Renting a car in Jeju
As someone who travelled to Jeju previously and didn’t rent a car, renting a car this time was a huge difference! I am no longer constricted by the bus frequencies and can head out anytime i want to!
The buses in Jeju city are quite frequent but the buses outside are totally different. We noticed that we can save half the time by driving.
One question you may have is - it’s right hand drive, isn’t it hard? I think it just takes some adjusting and the constant reminded to keep right and all would be fine! Using Naver maps helped us to know which lane to be in and where the speed cameras/bumps are.
A funny moment is when there is a speed camera at certain areas and you can see all the drivers slowing down to 30km/h 😆
The parking is mostly free, some places do require you to spend to get free parking (e-mart)
We chose to rent an electric car because why not? haha there were lots of chargers to charge the car and our fav was e-mart LOL. The acceleration was great too!
It was such a great experience TBH and made the trip sooo much better as i got to visit more places than before!
When I rented a car in Jeju, it completely changed how I experienced the island. In particular, having the flexibility to travel at my own pace without depending on sometimes infrequent buses outside the city made a huge difference. Jeju’s right-hand driving system initially seemed daunting, but after a bit of practice and constant reminders to stay on the right lane, it became second nature. Using Naver maps was a lifesaver—not only did it help me navigate lanes correctly, it alerted me to speed cameras and road bumps, which helped avoid unexpected fines or rough rides. Parking was surprisingly easy and often free, a welcome change from other tourist destinations where parking can be expensive or hard to find. I also learned that shopping at places like e-mart not only gave me the chance to experience local life, but also convenient access to electric vehicle charging points—making renting an electric car an eco-friendly and practical choice. The smooth acceleration and quiet driving of the electric car added to the overall positive experience. One amusing observation was how drivers collectively slowed to 30 km/h when approaching speed cameras, showing how conscientious Jeju drivers are about traffic safety. For future travelers, my advice is to embrace the freedom a rental car offers in Jeju—it lets you visit hidden spots and enjoy scenic drives on your own schedule, vastly improving the quality of your trip compared to relying solely on public transport.
