Travelling to Jeju Island Visa-Free Resumes in June 2022

South Korea can now welcome tourists through Jeju Island visa-free starting 1 Jun 2022!

This news comes after South Korean Interior and Safety Minister Jeon Hae-cheol announced on 4 May 2022 that the visa-free program will be active for Jeju International Airport.

Mr. Jeon, who is also deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, adds that South Korea will continue to open its airports for international tourists, once COVID-19 cases continue to decline in their country.

Also read: 14 Awesome Attractions in Jeju Island You Shouldn’t Miss

Flights to Jeju International Airport

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It should be noted that to qualify for the visa-free program, tourists have to fly to Jeju Island through direct flights. There are a number of Asian major hub airports that host direct flights to Jeju International Airport. Some of these include: 

• Songshan International Airport – Taipei, Taiwan
• Haneda Airport – Tokyo, Japan
• Kansai International Airport – Osaka, Japan
• Beijing Capital International Airport – Beijing, China
• Hongqiao International Airport – Shanghai, China
• Che Kap Lok International Airport – Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong
• Suvarnabhumi Airport – Bangkok, Thailand

Southeast Asian tourists can book flights that will transit to other neighbouring visa-free countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. From there, you can search for flights going to Jeju Island. Since travel restrictions have changed throughout the pandemic, it would be wise to research requirements when booking connecting flights. You can take a look at these articles for tips: 

• South Korea Travel Restrictions: What to Know Before Visiting
• Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Framework: All You Need to Know Before Travelling
• Malaysia Travel Requirements: What We Know So Far
• Thailand Travel Requirements: What to Know Before Visiting

Flying to Gangwon visa-free

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Aside from Jeju Island, Gangwon Province is also accepting tourists visa-free. Group tourists from Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Mongolia can enter through Yangyang International Airport and stay in the province for up to 15 days without a visa. It is a great time to travel to Gangwon Province too, as the waiver is enacted just in time when international events are about to take place.

Also read: Gangwon Day Trip Itineraries from Seoul: One for Every Kind of Traveller!

There are almost no restraints enjoying what Jeju Island has to offer for international tourists. You can immerse yourself throughout Jeju Island for 30 days without a visa. It’s just enough time to experience its natural wonders for the first time.

The visa waiver programme started more than 20 years ago to attract tourists to Jeju Island. However, it was suspended at the height of the pandemic in South Korea. So, for hallyu fanatics out there, chart your flights and pack your bags to explore this enchanting paradise!

Featured image credit: Sam Kornstein via Canva Pro