Jeju City Airport (CJU) Flights & Information

With its sparkling waters, spectacular beaches and rugged, volcanic landscape, Jeju Island isn’t just Korea’s largest island, it’s also one of its biggest tourist hotspots, attracting more than 13 million visitors per year. And with virtually all of these guests arriving by plane, it’s no wonder that Jeju International Airport (CJU) can feel overwhelming at times.

The route between Jeju and Gimpo International Airport in Seoul is the busiest airline route on the planet and helps to make CJU the second busiest airport in the country after the sprawling international hub of Incheon. It’s no surprise then that a second airport has been approved for construction, with the aim of relieving some of the congestion here.

If you’re planning a trip to Korea’s hottest tourist destination, this guide full of expert tips will help make your experience a whole lot easier.

Arriving at the airport

Although Jeju International’s hectic reputation precedes it, you can make your way safely through the airport in good time thanks to the kind of efficient streamlining for which Korea is rightly lauded.

You can check the airport’s current level of activity online any time for real-time updates on waits for baggage drop, ID check and security checkpoints. By and large I’ve found that you can safely arrive just 2 hours prior to departure and make your flight with ample time to spare, giving you more time for eating delicious local food and snapping up presents for people back home before boarding.

Check-in is online or from self-service machines close to the baggage drop area. Inevitably, the latter get busy during the summer months when Jeju throngs with visitors, but if you’re only traveling with cabin baggage you can head straight to ID check and security.

There are separate domestic and international terminals, with the former quick to clear, even if you are traveling with a foreign passport. The speed of international security checks is also impressive, ranging from just 2 or 3 minutes up to around a max of 10 minutes at the busiest periods of the weekend. Very large staff numbers and efficient use of x-ray machines make this possible.

If you're arriving domestically, you can leave the airport without any ID checks in a matter of minutes. Of course, if you’re coming from overseas, you will need to go through passport control. At busy times this can take as much as an hour, so don’t plan to be out of the airport immediately.

Getting to and from CJU by public transportation

Because Jeju International Airport is located within Jeju City, accessing it by the island’s excellent public transit system is a breeze. The 182 bus travels from the center of the city right to the airport, dropping passengers of by the arrivals area. The ride only takes 3 minutes and is inexpensive.

If you want a way of getting to and from your hotel directly without splashing out for a taxi, then the best option is the Airport Limousine Bus 600. You can find the stop outside Gate 5 at the airport.

It’s not only inexpensive, it’s also comfortable and stops at a huge number of hotels on a route that travels from the north to the south of the island, terminating in the popular town of Seogwipo and stopping at every hotel in the Jungmun Resort. Because it runs as frequently as every 15 minutes from 6 am until almost 11 pm, it’s the best and most convenient way to get to and from the airport.

Getting to and from CJU by car

Because public transport in Jeju is so good, taking a taxi to and from the airport is really only necessary if you’d rather travel in privacy.

Typically, the taxi service here is well organized. The line is found directly outside the main terminal exit, where you won’t need to wait long for a ride. Trips into the city are cheap, but if you want to go further across the island you can expect to pay a lot more than the bus. A ride to Seogwipo is not very expensive, though, and takes about 40 minutes in normal traffic.

While you can find Uber services around Jeju City, you’re better off using local taxi hailing service Kakao T for rides to the airport from various destinations. It’s available on iOS and Android, with drivers able to take cash and foreign credit cards.

Many hotels also offer private transfers. Before you arrive, it’s a good idea to check and see whether this is available. While I’m a big fan of the simple-to-use taxis in Jeju, having someone collect you and your bags and take you directly to your hotel is admittedly much easier and more relaxing.

Security lines

Passing through Jeju International security is quick, easy and stress-free. In fact, even at busy times you can make your way through in 10 minutes, putting it way ahead of similarly sized airports found across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

If you’re flying internationally, head to Floor 3 where passengers with mobile boarding passes are fast tracked through security. Once you’re through, you can choose any of the immigration desks for presenting your boarding pass and passport, so just take a look for the shortest line and hop in.

Because Jeju is such a tourist hotspot, it’s imperative you leave ample time for dropping off any luggage. The online and self-check-in processes are quick and smooth, but if you have bigger bags full of souvenirs from your trip, I suggest giving yourself at least 15 minutes and possibly even half an hour to get your baggage safely checked in and ready for travel.

That said, Jeju deals with lines very efficiently. As a passenger I have never felt as if I’ve been forgotten, which can certainly happen in other, less well-organized terminals.

Priority Pass and fast track

Mobile boarding pass holders are fast tracked through security in the international part of the airport. For those who want to sail through quickly without spending time lingering in lines, an Airssist Security Fast Pass will let you skip the line in the company of a concierge who’ll take care of the finer details.

In my experience, the procedures are so smooth at Jeju International Airport that paying for such extras seems unnecessary. You’ll hardly save any time at all, so save your budget for just about anything else.

Priority Pass members can access the Asiana and LAK lounges, as long as they are flying with either airline. Just be aware that both are located on the landside of the airport, so you’ll still need to clear security and immigration after spending time chilling out here.

Free Wi-Fi at Jeju International Airport

The free Wi-Fi at Jeju is fast and reliable, which is helpful if you still need to check-in online or stay up to date with any details about your flight, catch up on social feeds or browse the web. The service is free for 240 minutes.

Just select “CJU Free WiFi” on your device, fill in the registration form and connect. Being Korea, the connection is snappier than you’ll find in most places around the world, especially for a free public service.

Souvenir shopping

Jeju International Airport shops are on the basic side, with large duty-free options selling trinkets at a hefty cost compared with similar stores found throughout the island. That’s not to say you won’t find any last-minute gifts, but if you want better quality keepsakes, I definitely recommend keeping an eye out during your visit rather than relying on airport shopping.

Jungmun Resort and Seogwipo, as well as Jeju City, have loads of places for buying souvenirs like Hareubang statues and locally made skincare products – a South Korean specialty. Rice wine is also a classic gift. Just remember to pack it in your checked luggage so that you comply with liquid restrictions at security checkpoints.