If you are planning a trip to Jeju, one of the biggest questions you will probably face is whether you should rent a car and drive around the island yourself. The short answer? For most travellers, especially families or anyone wanting flexibility, driving in Jeju is easily the most convenient way to explore.

While Jeju does have a public bus system, travel times can be surprisingly long once you leave the main tourist areas. Some attractions are located far apart, buses may arrive infrequently, and relying entirely on taxis outside busier districts can become frustrating very quickly. This is one reason why so many locals and tourists alike choose to drive in Jeju instead.

Still, driving in Korea for the first time can feel intimidating. From navigating Korean GPS systems to understanding road rules, parking, tolls, and car rental requirements, there are quite a few things that first-time visitors worry about before arriving.

The good news is that Jeju is actually one of the easier places in Korea to drive! Roads are generally well-maintained, traffic is usually calmer than Seoul, and many popular attractions are designed with drivers in mind.

Whether you are still deciding if renting a car in Jeju is worth it, or you have already booked one and want practical tips before your trip, this guide covers everything you realistically need to know about driving in Jeju as a tourist.

Pick a reliable car rental service

One of the most important parts of driving in Jeju actually happens before you even land on the island: choosing the right car rental company.

There are countless car rental options in Jeju, ranging from large established brands to smaller local operators. After comparing prices, insurance coverage, pickup convenience, and reviews, we eventually decided to rent from LOTTE Rent-a-Car at their Jeju Auto House branch, and overall the experience was smooth enough that I would comfortably use them again.

What stood out was not just the pricing, although the rates were competitive, but how straightforward the entire process felt. The car pickup was organised, the inspection process was relatively efficient, and the overall experience felt geared toward tourists who might be driving in Korea for the first time.

That said, not every Jeju rental company operates the same way, and this is where doing proper research beforehand matters. A cheaper rental price does not always mean a better experience once you actually arrive.

One thing worth checking carefully is how strict the vehicle inspection process is during return. Some companies are known for being extremely particular about tiny scratches or cosmetic marks, which can become stressful if you did not properly document the car condition before driving off. Taking clear photos and videos of the vehicle during pickup is always a good habit regardless of which company you choose.

It is also important to check what kind of support the rental company provides if something goes wrong during your trip. Breakdowns, flat tires, or minor accidents are stressful enough already, especially in a foreign country, so having access to 24-hour roadside assistance or emergency support can make a huge difference.

Another practical thing to confirm is navigation. Most rental cars in Jeju come with built-in GPS systems, but not all systems are equally foreigner-friendly. Some older systems work better with Korean phone numbers or map codes rather than English addresses. If the company does not provide reliable navigation, you may end up depending heavily on your own mobile data and apps throughout the trip.

If you are visiting Jeju during winter, snow equipment is another detail worth clarifying in advance. Roads around Hallasan and higher elevation areas can become icy, and not every rental package automatically includes snow chains or winter tires. Some companies charge extra for them, while others include them seasonally.

These details might sound minor while planning the trip, but once you are actually driving around Jeju in unfamiliar conditions, they become the difference between a smooth experience and a stressful one.

Get your International Driver’s Permit (IDP)

You’ll NOT be able to drive in Jeju without the IDP, so this is extra important to remember!

In Singapore, you can either apply for the IDP online or walk in to one of the AA outlets. Walk-ins will allow you to get your IDP on the spot for just SGD20 and get it on the spot when you walk-in to apply for it.

Note: the IDP is recognised by the list of countries found in the booklet and valid within 1-year from the date of issue. You do not need to apply for multiple copies for the different countries you intend to visit.

Getting used to left-hand drive in Jeju

One of the most important things you’ll need to take note of is that Jeju uses left-hand drive. This is the opposite of countries like Singapore and Malaysia which practise right-hand drive.

The good news is that switching over is not as difficult as it sounds. You can practise getting used to it by slowly driving the car (which is highly encouraged anyway – more on that later).

At an intersection, the driver needs to check on the left side, and then the right side. If you have passengers in the car, you can also get them to remind you!

Make sure your car’s GPS is in English or a language you’re comfortable with

When you’re checking your car before driving off, make sure to also check if your car’s auto-fitted GPS is set to English or Korean.

There are a good number of Koreans from other cities who also rent cars to drive around Jeju, so English is not always the default language set on the GPS.

If you’re unsure how to set the language to English or another language you prefer, check with the staff at the rental company before you drive off!

Use phone numbers, not addresses, to find your destination on GPS

It sounds a little counterintuitive that you don’t input addresses in the GPS to navigate, but this is true!

In Singapore, you can simply type postal codes into the GPS and it’ll bring you to a specific building. However, postal codes do not work the same in Korea. From what I understand, they’re not unique to each building and even the building name itself is not searchable on GPS!

If you don’t have the telephone number of, say, the café that you want to drive to, you still can try typing in the name of the café and see if it works out. This has worked for us when we were trying to find our way to famous eateries such as Seogwipean Bakery.

Otherwise, your best bet is to use your phone’s GPS, which brings us to our next point…

Use Naver Maps as a navigation backup – but Google may work too!

You can’t run away from installing Naver Maps on your phone if you’re travelling in Korea, and you’ll find that this comes in super handy when you have issues finding places on your car’s GPS.

A lot of travel websites have explicitly said that Google Maps does not work in Korea. While this is true to a certain extent, I have discovered in recent years that Google Maps is not totally unusable. There are some places that can be much easily located on Google – caveat being that these are popular and highly-searched attractions.

That being said, Naver Maps still trumps if you need reliable navigation in Jeju. It is also much better for finding local haunts and highly-recommended food places. Just don’t totally rule out using Google Maps if you’re desperate and don’t know how to use Naver!

Enjoy the simple road system & nice drivers in Jeju

For those who worry that Jeju’s roads are as complex and jammed as Seoul’s highways, fret not!

Jeju’s road system is fairly straightforward ,with only a few main roads connected all around Jeju. Road signs are generally in English and Korean, and all landmarks are signposted.

Roads are relatively flat and are rarely ever jammed. The ones further from the city (nearer the nature attractions or seaside villages) tend to be narrower and curve a lot, but the bends do keep you alert so you don’t doze off while driving on long stretches.

We drove in winter where it turned dark VERY early because the sun sets at around 4-5pm, but didn’t find much of a problem because all the roads were very well-lit.

Our main worry was the snow and frost that hit the roads, especially on days with snow flurries. Luckily the roads in Jeju are very well-maintained and our car’s tyres have a good grip. Hence, we didn’t have issues driving and didn’t need snow chains either!

I generally find that drivers in Jeju are much more patient than those in Seoul – they do honk sometimes if you’re making mistakes, but this is more of a friendly warning rather than angry raging.

Watch out for speed limits & speed cameras all over Jeju

Generally, the speed limit is 70 – 80km/h on most of the roads in Jeju. I have never seen any that allow beyond 80km/h when we were driving in Jeju, so most people do drive at a pretty relaxed pace!

However, do note that speed limits slow to 50km/h at elderly/silver zones. These are further reduced to 30 km/h in school zones!

The Jeju authorities take speeding pretty seriously. Many speed cameras are installed islandwide, even in the far-flung seaside villages. Your rented car’s GPS will also prompt you with loud warnings once you drive over the stipulated speed limit.

We sometimes did observe certain local drivers going over the speed limit by a little – but best to be safe!

Enjoy free/cheap & plentiful parking in Jeju

Unlike Singapore where we struggle to find parking and pay exorbitant fees, parking in Jeju is such a breeze.

Parking in Jeju is usually free at restaurants, hotels, and town areas. Our Jeju Airbnb also provided free parking. You may have to check with your accommodation if it comes with a parking lot. Otherwise most places allow you to park pretty freely, especially if you’re not staying in the city.

Most tourist attractions will have their own parking spaces – the staff on hand will guide you, otherwise you can just follow the other cars. Some famous attractions may charge for parking (think Jeongbang Waterfalls charged us), ranging from KRW1,000 to 3,000.

The local markets like Dongmun Market and Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market usually have multi-storey car parks located nearby. Unlike Singapore which typically use automated parking systems, the ones in Jeju are manned.

We made payment using cash, but I’m not sure if they would take credit cards and T-money – it wasn’t an option offered to us!

Pumping petrol at petrol kiosks may not be cheap (prices also differ!)

You’ll definitely have to pump petrol at some point in time when driving in Jeju. Driving around the island can really burn through your fuel pretty fast, especially if you’re driving for hours daily. You’ll also need to fill to full tank before you return your car to the car rental.

It’s not easy to check petrol rates at individual petrol stations online, so we just found the most convenient petrol kiosk to refuel. The attendants will help to fill up so you don’t have to worry too much. Credit cards and cash were accepted.

Some travel guides and bloggers have suggested that petrol prices can fluctuate greatly across the island. Pumping petrol in Seogwipo seems to be cheaper than in Jeju City.

I can’t remember how much we pumped that time, but a quick search online shows that Jeju’s petrol prices are on par with those in Singapore. That is honestly not cheap, but if you’re just pumping petrol 1 or 2 times it won’t hurt your wallet too badly. Just remember to set aside a budget for it!

Related Posts:

• Road 1100 – The best winter views in Jeju!
• Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market: oldest traditional market in Jeju!
• Iho Tewoo Beach: Jeju beach with famous horse lighthouses

---

PIN THIS!