Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sab2197]

Hi everyone,

I was looking to spend a few days on Jeju Island at the end of August. I want to take the ferry and it looks like my best bet would be to take it from Mokpo or Haenam. Is there a bus that goes from Naju to Mokpo or Haenam or do I have to take a train? Second, how difficult is it to get transportation from one end of the island to the other from the ferry terminal? I want to head towards Seowipo once I get there. Finally, is it possible to purchase round-trip ferry tickets? I have been on the Visit Korea website and so far I haven't been able to find anything about round-trip ticket purchases. Thank you for your help!

[Jake_Kim]

There are two options:

First one would be the most typical, you head down to Mokpo by well-established public transport - both the train station and the bus terminal in Mokpo has bus connection to Mokpo ferry terminal, although the former is closer, 15 minutes by bus.
There you hop on a boat, see http://www.seaferry.co.kr/e/ for details.

The alternative is to take JH Ferry's The Orange from Jang-heung. (http://www.jhferry.com/)
You don't go to this remote port on your own, but the ferry company provides free shuttle bus from Gwangju, in front of Gwangju's central train station and at a pick-up spot near Gwangju Bus Terminal. Considering that there is now only one direct train a day from Naju to Gwangju Station in the evening, however, you'll end up having to take a bus to Gwangju Bus Terminal. Beware that you must have booked a ferry ticket to make a reservation on this free shuttle.
The rub with The Orange is that it sails to Seongsan Port or Jeju, not the typical Jeju City Port used by all other ferries. This is the same location as that 'Sunrise Peak' in the east of the island. Nevertheless, Circular Bus 700 from the bus stop near Seongsan Port terminal will take you to Seogwipo.

On the contrary, connection from Jeju Port to Jeju City bus terminal purely by bus is messier. You'll need to catch 730 which is the shortest route to Seogwipo, but connection from Jeju Port depends on which boat out of Mokpo you take.

The morning boat, the Sea Star Cruise, anchors at International Terminal from which bus 95 goes directly to the bus terminal, but Route 95 does NOT stop at Coastal Ferry Terminal which the afternoon boat, the Pink Dolphin, uses. Another bus, Route 92 that does stop at Coastal Ferry Terminal then doesn't even go to the bus terminal, so you'll either want to take a taxi to the bus terminal or take this 92 to the International Terminal only to connect to 95.

But then 95 itself has an inconvenient schedule in the first place, its irregular interval could be as wide as some 75 minutes. From the International Terminal, route 90 which goes to Jeju Airport but not the bus terminal is also an option, because there's airport shuttle bus 600 to Seogwipo.

[sab2197]

Thank-you Jake_Kim! So is there bus that goes from Naju to Mokpo or do I have to take a train? Or do I have to go to Gwangju to catch a bus to Mokpo?

[Jake_Kim]

No you don't need to travel to Gwangju, if you decide to take Mokpo ferry.
As you can see on any map, Naju is on the corridor between Gwangju and Mokpo somewhat in the middle. You take whichever more convenient for you to catch.
If you decide on the 09:00 morning ferry, however, you've got only one shot with either bus or train, since neither mode of transportation is that frequent.
For example, there's only one train from Naju to Mokpo between 5 to 9 in the morning, the 07:24 train that arrives in Mokpo at 08:08. Bus in the morning isn't much different, it'd be either 06:35 or 07:30 bus out of Naju Bus Terminal, as the 3rd run to Mokpo departs at 08:35. Besides, the 07:30 even detours to Provincial Government Complex in Namak, east of Mokpo proper.
So, train gives you slightly better time management considering the buffer time for you to move to Mokpo Port Terminal, unless you live right next to Naju bus terminal and traveling to train station significantly disadvantages you.

[sab2197]

Thank you so much, Jake_Kim. I do appreciate it You're the best!