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South Korea’s Jeju Island seeks to impose tourism fees

From its blue skies and canola blossoms to endless coastal roads, Jeju Island in South Korea has long been touted as the “Hawaii of Asia”, and is an increasingly popular holiday destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

But its booming tourism has come with a price: an overload of garbage and sewage.

To preserve its environment, local authorities are looking to impose tourism fees, according to a report by The Korea Times on Tuesday.

Tourists are expected to pay an average of 8,170 won (S$8.20) each day for entering Jeju.

Some of the fees will include 1,500 won for each night of stay on the island.

Those who rent a car or minivan will be charged 5,000 won and 10,000 won respectively for each day. Tourists who rent a bus will be charged 5 per cent of the rental fee.

The fees are now under review, said the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on Sunday.

If the proposal is passed at the National Assembly of South Korea, the fees will add 141 billion won to government coffers after the first year, and 167 billion won in the second year, according to the authority’s forecast in the report.

The move is reportedly not welcomed by all South Koreans, according to Seoul Economic Daily.

Some netizens expressed their unhappiness online, saying that the fees are “excessive”.

For Singaporean Anna Lim, the fees are reasonable and she will continue to plan her visit to Jeju in 2024.

“It is a small amount, and honestly, if it helps to preserve Jeju island’s environment, I don’t see what’s the problem,” the 28-year-old office assistant told The Straits Times.

More than 13 million people visited Jeju between Jan 1, 2022, and Dec 25, 2022, according to the Jeju Tourism Association.

This is a 16 per cent increase from the same period in 2021. More than 99 per cent of them were domestic tourists, given that international travel was restricted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over the years, with the influx of tourism, the island has seen an overload of garbage and sewage. This has prompted local residents to nudge local authorities to consider implementing the fee.

In 2022, The Herald Insight reported that the island has been suffering due to an overload of garbage that ends up in the sea. This has threatened the island’s marine ecosystem and the livelihood of its residents.

Jeju’s government tried to introduce an entry fee in 2012, but faced opposition, according to The Korea Times.

In August 2022, the island’s government requested that the Korea Environment Institute, a state-run research company, study the feasibility of an entry fee for the island.

The island’s government plans to propose the Bill at the National Assembly by the end of 2023, as the research will be completed by August.

Last week, Jeju Governor Oh Young-hun said at a provincial council that the introduction of the measure is “being very carefully planned” so that it can draw citizens’ support from across the country.

The island’s move comes as Hawaii lawmakers are also mulling over a US$40 (S$53) or US$50 “green fee” for tourists to better safeguard the island’s natural resources.

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Jeju's continued bid to enforce entrance fee to island draws backlash

Tourists enter Jeju International Airport to depart the island on May 7. [NEWS1]

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Covering geo-political news and current affairs across Asia

Jeju emerging as Asia’s coolest island getaway

‘The Hawaii of Korea?’

Historically, the island, far from Seoul, was a place of exile. In 1948, it was visited by a horror that presaged the Korean War two years later. In response to a communist uprising, troops unleashed a merciless counterinsurgency campaign that laid waste to the island’s interior. Thousands were slaughtered.

For the following decades, Jeju slumbered as an offshore backwater, sustained by fishing and agriculture. It first embraced tourism when a nascent South Korean middle class emerged. By the 1980s, it was established as the premier national honeymoon destination.

As such, it became a land of kitsch, overrun by newlyweds in matching his-‘n-her outfits, staying in blocky hotels and condos. It won an informal, and inaccurate, sobriquet: “The Hawaii of Korea.”

This might have worked for locals, but caused knotted brows among foreigners.

“The ‘Korean Hawaii’ phrase does confuse lots of tourists,” admitted Won. “Jeju has four seasons – the summers are hot but the winters see snow on Mount Halla – and we have lots of rainy days.”

After South Koreans were granted passports by their newly democratic government in 1989, they could travel to the real Hawaii – and countless other destinations across the planet. For locals, Jeju’s virtues quickly evaporated.

One idea – to grant Jeju tax-free, financial hub status – went nowhere. Another idea – to turn it into an international educational hub – gained limited traction. The island found its second wind after ex-Korean War foes Beijing and Seoul re-established diplomatic relations in 1992.

With China’s moneyed middle class rising, Jeju granted visa-free access to Chinese tourists. By the end of the 1990s, when an aspirational “Korean Wave” of pop culture – pop, dramas, film – was washing across China, the timing was perfect.

They came in the millions. Island roads were overrun with tour buses racing shipments of Chinese from airport to hotel to attraction to duty-free stores. Becoming a service center for the bottomless supply of Chinese tourists looked like Jeju’s future.

Then geopolitics intervened.

In 2017, US troops, with Seoul’s permission, planted a THAAD anti-missile battery on South Korean soil. Beijing, angrily claiming the system’s radars could snoop on strategic assets on Chinese soil – retaliated against Seoul.

In China, retail firm Lotte was targeted and K-pop and K-dramas disappeared from Chinese airwaves. Tourism, too, was weaponized. In South Korea, Chinese tour groups canceled trips.

Jeju was hammered. In 2016, 3,051,522 Chinese visited the island. In 2017, there were 747,986 – a 75% drop.

“It was a really big issue,” said Won. “The impact was quite serious, especially for tourism businesses that aimed at Chinese group tours. Many closed down.”

Yet remarkably, tourism revenues in 2017 saw a marginal increase, from 5.5 trillion won ($4.8 billion) the year before to 5.7 trillion won ($5 billion). Likewise, domestic tourist arrivals to Jeju increased by 10%, while Japanese tourism increased by 24.7%.

“Since we have not had the influx – the parking lots for all the big buses are sitting idle – it made Jeju accessible for locals,” said Brenda Paik Sunoo, a Jeju resident.

“Now, it is quieter here,” agreed a male South Korean traveler, who spoke to Asia Times at Jeju Airport. “You don’t have to wait in queues to get into restrooms or duty-free shops.”

For some businesses, it was a bonanza.

“We saw a 100% increase in our business after THAAD as we did not market to Chinese – we marketed to Koreans and to foreigners,” Magpie’s Moynihan said. “For a lot of younger businesses that wanted to make hip, cool spots that were laid back. That was the initial wave.”

That “initial wave” points to Jeju’s salvation – which lay in overlooked trends underway within broader South Korean society.

Low-key reinvention

A rising generation of youthful South Koreans, facing such social ills as a shortage of once-common white-collar career paths, as well as soaring home prices in and around Seoul, were seeking different life paths.

This coincided with a wave of venture capital, previously unknown in South Korea, being released to small-scale entrepreneurs under the Park Geun-hye (2013-2017) and Moon Jae-in (2017 to the present) administrations.

Oblivious to the Chinese tourists, tens of thousands of mainlanders migrated to Jeju to revel in the island’s landscape and lifestyle. The country oversaw a “migrant boom” between 2014 and 2017, with about 10,000 mainlanders settling each year, according to the Jeju governor’s office.

Many created family-run, non-franchise, bespoke businesses aimed at luring a very different type of tourist than the Chinese.

“Many of our friends are in their 40s, with young families, and they came here to start over, to get out of the rat race on the mainland,” said Paik. “The irony is they end up working really hard as a café or pension (guest house) is seasonal – but their kids are able to get all these outdoor experiences.”

The 70-something Paik is, herself, a migrant.

A Korean-American photo-journalist and author, she and her Korean-American husband departed California, partly to escape racism and gun violence, in 2015. Though they had originally planned to jet back and forth, they found themselves deeply embedded in Jeju, and now spend the majority of their time on the island.

Its lures, Paik said, are its ocean and mountains, its farmland and seasons and its shamanism and spirituality.

“I spoke to a New Yorker recently and he said If he could retire and stay here, he would,” she said. “He said, ‘I think it has the best food in the world – it is farm-to-table, accessible and cheap, and because of the crops and rotation, good organic food is there.’”

Yet Jeju is still millennial South Korea – which means there is no lack of overseas goods.

“Living here and being a consumer and American, we don’t feel we are lacking anything,” she said. And with so many of the new investments being small in scale, there is always something new.

“There are all these pop-ups – and new cafes and pensions, new museums and galleries,” said Paik.

Building smaller, building better

Paik lives in a converted traditional dolji, or Jeju stone house.

Visitors to South Korea are often disappointed to find so few traces of hanok , or traditional homes; Jeju is the only province where the traditional local architectural style is still common for homes. A further traditional feature is the black stone walls that still crisscross the island’s fields.

This is all very different to Seoul, with its architecture of mighty scale and brutal ugliness defying the city’s natural scenery. Al fresco experiences and rooftop or balcony views are almost unknown and it is more common to visit a basement bar than a rooftop.

Jeju is different. Once the visitor leaves behind the blah surroundings of Jeju City, terraces and views of ocean or mountains from the island’s cafes, bars and restaurants are virtually de rigeur. Aesthetics, in both internal and external design, are at a premium.

Unsurprisingly, the island has lured some of South Korea’s leading architects and designers.

“Jeju is getting more and more refined pieces of architecture,” Hwang Doo-jin, who heads the Seoul-based practice named after himself, told Asia Times.

His most recent project on the island, to be completed this summer, is a village of six wood houses, all for private clients. While they are based on a similar design, each home is different in detail – no cookie-cutter has been employed. The overall aim was to blend with, rather than dominate, the landscape.

“It is a very reserved, refined design,” Hwang said. “It is a high-end development, but it is not flamboyant.”

Other architects are coming from further afield.

Tokyo-based Jo Nagasaka/Schemata Architects were retained by South Korean company Arario to undertake the “invisible redevelopment” of the run-down and partially abandoned Tapdong Market area in Jeju City.

This urban redevelopment project, overseen by Arario CEO Kim Chang-il – one of South Korea’s most renowned art collectors – and project managed by Seoul-based company Millimeter Milligram, has bought cutting-edge boutique design to the island.

While preserving the area’s original architectural framework, interiors have been extensively remodeled. Renovated buildings now include a museum, a rental bike shop, a bakery and a combined space that sells local products and design products, while also offering 13 rooms of hotel or rental accommodation. The project, which started in 2018, was completed in May 2020.

Ararario had earlier brought Magpie – originally established as a small-scale brewery in central Seoul in 2012 – to Jeju. “We met the Arario team who were famous for their galleries, and they were looking for a beer partner,” Moynihan said. “It was serendipitous.”

Arario invested in Magpie, funding a full-sized production brewery in Jeju, as well as the Bluebird craft pub in Tapdong, in 2014.

These kinds of design-centric upmarket developments have proved impervious to the loss of Chinese tourists.

“In the past, lots of large Korean corporates invested, and recently, a lot of Chinese corporations invested, but now the trend of tourism is changing,” Won said. “We are changing the direction of Jeju.”

Post-Covid Jeju

It seems to be working out.

The island’s best year for tourism revenue was 2019, the same year it had its second-best year in tourism numbers with 15.2 million visitors, with 1.7 million coming from overseas. The best year ever was 2016, just before the THAAD brouhaha, when Jeju welcomed 15.8 million visitors, of whom 3.6 million were foreigners.

In 2019, the service sector accounted for 76% of the island’s GDP, while marketing campaigns and direct flights bought in foreign tourists from Southeast Asia and Japan.

Then came 2020 and Covid-19.

As travel shriveled up, Jeju saw visitor numbers fall to 10.2 million – the same kind of numbers seen in 2013. But given the wipeouts suffered by other overseas resorts and areas – such as the European winter sports sector – last year’s visitor numbers demonstrated Jeju’s resilience as a destination for locals.

“Now that Koreans are trapped in Korea because of Covid, it is nice to see all these families coming from the mainland and really getting fresh air for a change,” said Paik.

Looking forward, Won is leading the island further on its current trajectory.

“Rather than attract tourists using large facilities, we are focusing more on preserving the culture and environment,” he continued. “At the moment, no large-scale investments are ongoing.”

While a massive new Grand Hyatt – 38 floors spread over two towers containing 1,600 rooms – opened in December 2020, there has been public resistance to a second airport, outside the scenic second city in the island’s south, Seogwipo.

Its future is uncertain. An appreciation of the situation by the Ministry of the Environment will be “reviewed comprehensively to discuss the direction and schedule,” government sources in Seoul told Asia Times.

Since the pandemic, “staycations,” outdoor travel, camping, “glamping,” nature and ecology have become the island’s keywords. With South Koreans still unable to travel abroad due to a slow local vaccination campaign and quarantine restrictions for all incoming travelers, the flights Asia Times took to and from Jeju this week were full.

Won is also using high technology to create new tourism products and services – and Jeju is becoming a testbed for South Korea in areas including highly networked smart driving and renewable energy. These issues will be covered in Part II.

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Inside Jeju

The complete guide to Jeju travel

The complete guide to Jeju Island: From nature to food and beyond

Welcome to Inside Jeju! We’re here to help you plan your dream visit to Jeju. Get started by reading our guide to the island.

It covers everything you need to know about Jeju and provides information about some of the essential things to see and do on the island. We’ve also included links to places where you can discover more. Let’s jump in!

About Jeju Island

Jeju is an island off the southern coast of Korea. It’s the largest Korean island covering an area of 1,833 meters squared. It’s around 31 km north to south and 73 km from east to west. If you wanted to travel around the coast, it’s around 220 km.

The island was formed due to volcanic activity, and you’ll see evidence of this wherever you go. Most notable is the volcano itself, Hallasan Mountain, which is the tallest mountain in Korea and dominates the center of the island.

The island is split into Jeju-si, which is the north side, and Seogwipo-si to the south side. Jeju-si is home to Jeju City, which is by far the largest settlement on the island. Around 493,000 people live here, with the vast majority living in the city.

Seogwipo City on the south side of the island, is the second largest settlement, although it’s much smaller than Jeju City. Around 184,000 people live on the southern side of the island.

Jeju is a Special Self-Governing Province, which means the island has some powers to run itself. Why is this important to you? Well, it means that tourists from many countries can visit the island without getting a visa in advance if they arrive directly via either Jeju Airport or Jeju International Ferry Terminal.

Getting into Jeju

The main way into Jeju is via Jeju International Airport. The route between Jeju and Seoul Gimpo is the busiest flight route in the world!

Flights make the trip every five or ten minutes from morning to evening every day of the week. This means it’s super easy and cheap to make the one-hour-ten-minute journey. Flights typically start at 50,000 KRW after tax.

Seoul isn’t the only domestic location you can fly in from, however. There are plenty of flights every day from Busan, and regular flights from Cheongju, Yeosu, Daegu, Gwangju, and other Korean cities.

Frustratingly for international travelers, there are currently no flights from Incheon to Jeju. You have to make the trip from Incheon to Gimpo yourself via either the subway or the airport limousine bus.

You can also get the ferry from mainland Korea to Jeju. Routes currently run from Busan, Yeosu, Wando, Mokpo, Goheung, and Incheon. Ferry times range from just 2 hours 40 minutes to go from Jeju to Wando, to 13.5 hours from Jeju to Incheon.

There are also international options, although these often change. At the time of writing, you can fly to Osaka, Singapore, Taipei, and Bangkok.

Read more: Find out how to get to Jeju Island for both domestic and international travelers

Where to stay in Jeju

There are hotels, resorts, guest houses, pensions, and camping sites all over Jeju. You can stay pretty much anywhere on the island. But, most people will want to stay in one of the following areas.

Jeju City is near to the airport and has easy travel links to the rest of the island. You get all the convenience of city life, while easily being able to spend your days seeing the sights in the countryside. Consider staying in Nohyeong in Shin Jeju or Tapdong in Gu Jeju City.

Seogwipo City is home to some of Jeju’s most popular natural sites, including Jeongbang Falls and Cheonjiyeon Falls. It’s easy to travel throughout the island by bus or taxi from this southern city base. The city is much smaller than Jeju City, but still offers plenty of conveniences.

Jungmun Tourist Complex is a resort destination on Jeju’s southwest coast. It’s filled with large resorts and has everything tourists needs to enjoy a relaxing trip, including the popular Jungmun Beach. Other places we think it’s worthwhile staying at include Seongsan, Hamdeok, and Shinhwa World.

Find out more: Read our detailed guide on where to stay in Jeju

How to get around Jeju

You can get around Jeju by bus, taxi, or renting a car. Just choose the option that suits your travel style and budget.

Jeju has a comprehensive bus system that will take you anywhere on the island. The buses are incredibly affordable, with the regular buses costing 1,200 KRW and express buses costing 4,000 KRW when paid in cash.

The system can be confusing for newcomers who don’t speak Korean, so we thoroughly recommend that you download either the Kakao Maps or Naver Maps app (both have English versions). From here you can enter your location, choose bus as your method of travel, and the app will highlight exactly how to get to your chosen location.

You can also rent a car. There are English language options available including Kayak and Lotte Rent-a-car. You will need either an international driving license or a Korean driving license that was issued at least one year prior.

Taxes are another good and affordable option. Prices start at 3,300 KRW for the first 2 kilometers, then go up by 100 KRW. You can hail taxis in the street or sign up for the Kakao Taxi app, which is similar to Uber, if you have a Korean phone number.

You can also rent drivers for an entire day and there are several companies on Google with English options and high star raitngs. .

Jeju time zone

Jeju is in Korea Standard Time, meaning it’s the same timezone as the rest of Korea and Japan. It’s 1 hour ahead of Singapore, Malaysia, and China.

Jeju nature

Jeju is known as a place of great natural beauty. If you come to the island, it’s almost certain that you’ll visit some of these spots. There are a ton of places that you could go and see, but here are the absolute highlights.

Hallasan Mountain

Hallasan Mountain sits in the center of the island, and you can see its silhouette no matter where you are, as long as the weather is clear. The mountain is a shield volcano and its eruptions are responsible for much of what you see on Jeju today. It’s also the highest in Korea, with the Baekrokdam Crater at its summit reaching a height of over 1,950 meters above sea level. Two paths go to this summit, as well as several other hikes you do in the area.

Read more: Hiking Hallasan Mountain: All you need to know

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, also known as Sunrise Peak, is a tuff cone and crater at the island’s easternmost point. It was formed by volcanic activity 5,000 years ago and the structure rises dramatically out of the sea reaching a height of 180 meters above sea level. You can climb to the top, where you’ll see a giant crater, as well as panoramic views out around Jeju.

Read more: The complete guide to Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Sanbangsan Mountain

Sanbangsan Mountain is a bell-shaped lava dome on the southern side of the island. It rises up to 395 meters above sea level, which is especially noticeable thanks to the flatness of the area that surrounds it. The mountain is home to a temple with a giant Buddha statue, and you can climb up to cave situated halfway up the mountain.

Read more: Sanbangsan area guide: What to see when visiting

Despite having almost no running water, Jeju is known for its waterfalls. The three most famous waterfalls on Jeju are Jeongbang Waterfall, which is famous for being the only waterfall in Korea that falls directly into the sea, Cheonjiyeon Falls, which comes at the end of short and relaxing river walk, and Cheonjeyeon Falls, a tiered waterfall in Jungmun Tourist Complex.

Oreum are the volcanic hills that dot the island’s landcape. These are parasitic cones formed by volcanic activity on the island. There are more than 360 of them around the island and you can find them in every corner. They are great places for short hikes and they tend to offer outstanding views of the surrounding area.

With around 220 km of coastline, it’s no surprise that Jeju has plenty of beautiful beaches. There is plenty of variety, from the white sand and turquoise ocean of Hyeopjae and Gimyeong to the golden sand and waves at Jungmun and the bustling seaside atmosphere of Hamdeok.

Next up: The complete guide to Jeju’s best beaches

Olle Trails

Jeju’s Olle Trails are a system of coastal walking paths that circumnavigate the island. There are 21 main routes as well as six sub-routes that offer alternative paths around some of Jeju’s most popular spots.

The majority of the routes are around 15 km, with the longest being 20.9 km and the shortest being the stroll around Gapa-do, a small island off Jeju’s southwest coast. Each trail has its own character, but they all typically include sections along the coast, through rural villages, and into the island’s inland forests and countryside.

Jeju culture

There are many differences between Jeju’s culture and that of mainland Korea. Those interested in experiencing the culture of Jeju should look out for following highlights.

Haenyeo divers

Haenyeo Divers are women that dive in the waters around Jeju to collect shellfish. They are free-divers, meaning they do so without breathing equipment. Many of the divers ar middle-aged or older, with oldest being in their 80s. You can see Haenyeo Divers working in areas around the island.

Dolharubang stone grandfathers

Dolharubang stone grandfathers are statues that you’ll see all around Jeju. They’re a popular symbol of the island and the statues come in all shapes and sizes, usually being placed outside gates to act as guardians and protect the homes inside.

Traditional markets

Jeju’s has two types of traditional markets. First are the permanent markets that open every day. Second are is the five day market, which opens on every fifth day at various points around the island. Each market sells everything from fresh produce to souvineers and street food. The Jeju City 5-Day Market is the biggest market. Dongmun Traditional Market in Jeju City and Seogwipo Maeil Market are the other notable markets in the northern and southern cities.

Jeju language

While the vast majority of people on the island speak standardized Korean, Jeju has it’s own language, called Jejueo, which still lives on. It’s especially prevalent among the older generation in rural areas, so if you speak Korean but don’t understand what someone is saying to you while visiting a rural village, it could be because they’re speaking a different language.

Jeju food and drink

You can find all the standard Korean favorites on Jeju, as well as plenty of restaurants selling high-quality foreign fare. But, the island does have some dishes that it is especially well-known for.

Jeju black pork is perhaps the most well-known Jeju food. It comes from pigs with black skin and fur, although the actual meat looks the same as standard pork. You can buy black pork around the island, usually at a slight premium compared to regular pork. The most famous black pork dishes are barbecue and Gogi Guku, a type of noodle soup.

As an island, you’ll be unsurprised to hear that Jeju has a lot of seafood. You can try raw shellfish freshly collected by Haenyeo divers, giant abalones either grilled or served up in rice porridge, and cutlassfish served either in a clear broth or a spicy stew.

Gamgyul mandarins

Walk around Jeju in late fall to mid-winter and you’re sure to fields full of mandarin trees. These fields with their bright orange baubles don’t just look pretty, they are also a sign of one of Jeju’s most well-known food types, the Jeju mandarin.

There are various types of fruits from smaller mandarins, to the large Hallabong’s with their distinctive button at the top. There are also several new varieties such as Red Hyang and Cheonhye Hyang which are sweeter, juicier, and genuinely among the best fruit I’ve ever tasted.

Next up: Must try Jeju food: What to eat during your trip

The complete guide to Jeju travel.

Jeju island guide

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Jeju proposes an “eco-tourism tax” to curb environmental damage from tourism

Lava rock formation at Jusangjeoli rocks at Jeju

Planning a trip to South Korea and hoping to hop by Jeju Island for a night or two?

We’ve got bad news for you.

Well, not exactly bad news yet since it has not been implemented but plans are underway.

So Jeju, which we all know is a well-known resort area in Korea, is looking to charge visitors a fee to help protect the environment.

They’re calling it an “eco-tourism tax”.

Last week, the local government on Jeju Island released a report about charging visitors more to help ‘take care’ of the environment.

How much will be charged?

It suggested charging about 1,500 KRW (1.51 SGD) per night for hotel rooms.

But that’s not all.

There are also plans to charge around 5,000 KRW (5.03 SGD) per day to rent a car/vehicle, and 5% of the cost for bus tours.

These amounts are based on a study from a few years ago about charging visitors on the island in the name of an “eco-tourism tax”.

The money collected would be used to help with problems like pollution and sewage.

It would also protect natural areas from the over 10 million people who visit each year.

Will the tax apply only to Jeju?

Image Credits: unsplash.com

The report said Jeju would be the first place in Korea to do this.

Many popular places in Europe already charge these environmental fees and the report by the Korea Environment Institute (KEI) thinks Jeju should seriously consider doing the same thing.

The fees are allowed under a Korean law about environmental protection, which states that people who benefit from nature should help pay for it.

Jeju is known for its natural areas and volcanoes listed by UNESCO but the report also pointed out that while tourism is big for Jeju, it causes pollution problems.

In addition, the island doesn’t make much money even though so many people visit.

In the future, other places such as Gangwon Province and Ulleung Island may start charging environmental fees too…

What other countries are doing

Many countries in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific have started charging “green fees” in recent years to control overtourism and pollution.

Jeju has tried passing these fees before since 2012 but stakeholders have opposed it, citing nuances of an “island entrance fee”.

Now, both major political candidates support the idea.

The local governor also wants it.

But some worry it may discourage people from visiting if it costs more, even its own residents from other cities.

In fact, the number of Korean visitors was down last year while more traveled abroad.

The local government will discuss the report more later this month and plan to introduce the fees if a new national law allows it after Korea’s general elections in April.

By Celeste Elle

View all articles by Celeste Elle

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Hotel Tax Refund

Home Accommodations Hotels Hotel Tax Refund

Hotel Tax Refund Policy for Foreigners

Hotel tax refund is applicable to international tourists who stay in certified hotels within Korea for less than 30 days. In order to receive the tax refund, eligible recipients should be scheduled to leave Korea within 3 months from their check-out date.

Hotel Tax Refund Process

1. Upon check-in: Receive Hotel Tax Refund Guide and Hotel Tax Refund Checklist.
2. Upon check-out: Eligible recipients must submit their Hotel Tax Refund Checklist to the hotel and receive a Hotel Tax Refund Form.

Tax Refund Locations

Tax refund is available at the hotel or at Tax Refund Centers found within the city, including those located inside airports or seaports. Tax refund availability may vary by Tax Refund Center or hotel. For details, make an inquiry at the hotel.

Hotel Tax Refund Eligibility

1. Visitors of non-Korean nationality who do not hold a resident or a work related visa and whose duration of stay is less than 6 months.
2. The hotel tax refund covers breakfast included in the initial cost of stay, but does not cover any other separate charges made to the room.
3. Payments must be made directly to the hotel to be eligible for a tax refund. * Tax refund is available even if the booking was made through a hotel booking website or a travel agency as long as the tax refund recipient paid for the accommodation directly to the hotel.

Certified hotels offering tax refund service (as of July 1, 2020):

* Certified hotels are subject to change; verify with the hotel upon booking if tax refund service is available.

This page was last updated on July 1, 2020, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here.

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안녕하십니까? 제주특별자치도관광협회입니다. 제주특별자치도관광협회 홈페이지 방문을 환영합니다.

Established in 1962 under the Tourism Promotion Act, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Tourism Association has played a vital role in Jeju tourism for more than half a century.

To ensure a stable growth of the tourism industry, our association continues to promote domestic and foreign tourist attraction activities, builds friendly and cooperative networks with overseas tourism-related organizations, and systematically supports the marketing activities of the industry.

In addition, we are promoting various support projects to strengthen the external competitiveness of tourism companies and improve the business environment, leading the industry's self-reflection efforts to improve the constitution of Jeju tourism, as well as actively participating in social contribution activities such as youth scholarship projects and the operation of Volunteer Group.

In the future, our association will carry out core projects without a hitch around the Jeju Comprehensive Business Center, which opened in July 2018, and will make utmost efforts to create Jeju Tours that satisfy tourists, residents and the industry by establishing a virtuous cycle of qualitative tourism in which tourism profits can be returned to the local community.

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From Zafigo

South Korea’s Jeju Island Mulling Tourist Fees To Protect Local Environment

Jeju Island is part of a growing list of destinations considering the implementation of tourist fees to protect and support environmental sustainability. (Left: Image by JUNGIL PARK . Right: Image by Sam .)

Jeju Island, a beautiful island located off the southern coast of South Korea , is the newest amongst a bevy of holiday destinations looking to impose tourist fees to protect the local environment and support sustainability.

For the uninitiated, Jeju Island is a popular tourist destination in South Korea known for its natural beauty, scenic landscapes, and cultural attractions. The island is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the volcanic Hallasan Mountain and the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes. It’s also famous for its pristine beaches, vibrant nightlife, and delicious cuisine.

How much is the tax?

According to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province , the fees will be KRW1,500 (approximately RM5) per night for tourists, KRW5,000 (approximately RM17) per day for those renting a car, KRW10,000 (approximately RM34) per day for those renting a minivan, and 5% of the fee for hiring a bus. It’s reported that should the proposed fees be implemented, each tourist will have to fork out roughly KRW8,170 (approximately RM28) each day.

According to the authority, if put out and approved by the National Assembly, the measure under discussion will, after the first year, contribute roughly KRW141 billion to local government finances. The authority predicts that by year three, the sum will have risen to KRW167 billion.

Environmental effects

Locals have long voiced concerns about the negative effects of the island’s growing popularity as a tourist attraction, particularly the accumulation of trash and sewage that threatens to overwhelm the island’s current infrastructure. Because of this, the island’s marine ecosystem and the people’s ability to make a living have been put under threat. In 2012, the island administration attempted to implement the admission charge, but opponents blocked it.

The objective is to have visitors, as users of the natural environment, chip in to help cover the costs of environmental conservation.

As reported by the Korea Times , in addition to considering ways to protect Jeju Island’s ecological diversity, officials on the island have been looking into whether or not three other laws can help with tourist management.

Countries with tourists taxes

The proposal by the island comes as lawmakers in Hawaii debate whether to impose a USD40 (approximately RM177) or USD50 (approximately RM222) green fee on visitors in order to better protect Hawaii’s natural resources. Manchester just began enacting its own GBP1(approximately RM6) tourist tax beginning 1 April 2023.

Even Japan charges a JPY1,000 (approximately RM33) Sayonara Tax to people who leave the country. In the meantime, Thailand plans to introduce its own tourist levies from June. Holidaymakers entering the Southeast Asian country via land borders or seaports will be taxed THB300 (approximately RM39) per flight or THB150 (approximately RM19) per passenger.

After a string of events involving disrespectful foreigners breaking local norms, Bali too is considering implementing a tourist tax along with stricter rules for foreigners visiting the holiday island.

A journalist by profession, self-proclaimed horror movie expert by passion. Danisha needs to spend more time watching sunsets than Netflix. Ultimately, she's just another girl figuring out her place in the world in between the multitudinous demands of adult life.

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Jeju Island considers introducing eco-tourism tax

The southern resort island of Jeju is pushing to impose a so-called eco-tourism tax on visitors to curb the adverse effects of tourism such as environmental damage.

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These are all the destinations you’ll need to pay extra to visit this year

More and more popular travel destinations are introducing tourist taxes to tackle problems caused by overtourism – here’s what you’ll have to pay

This year, international travel is forecast to bounce back to the highest levels since 2019 – and while that’s great news for the tourism industry in general, many cities, attractions and entire regions are suffering under the weight of overtourism .

The potential for damage to historic sites, unhinged tourist behaviour and the simple issue of overcrowding are all common consequences of overtourism. That’s why a growing list of popular travel destinations have introduced a tourist tax, with the hopes of controlling visitor numbers and improving local infrastructure to better cater to higher visitor capacity.

Many countries and cities introduced a tourist tax in 2023, and many more are due to launch theirs in 2024. Tourist taxes aren’t a new thing – you’ve probably paid one before, tied in with the cost of a plane ticket or the taxes you pay at a hotel.

However, more destinations than ever before are creating this fee for tourists, and many places have increased the cost of existing ones. Here’s a full list of all the destinations charging a tourist tax in 2024, including all the recently introduced and upcoming tourist taxes you need to know about.

Austria charges visitors a nightly accommodation tax which differs depending on province. In Vienna or Salzburg , you could pay 3.02 percent per person on top of the hotel bill.

Belgium , like Austria, has a nightly fee. Some hotels include it in the rate of the room and add it separately to your bill, so read it carefully.

The rate in Brussels is charged per room, and varies depending on the size and rating of your hotel, but is usually around €7.50. Antwerp also charges per room.

Bhutan has always been known for its steep tourist taxes and charges. In 2022, the Himalayan kingdom tripled the amount it charged visitors in tax to a minimum of $200 per day , but that amount has since been lowered. In 2024, the daily fee for the majority of visitors is $ 100, and that is due to continue until August 31, 2027.

Bulgaria applies a fee to overnight stays, but it reaches a maximum of only €1.50.

Caribbean Islands

The following Caribbean Islands charge a tourist tax, ranging from between €13 to €45: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, the Dominican Republic , Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands.

The tax tends to be tied into the cost of a hotel or a departure fee.

Croatia only charges its visitors a fee of 10 kuna (€1.33) per night during peak season.

Czechia (also known as Czech Republic)

Czechia only applies a fee to those travelling to Prague . It doesn’t apply to those under the age of 18, and is less than €1 per person, per night.

France ’s ‘taxe de séjour’ varies depending on city, and tends to be added to your hotel bill. It varies from €0.20 to €4 per person, per night.

Earlier this month, Paris announced it would be increasing its fee by up to 200 percent for those staying in hotels, Airbnbs, and campsites, but that it plans to put the funds towards improving the city’s services and infrastructure.

READ MORE: The cost of visiting Paris will soar this summer – here’s why

Germany charges visitors a ‘culture tax’ (kulturförderabgabe) and a ‘bed tax’ (bettensteuer) in certain cities, including Frankfurt , Hamburg and Berlin , which tends to be around five percent of your hotel bill.

Greece ’s tourist tax is based on numbers. Specifically, how many stars a hotel has, and the number of rooms you’re renting. The fee was introduced by the Greek Ministry of tourism to help pay off the country’s debt, and can be anything from €4 per room.

Hungary charges visitors four percent of the price of their room, but only in Budapest .

Iceland is introducing a tourist tax to protect its ‘unspoilt nature’ this year, which will cost between €4 to €7 per night. It comes after annual tourist numbers reached an estimated 2.3 million per year.

In Indonesia , the only destination which charges a tourist tax is Bali , and the fee is set to increase this February to $10 (£7.70, €8.90, IDR 150,000) – but is a one-time entry fee, not a nightly tax. It apparently goes towards protecting the island’s ‘environment and culture.’

Much like in France, Italy ’s tourist tax varies depending on your location. Rome ’s fee is usually between €3 to €7 per night, but some smaller Italian towns charge more.

Venice finally announced in September that its tourist tax, a €5 (£4.30, $5.40) fee which will be applicable on various days during high season, will launch in 2024. It only applies to day-trippers rather than those staying overnight, though.

Japan has a departure tax of around 1,000 yen (€8).

Malaysia has a flat-rate tax which it applies to each night you stay, of around €4 a night.

New Zealand

New Zealand ’s tax comes in the from of an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of around €21 which much be paid upon arrival, but that does not apply to people from Australia.

Netherlands

The Netherlands has both a land and water tax. Amsterdam is set to increase its fee by 12.5 percent in 2024, making it the highest tourist tax in the European Union.

Portugal has a low tourist tax of €2, which applies to all those over the age of 13. It’s only applicable on the first seven nights of your visit and applies in 13 Portuguese municipalities, including Faro, Lisbon and Porto.

Olhão became the latest area to start charging the fee between April and October. Outside of this period, it gets reduced to €1 and is capped at five nights all year round. The money goes towards minimising the impact of tourism in the Algarve town.

Slovenia also bases its tax on location and hotel rating. In larger cities and resorts, such as Ljubljana and Bled, the fee is higher, but still only around €3 per night.

Spain

Spain applies its Sustainable Tourism Tax to holiday accommodation in the Balearic Islands to each visitor over the age of sixteen. Tourists can be charged up to €4 per night during high season.

Barcelona ’s city authorities announced they plan to increase the city’s tourist tax over the next two years – the fee is set to rise to €3.25 on April 1, 2024. The council said the money would go towards improving infrastructure and services. This is in addition to regional Catalan tax.

Switzerland

Switzerland ’s tax varies depending on location, but the per person, per night cost is around €2.20. It tends to be specified as a separate amount on your accommodation bill.

Thailand

Thailand introduced a tourist tax to the price of flights in April 2022, in a similar effort to the Balinese aim of moving away from its rep as a ‘cheap’ holiday destination. The fee for all international visitors is 300 baht (£6.60, $9).

The US has an ‘occupancy tax’ which applies across most of the country to travellers renting accommodation such as hotels, motels and inns. Houston is estimated to be the highest, where they charge you an extra 17 percent of your hotel bill.

Hawaii could be imposing a ‘green fee’ – initially set at $50 but since lowered to $25 – which would apply to every tourist over the age of 15. It still needs to be passed by lawmakers, but if approved, it wouldn’t be instated until 2025.

The European Union

Finally, the European Union is planning on introducing a tourist visa , due to start in 2024. The €7 application will have to be filled out by all non-Schengen visitors between the ages of 18 and 70, including Brits and Americans.

READ MORE: Why sustainable tourism isn’t enough anymore

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Liv Kelly Contributing Writer

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Tourists to Korea complain most about being ripped off, poor taxi service: KTO report

F oreign tourists to Korea are least happy with its shopping and taxi experiences, a Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) report showed Sunday.

The KTO said its Tourist Complaint Center received 902 complaints last year, seeing a significant increase compared to 288 in 2022.

It said the number of complaints decreased between 2020 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic but rose last year as the tourism industry recovered.

Of the complaints, 808 (89.6 percent) were made by foreign visitors.

The highest number of complaints (215) was related to shopping, including price gouging, tax refunds, and refund and exchange policies.

“I bought a set of 10 foot masks after viewing the price at 8,000 won, but later realized that I was charged 80,000 won. When I asked for the cancellation, the seller told me to come back the next day because the store manager wasn’t present,” a Japanese tourist was quoted as saying by the KTO.

Taxi service was the second-greatest inconvenience for foreign tourists, taking up 18.8 percent of the complaints (170). Problems included overcharging and refusing to turn on meters, drivers not being courteous with customers and deliberately taking longer routes for higher fares.

The Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Police Agency said Thursday that it caught a taxi driver who tried to charge a Chinese tourist an exorbitant fare for a ride from Jeju International Airport to a hotel near Hamdeok Beach.

The police said the taxi driver received 200,000 won when the taxi fare should have been 23,000 won and ordered him to return 177,000 won.

Complaints concerning accommodation came in third.

Among 142 reported cases, those related to poor facilities and hygiene accounted for 31.7 percent.

The KTO and the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism vowed to cooperate with local governments to improve convenience for tourists and foster regional tourism.

“We will regularly inspect major tourist attractions to keep an eye on exorbitant pricing at cultural and tourism festivals. We will take tougher measures on illegal practices of taxi drivers and improve services for foreign tourists,” the KTO said in a report.

The number of inbound tourists hit 11.02 million last year, up 245 percent from a year earlier. After a sharp drop from 17.5 million in 2019 to 2.52 million in 2020 and 970,000 in 2021, the number recovered to 3.2 million in 2022 and exceeded 11 million last year.

Foreign tourists wearing hanbok (traditional Korean dress) take a group photo at Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

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4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024

Ready to escape to an island paradise? Say annyeong to our 4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary with all the must-visit attractions you’ve got to check out!

Want to have a balance of city and nature? Make your great escape to the stunning Jeju Island on your next South Korean trip for a taste of an island paradise. Check out our shortlist of must-visits, must-dos, and must-eats in our 4-day Jeju Island itinerary! Plus a breakdown of proposed tourism fees and transportation options ⬇️

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Breakdown of proposed tourism fees

South Korea is home to a wide variety of things to do and places to visit, which is why it has consistently been one of the top tourist destinations in Asia. If you travel a little further down south, you’ll find the iconic Jeju Island, also known as the Hawaii of Asia thanks to its otherworldly volcanic structures, emerald peaks, and delicious seafood (amongst many other things, of course!). These are also reasons why Jeju is one of the most popular holiday destinations for domestic and foreign tourists alike.

But with all good things, they need to be protected. While the influx of tourists has helped the tourism sector, it has also resulted in a huge overload of garbage and sewage — a huge bane for such a pristine island. This is why the local Jeju authorities are looking to impose tourism fees .

4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Check out our South Korea forecast 2024 here

Is it still worth it to visit Jeju Island, then?

Image Credits: Qantas

Here’s a quick breakdown based on a fictional scenario. You read this article while planning for your Korea trip and got really inspired (😉) to spend some time on Jeju Island. After some planning, you and three other friends decide to follow part of our itinerary — so that’s 4D3N, along with a car rental for the entirety of your trip. Based on the proposed tourism fees, you and your party will be taxed approximately 38,000 won (~$38.20). This roughly translates to just under S$10 per person for the whole trip!

Our verdict? Given that the proposed fees are to help solve some of the island’s growing pollution and sewage issues while protecting the natural resources and all the gorgeous natural landmarks thousands of tourists have come to love… we’d say that it’s 101% worth it!

4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Looking for a 10-day Korea itinerary? Click here !

Things to note if driving

What we love about driving is that it’ll allow you to cover more ground, perfect for if you’re pressed for time. It’s also a great way for you to explore outside of the usual tourist hot spots, giving you a chance to truly live like a local. The only downsides are that it may take some getting used to for the left-hand drive, and traffic can get pretty bad during peak hours.

Image Credits: Visit Jeju

If you choose to drive, a popular car rental choice is the LOTTE rent-a-car service available at the airport. If you prefer to have more options (at great prices), then you should definitely explore car rentals on Klook. Oh, don’t forget to obtain your international driver’s license prior to your arrival. While some countries may not enforce this, South Korea is known to be quite strict about it.

💡 While Google Maps can help you with general directions, Naver and Kakao Maps are way more accurate.

4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Here are 10 ways you can save money in Korea

Things to note if taking public transport

Unlike other islands, Jeju has a great public transport system that allows you to travel across the island pretty seamlessly. What we love is that it’s a great way for you to experience living like a local, while helping you save money at the same time!

Bus fares usually cost S$1 to S$2, and while they accept coins, we’d recommend going for the local T-money card, which is similar to our EZ-link card. It’s fuss-free, easy to top-up, and won’t leave you fumbling for loose change!

Similar to what we’ve suggested for driving, you should put your Google Maps to rest for this trip. Instead, opt for Naver and Kakao for more accurate and updated directions. While the local maps are generally quite reliable, it doesn’t hurt to refer to the official site for a second opinion. After all, waiting for a bus in Jeju isn’t like it is in Singapore. Sometimes, you can find yourself waiting hours!

💡 If you fancy yourself a free spirit and have no fixed itinerary, you might be able to benefit from the Jeju City Bus . This allows you to hop on and hop off anywhere along the bus route, which typically covers most of the popular tourist destinations.

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Bonus: Taxis!

Taxis are also another option (albeit a less economical one), with Kakao T the main service provider — a Grab or Uber equivalent. Downloading and navigating the app is pretty intuitive, but the only thing you need to take note of is that you’ll need to have a physical credit card on hand, as linking your card on the app requires you to have a Korean ID. Here’s where your trusty YouTrip Card can come in handy! Enjoy attractive wholesale rates when you pay onboard.

4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Here’s an itinerary we built with our fellow YouTroopers

Your 4D3N Jeju Island Itinerary:

Jeju may be tiny in size compared to mainland South Korea, but it’s sure packed with a wide variety of cultural and natural attractions! While some purists would say that you need a minimum of 7 days to truly enjoy the sights and sounds of the island, most would recommend 4 days for a pretty good taster.

Whether you choose to drive or to take public transport, a great tried-and-tested strategy when planning your trip is to split it into four parts: North, South, East, and West. Here’s our quick guide play-by-play guide:

Day 1: North

Whether you choose to fly or take a ferry to Jeju Island, your first day should be chill and should allow you to recharge before a hectic and action-packed next few days.

Dodu Rainbow Coastal Road

Image credits: VISITKOREA

You may think that the Coastal Road is a vast and long highway, but don’t be fooled (or intimidated) by its name! Dodu Rainbow Coastal Road is a popular tourist attraction that features insta-worthy rainbow blocks and statues set against the backdrop of the gorgeous sea. Spend some time taking a nice stroll along the road, and don’t forget to stop for a quick perk-me-up at one of the many cafes in the area.

Address: Dodu 1(il)-Dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 24 hours

4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Check out what to eat in Seoul

Ollae Guksu

Image credits: Restaurant Guru

There’s no better way to start off your Jeju adventure with a bowl of piping hot pork noodle soup ! Flavourful and made with love, this dish is a no-frills meal that’ll fuel you up for the rest of your day. We love that it’s a popular local spot, giving you a glimpse into what an authentic Jeju experience would look like.

Do note that there’s a restaurant policy that requires every customer to order their own bowl of noodles — no sharing is allowed!

Address: 24 Gwiarang-gil, 특별자치도, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 08:30 – 15:00, closed on Sundays

4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Here are 8 real-life K-Drama places in South Korea to visit

Gyulhangi Experience Farm

Image credits: Korea.net

When in Jeju, a hallabong-picking experience is a must! Hallabongs are special tangerines that grow near Hallasan Mountain and have almost become synonymous with the island. While you’re likely to find a variety of hallabong farms peppered around the island, we’d recommend the Gyulhangi Experience Farm close to the airport.

Expect warm hospitality from the ajummas who run the farm, and some of the sweetest pickings at an affordable price. It costs approximately 7,000 KRW (~S$7.00) for 1kg of tangerines with no time limit. After the experience, you’ll also be treated to a variety of tangerine snacks, which we think is great value for money!

Address: 160 노형동 Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours : 09:00 – 17:00, daily

4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Should you exchange money in Singapore or overseas? Find out more here

Majungmul Samgyetang

Image credits: Korean Bapsang

When in South Korea, we always recommend scarfing down as much Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) as you can! This local favourite feels like home and serves up some of the heartiest meals in town. Not to be missed are the samgyetang (duh), and the kimchi jjigae for a delicious and authentic Korean feast.

Address: 788-15 삼도1동 Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Operating Hours: 10:30 – 21:30, daily

4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Where’s my Korean won or Thai baht? Find out more here

Day 2: South

Image credits: Visit Jeju

Make sure you’re all rested, as you’ll be up bright and early for a hike up to the iconic Hallasan Mountain ! Located within Hallasan National Park, Hallasan Mountain is actually a dormant volcano!

While there are four trails for you to choose from, we would highly recommend summiting for stunning views of the island. For something that’s a little more manageable but is sure to work up a sweat, take on the Seongpanak Trail. This is about 7-9 hours long and is about 9.6km one-way.

A local favourite is to take the Gwaneumsa trail back down (this is the tougher trail), which gives you a chance to enjoy the fantastic views of Gwaneumsa while descending.

❗ Reservation is needed to hike to the peak.

Address: South Korea, Jeju-do, Jeju-si, 특별자치도, 1100로 2070-61

4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Make your reservations here

Seogwipo Olle Market

Image credits: igoiseeishoot

After a long day of hiking, you have the option to check out one of the most iconic indoor markets in Jeju. Established in the 1960s, this charming market is a popular tourist spot that sells a variety of fresh seasonal produce, seafood, and other household products.

From fresh strawberries to delicious kimchi rolls, you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice by the food options available, which is key in ensuring that you’re all loaded up after your morning workout!

Address: 18 Jungang-ro 62beon-gil, 특별자치도 Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 07:00 – 21:00, daily

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Black Pork BBQ

Image credits: Tripadvisor

We know it’s a pretty tall order to do another round of food after visiting the Seogwipo Olle Market, but hear us out: You’re only here for a short amount of time. This is why we made sure you clocked in enough steps so that you can work up an appetite!

Black pork is a Jeju icon, and definitely something you cannot miss out on. As its name suggests, Black Pork BBQ specialises in, well… black pork BBQ. We love this place for its unpretentious vibes, fast service, and delicious, juicy meats!

Address : 7 Taepyeong-ro 353beon-gil, 특별자치도 Seogwipo-si, 제주 South Korea

Opening Hours : 16:30 – 22.30, daily

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Day 3: East

Seongsan ilchulbong.

Image credits: Jeju Tourism Organisation Travel Blog

We weren’t kidding when we said it’ll be an action-packed few days! Begin your day bright and early and make your way towards the next natural marvel — Seongsan Ilchulbong , a now-extinct underwater volcano that erupted thousands of years ago.

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Image credits: Harper’s BAZAAR

Opt to do a short hour-long hike up to the summit to watch the gorgeous Jeju sunrise, or start your day a little later by making a quick trip to the iconic Seogwipean Bakery to grab some sustenance, so that you can have a little picnic with a side of mesmerising views!

Address: 284-12, Ilchul-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Opening Hours : 07:00 – 19:00, daily

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Myeongjin Jeonbok Abalone

Image credits: Daniel Food Diary

Did you really go to Jeju if you didn’t have a bowl (or three) of abalone porridge? Myeongjin Jeonbok Abalone is one of the most highly-raved restaurants that serve up some of the freshest abalone dishes out there. After your hike, treat yourself to their grilled abalones, abalone porridge, and their hot pot rice with abalone. Your meal will also come served with a generous side of banchan, so be prepared for the food coma that’ll come after.

Address: 1282 Haemajihaean-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 09:30 – 21:30, Wed – Mon

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Oleun (Orrrn)

Image Credits: ArchDaily

After a full day of nature and eating, it’s time to get your hit of caffeine. We’d recommend paying a visit to the beautiful Oleun cafe . Must-haves include the signature Orrrn latte that’s topped with peanut cream and crushed peanuts, as well as their wide variety of desserts and pastries. We also recommend trying to get a seat by the window for some of the most stunning views of the ocean!

Address: 394 Ojo-ri, Seongsan-eup, 특별자치도, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 10:30 – 19:00, daily

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Manjanggul Lava Tube Cave

Another geographical marvel worth visiting would be the Manjanggul Lava Tube Cave , which was formed due to past volcanic activity on the island, and is once where hot molten lava used to flow through. Here, you get the opportunity to explore the underground tunnels and get up close with a variety of topographical features like stalactites, stalagmites, and stone pillars.

Address: 182 Manjanggul-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00, daily (closed on the first Wednesday of every month)

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Dongmun Traditional Market

As your Jeju adventure slowly comes to an end, a visit to another market is in order. The Dongmun Traditional Market is one of the more popular ones as it’s the oldest on the island, and comes packed with a huge variety of things to go. Feast on some delicious and authentic Korean street food, and take the time to peruse the stalls for some cute Jeju souvenirs, like hallabong-themed toys and even hair accessories!

Address: South Korea, Jeju-do, Jeju-si, 특별자치도, 동문시장

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 23:00, daily

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Day 4: West

Ujin haejangguk.

Image Credits: Monstamun

You don’t need to be nursing a hangover to enjoy this meal, but after having a taste, you can understand why it’s so popular! Ujin Haejangguk is hailed as one of the must-visit restaurants, with snaking long lines as a testament to its deliciousness. For the ultimate experience, order the works — spicy beef congee, mung bean pancakes, and all the banchan you can stomach.

Fair warning: be prepared to queue!

Address: 11 Seosa-ro, 특별자치도 Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 06:00 – 22:00, daily

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Innisfree Jeju House

Image Credits: KoreabyMe

After your meal, make your way to the Innisfree Jeju House , even if you’re not a make-up fan. Why? This space functions as a cool experiential space that talks about the brand’s history and philosophy and gives you a cool behind-the-scenes look at how the brand uses organic and local ingredients to create the products loved by the world today. The best part is that you can also spend time hanging out in the courtyard or in the cafe, and soak in the tranquil vibes — a fitting end to your Jeju adventure.

Address: 23 Sinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00, daily

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Osulloc Tea Museum

Image credits: SeoulShopper

If you’re a tea fan, this one’s for you. A short stroll away from Innisfree Jeju House is the iconic Osulloc Tea Museum . Here, you can learn all about the history behind this iconic green tea, take a stroll in the park, and even have a look at the tea fields from the observatory. Be sure to spend some time appreciating the tea — and maybe use the time for some quiet contemplation on your travels so far.

Address: 15 Sinhwayeoksa-ro, 특별자치도, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

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Jeju Dongnum Soy Sauce Crab

Image credits: Korea Private Tours

And in true Singaporean fashion, the best way to end a trip is with a meal fit for a king! We absolutely love Jeju Dongnum Soy Sauce Crab for its fresh, sweet and umami-packed meal. Also known as ganjang gejang , raw marinated crab is a traditional dish that is marinated in a mild soy-sauce-based brine, and tastes good on its own, and on a warm bed of rice. This local shop is not too touristy and is known for its true-blue local vibes.

Address: 1135-2 일도1동 Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00, Tues – Sun

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Don’t Just Dream Of Paradise — Live It

Life’s too short for bad vacations! We hope that this short but action-packed itinerary will equip you with all the tools you need to make informed choices for your next South Korea adventure.

As always, we’re here to help our YouTroopers score some of the best deals in town. When renting cars, booking hotels, and other adventures for your Jeju Island trip, enjoy greater peace of mind and attractive discounts with our partners like Klook, Booking.com , Agoda, and the like. And as usual, remember to make use of your YouTrip Card to lock in those wholesale exchange rates so that you can save more to spend more on the experiences that matter to you.

As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with < YTBLOG5 > and get FREE S$5 in your account! Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret it. For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.

And while you’re at it, why not join the conversation with thousands of #YouTroopers in our very own Community Telegram Group @YouTripSquad ? Get tips and tricks to everything YouTrip including exclusive invites to exciting events and experiences, & be part of the #YouTripSquad! 💜

Stay safe and happy travels!

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Ciao, bella! 🇮🇹

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15 Best Things to Do in Jeju
Jeju is ‘overwhelmed’ and wants a tourist tax. But will South Korea
La isla Jeju, una de las maravillas naturales
15 Best Things to Do in Jeju
Jeju is ‘overwhelmed’ and wants a tourist tax. But will South Korea
Jeju Island Tourist Attraction

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🤍DAY 21: WHY (BEING) THE FAITHFULS (Q4:105-107)?🤍

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Jeju Island considers introducing eco-tourism tax
Yonhap. By Lee Hae-rin. The southern resort island of Jeju is pushing to impose a so-called eco-tourism tax on visitors to curb the adverse effects of tourism such as environmental damage. On ...
South Korea's Jeju Island seeks to impose tourism fees
More than 13 million people visited Jeju between Jan 1, 2022, and Dec 25, 2022, according to the Jeju Tourism Association. This is a 16 per cent increase from the same period in 2021.
South Korea's Jeju Island mulls entry fee for tourists amid ...
A photo taken on May 10, 2019 shows a general view of the Seongsan Ichulbong (Sunrise Peak) volcanic rock formation on Jeju island. (Photo: AFP/Ed Jones) 18 Apr 2023 09:14PM (Updated: 19 Apr 2023 ...
Jeju is 'overwhelmed' and wants a tourist tax. But will South Korea
Indonesia's island of Bali is also mulling over a visitor tax. Suh Yong-kun, a tourism management professor at Jeju National University, said it was far from clear whether a tourism levy could ...
Jeju's continued bid to enforce entrance fee to island draws backlash
Jeju's push for collecting an entrance fee from tourists visiting the island is sparking controversy. The strife reignited when Jeju Governor Oh Young-hun said during a provincial council meeting in April that the provincial government is writing rough drafts of a bill that will charge some 8,000 won ($6) per visitor per day to Jeju Island.
Jeju Island considers introducing eco-tourism tax for visitors
The southern resort island of Jeju is pushing to impose a so-called eco-tourism tax on visitors to curb the adverse effects of tourism such as environmental damage. On Thursday, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province revealed a report by the Korea Environment Institute (KEI) about action plans to impose a share of expenses for the preservati ...
Jeju emerging as Asia's coolest island getaway
One idea - to grant Jeju tax-free, financial hub status - went nowhere. Another idea - to turn it into an international educational hub - gained limited traction. ... the year before to 5.7 trillion won ($5 billion). Likewise, domestic tourist arrivals to Jeju increased by 10%, while Japanese tourism increased by 24.7%. "Since we have ...
South Korea's Jeju Island may impose tourism fee for visitors to
The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province is considering imposing a tourism fee or "admission tax" on visitors in an effort to maintain environmental sustainability, according to the Korea Times ...
Jeju considers 'environmental tax' on tourists
Jeju Island plans to introduce a so-called "environmental tax" on tourists, claiming they must share responsibility for pollution there. The provincial island's authorities said Monday that ...
The complete guide to Jeju Island: From nature to food and beyond
Routes currently run from Busan, Yeosu, Wando, Mokpo, Goheung, and Incheon. Ferry times range from just 2 hours 40 minutes to go from Jeju to Wando, to 13.5 hours from Jeju to Incheon. There are also international options, although these often change. At the time of writing, you can fly to Osaka, Singapore, Taipei, and Bangkok.
Jeju proposes an "eco-tourism tax" to curb environmental damage from
So Jeju, which we all know is a well-known resort area in Korea, is looking to charge visitors a fee to help protect the environment. They're calling it an "eco-tourism tax". Last week, the local government on Jeju Island released a report about charging visitors more to help 'take care' of the environment. How much will be charged?
Official Site of Korea Tourism Org.: Hotel Tax Refund
Hotel Tax Refund Eligibility. 1. Visitors of non-Korean nationality who do not hold a resident or a work related visa and whose duration of stay is less than 6 months. 2. The hotel tax refund covers breakfast included in the initial cost of stay, but does not cover any other separate charges made to the room. 3.
Tourists to get VAT refund on hotel expenses
By Kang Aa-young, Jung Min-ho. Overseas tourists will be able to receive a 10 percent tax refund on accommodation fees in Korea this year. The Ministry of the Culture, Sports and Tourism said its ...
Jeju Tourism Organization
Jeju Welcome Center, 23 Seondeok-ro (Yeon-dong), Jeju City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Republic of Korea COPYRIGHT ⓒ JEJU TOURISM ORGANIZATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Jeju Island considers introducing eco-tourism tax
The tourism-dependent Jeju has also seen multiple efforts to legislate a similar tax since 2012, which have all failed under multiple names, including "tourism tax," "environment tax ...
Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Tourism Association
Established in 1962 under the Tourism Promotion Act, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Tourism Association has played a vital role in Jeju tourism for more than half a century. To ensure a stable growth of the tourism industry, our association continues to promote domestic and foreign tourist attraction activities, builds friendly and cooperative ...
South Korea's Jeju Island Mulling Tourist Fees To Protect ...
Countries with tourists taxes. The proposal by the island comes as lawmakers in Hawaii debate whether to impose a USD40 (approximately RM177) or USD50 (approximately RM222) green fee on visitors in order to better protect Hawaii's natural resources. Manchester just began enacting its own GBP1(approximately RM6) tourist tax beginning 1 April 2023.
Ground News
The southern resort island of Jeju is pushing to impose a so-called eco-tourism tax on visitors to curb the adverse effects of tourism such as environmental damage. 16 days ago · Korea, Republic of Read Full Article
PDF International Tourists' Perceived Sustainability of Jeju Island, South
Figure 1. International tourist trends to Jeju Island. With 12.6 million visitors (80% domestic and 20% international) annually and poised for further growth [8], the island destination is concerned about sustainability of its natural and cultural resources [9]. Jeju Island has embraced sustainability with emphasis on its environmental aspects
Tourist Taxes: Full List of Destinations Charging a Tourist Tax in 2024
In Indonesia, the only destination which charges a tourist tax is Bali, and the fee is set to increase this February to $10 (£7.70, €8.90, IDR 150,000) - but is a one-time entry fee, not a ...
Tourists to Korea complain most about being ripped off, poor taxi ...
F oreign tourists to Korea are least happy with its shopping and taxi riding experience, a Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) report showed Sunday. The KTO said its Tourist Complaint Center received ...
Jeju Taxi
Standard taxi fares: Base fee: €2.38 (KRW 3,300) Per Km: €0.07 (KRW 100) Jumbo taxi fares: Base fee: €3.24 (KRW 4,500) Per Km: €0.14 (KRW 200) Nevertheless, if you prefer travelling at a fixed price with a local English-speaking driver, it is recommended to pre-book your door-to-door Jeju taxi service online.
South Korea: Jeju Island considers applying an eco-tourism tax
16/03/2024. Tax revenue will be used to solve growing pollution problems, while protecting natural resources from the wave of more than 10 million visitors coming here every year. Korea: Jeju Island supports air tickets for foreign seasonal workers. Chinese cruise ship returns to Jeju resort island after 6 years of ban.
4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024
Your meal will also come served with a generous side of banchan, so be prepared for the food coma that'll come after. Address: 1282 Haemajihaean-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea. Opening Hours: 09:30 - 21:30, Wed - Mon. 4-Day Jeju Island Itinerary 2024: Check out 10 unique things to do in Seoul.

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South Korea’s Jeju Island seeks to impose tourism fees

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Jeju proposes an “eco-tourism tax” to curb environmental damage from tourism

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Jeju Island considers introducing eco-tourism tax

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