Jeju Island to Launch Semi-Homeport Cruise Operations Starting May 2025

Starting in May 2025, Jeju Island in South Korea will launch semi-homeport cruise operations, enabling passengers to embark on international voyages directly from the island. This initiative, a collaboration among the Jeju provincial government, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, aims to boost the local cruise tourism sector.

The China-built Adora Magic City, operated by Adora Cruises, is scheduled to begin journeys from Gangjeong Cruise Port in Seogwipo on May 1st. It will connect Shanghai, Jeju, and various Japanese ports, offering 33 roundtrips by the end of 2025. Each cruise package will range from 5 to 6 days and accommodate about 60 to 120 Korean passengers.

As a semi-homeport, Jeju Island will manage both departures and arrivals, working towards establishing a full homeport in the future. To facilitate this, the provincial government has made arrangements with immigration, customs, and quarantine officials, in addition to local shipping associations. The port has completed simulations, and unmanned immigration kiosks are being installed to streamline the border processing experience. Collaborations with local travel agencies are also on the horizon to attract cruise passengers and create appealing package tours for both domestic and international travelers.

Following the resumption of cruise operations in 2023 after a pandemic-related pause, Jeju Island has witnessed a notable uptick in cruise tourism, with passengers increasing from 101,000 in 2023 to 641,000 in 2024—a growth of 534.7%. The number of port calls also surged from 71 to 274 in the same timeframe. Looking ahead, Jeju is expecting 346 port calls and around 800,000 visitors in 2025.

A recent survey by the Jeju Tourism Organization revealed increased satisfaction among cruise visitors compared to previous years, particularly regarding the frequency of port calls and the length of stay. Enhancements in customs, immigration, and quarantine procedures have lengthened the average time spent on land from 4.23 hours in 2023 to 5.04 hours. Officials anticipate further reductions in processing times once the unmanned kiosks are fully implemented by the end of 2025.

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