HOME > Featured City > Norway/Korea-Jeju-City Plofile

Jeju-do is an island filled with an exotic atmosphere of the south and abundant natural features. This edition introduces plenty of attractions of this island, which is 90 km away from the mainland of South Korea and still has traces of mysterious ancient times. 　 　 Jeju-do is an island created by volcanic activities on the North Pacific, southwest of the Korean Peninsula, and is located at the center of a triangle formed by the Korean Peninsula, Chinese Continent and Japanese Archipelago. Blessed with abundant natural resources and mild climate throughout the year,as well as its unique traditional customs and culture, Jeju is known as a “resort island of South Korea” and is visited by many international tourists. It is attracting attention as a place where fishing, wind surfing, golf, scuba diving, paragliding, horseback riding, horse racing, mountain climbing in winter and many other leisure and sports activities can be enjoyed. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have direct services from Narita, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka Airports. It takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes from Narita, 1 hour and 50 minutes from Osaka, 2 hours from Nagoya and 1 hour from Fukuoka. By sea, regular ferry services between Pusan and Fukuoka or Shimonoseki are available. While there are also domestic ferry services in South Korea, ferries do not run frequently and take more than 10 hours from Pusan. Taxis can be used as means of transportation from Jeju International Airport to the city center, in addition to limousine buses operating at approximately 15-munite intervals. It takes approximately 10 to 20 minutes to Jeju city center, 40 minutes to Jungmun and 60 minutes to Seogwipo by limousine bus. By taxi, it takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to Jeju city center and 60 minutes to Jungmun or Seogwipo. * There are also inner city buses operating around Jeju-do and in Seogwipo, as well as intercity buses connecting Jeju and Seogwipo. To avoid trouble, be sure to fully understand the differences in cultures and customs of Japan and Korea. ・ South Korea has been maintaining a cease-fire with North Korea since Korean War. For national security reason, taking photos is restricted or prohibited in some places, including airports, ports, subways and other means of transportation, underground shopping centers and personnel facilities. You must be careful about your behavior to avoid misunderstanding. ・ Confucianism is no longer followed as a religion in present-day Korea, but its teachings still persist in the public mind. Korean people attach great importance to etiquette and observe the principle of “showing respect for their seniors.” They always give their seats to the elders in public transportation facilities, do not start eating or drinking until their seniors tell them to, or wait till their seniors begin to eat. Table manners also differ in Korea and Japan. It is bad manners to hold a bowl or plate in your hand or set your lips to a dish when you eat. Smoking in the presence of your elders is also taboo. You should not smoke unless invited. Women’s smoking is usually disliked. It is also taboo for women to pour drinks for men other than their family members.