Starting May 2025, Jeju Island (South Korea) will commence semi-homeport cruise shipping operations, allowing passengers to embark on international voyages directly from the island.
This initiative, a collaboration between the Jeju provincial government, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, aims to enhance the island's cruise tourism sector.
The China-built Adora Magic City, operated by Adora Cruises, is scheduled to begin voyages from Gangjeong Cruise Port (Seogwipo) on May 1st. The vessel will operate routes connecting Shanghai, Jeju, and Japanese ports, with 33 roundtrips planned through the end of 2025. Each voyage will offer 5- or 6-day cruise packages accommodating approximately 60 to 120 Koreans.
A semi-homeport facilitates both departures and arrivals, serving as an intermediary step toward establishing a full-fledged homeport. To support these operations, the Jeju provincial government has coordinated with immigration, customs, and quarantine authorities, as well as local shipping associations. The port has undergone simulations, and unmanned immigration kiosks are being installed to expedite border processing. Additionally, collaborations with local travel agencies are underway to attract cruise passengers and develop package tours, enabling both domestic travelers and international visitors arriving via direct flights to Jeju to embark on cruises from the island.
This development aligns with a significant increase in cruise tourism on Jeju Island. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, cruise operations resumed in 2023, with passenger numbers rising from 101,000 in 2023 to 641,000 in 2024—a 534.7% increase. Port calls also increased from 71 to 274 during the same period. Jeju anticipates 346 port calls and approximately 800,000 visitors in 2025.
According to a survey by the Jeju Tourism Organization, cruise visitors reported higher satisfaction compared to previous years, with increases in port call frequency and length of stay. Improvements in customs, immigration, and quarantine procedures have extended the average time spent ashore from 4.23 hours in 2023 to 5.04 hours. Officials expect processing times to be further reduced once unmanned kiosks are fully operational by the end of 2025.