KakaoMap (2019) (you're here!)
Eats from Jeju City Restaurants I Can't Read the Names Of
Jeju City Lights: Iho Tewoo Beach and Jeju Light Art Festa
Geomun Oreum and Manjanggul Lava Tube
Art and Nature in Seogwipo City
Jeju Olle: Udo Island
Jeju Olle: Gapado Island
Busan Accommodation: One Way Guesthouse
Where and What We Ate in Busan