Renting a car in Jeju: Taiwan-issued IDPs, airport shuttles, coverage, deposits, fuel and returns

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Jeju has no subway. Buses can be infrequent, and sights are spread around the coast, so a rental car saves time. The question for people holding a Taiwan-issued IDP is whether they can use it in South Korea. They can: Taiwan and South Korea signed a memorandum on reciprocal recognition of International Driving Permits in February 2022. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that people traveling to South Korea for a short stay for tourism, business or family visits may drive a private passenger car with a valid Taiwan-issued IDP. South Korea's overseas safety guidance also lists Taiwan among its reciprocal-recognition partners. This guide covers the three documents to carry, choosing a rental company, coverage terms, the Jeju Airport shuttle to the rental-car area, road rules, refueling, returns and alternatives if you do not have an IDP. Rules and figures were checked in September 2026 against Taiwan's and South Korea's foreign ministries, the Korean road traffic authority, Jeju Airport and LOTTE rent-a-car.

Documents: bring the original Taiwan-issued IDP, Taiwan licence and passport

The Korea Road Traffic Authority says that a valid IDP issued by a Geneva or Vienna road-traffic convention signatory may be used to drive in South Korea for one year from the date of entry, with the IDP, domestic licence and passport carried together. Taiwan is not a party to those conventions; its 2022 bilateral memorandum is the basis for recognition. A rental company will therefore check that the IDP is an original issued by Taiwan's motor-vehicle authority. LOTTE's English FAQ says both the renter and every driver must present valid passports and original IDPs; copies, PDFs and phone photos are not accepted, nor are permits from private organizations. The minimum rental age with an IDP is 21, and a Class B permit covers vehicles with up to nine seats. Rental eligibility runs for one year from the driver's entry into South Korea. Keep your passport in your carry-on luggage because it establishes both identity and the entry date.

How to choose and book a rental company

Jeju has three broad types of rental provider: nationwide chains such as LOTTE rent-a-car and SK rent-a-car; local firms such as TamRa Rent Car and Jeju Rent Car, which the airport lists; and local firms booked through comparison platforms. Chains usually have the most complete English sites and foreign-visitor desks, but often cost more. Local firms can be cheaper, yet their terms may be available only in Korean, so confirm the coverage carefully. LOTTE's global site lets you book in English, pay with a credit or debit card, and choose a pay-later option. It asks for your IDP number during booking, so obtain the permit first. A small or midsize car is sufficient: rural roads and parking spaces can be narrow. Electric vehicles are common in Jeju, and LOTTE's Jeju Auto House rents models including Teslas without requiring a full charge on return. For a first self-drive trip, a petrol car may be simpler than planning charging stops.

Coverage: basic liability, collision damage waiver and full exemption

A Korean rental price usually includes basic liability coverage. LOTTE's English terms, for example, list unlimited third-party liability, up to KRW 20 million for property damage and up to KRW 15 million for personal injury. Damage to the car you rented is different: you may owe its repair cost unless you add a collision damage waiver (CDW, 자차 in Korean). LOTTE offers international customers zero-excess CDW. Its rental-information table lists zero excess for both Korean-brand and imported cars in Jeju; the KRW 300,000 imported-car excess appears only for mainland branches. LOTTE's general English FAQ lists flat tires, costs following termination of a contract after an accident, replacement vehicles, interior damage and loss-of-use charges as CDW exclusions. Its Jeju Auto House Full Exemption page, however, explicitly includes tire and wheel damage and says there is no loss-of-use charge. A separate LOTTE rental-information page limits the Jeju loss-of-use exemption to renters who enrolled in Zero Excess CDW and rented a Korean-brand car, excluding the Hyundai Solati. Check the quote and signed agreement for the precise treatment of imported cars, the Solati, interior damage and other losses; the words 'full exemption' do not guarantee that every cost is covered. Other companies may offer standard and full CDW tiers, with an excess still payable under the standard tier. LOTTE's cancellation policy also matters: cancellation more than 24 hours before pickup receives a full refund; within 24 hours, a KRW 3,000 fee is deducted.

• Deposit and payment: pay the rental and deposit by card. Many providers do not accept cash or Apple Pay. After an undamaged return, the deposit authorization is released; when the money appears in your account depends on the card issuer.
• Child seats: LOTTE's Jeju Auto House rents them. Check availability in advance with other branches and companies. Korean law requires appropriate child restraints; confirm the applicable age rule under the Road Traffic Act and reserve a seat when traveling with a child.
• Navigation: in-car systems often have Korean-only interfaces. Naver Map or Kakao Map on a phone with a mount is practical. Check Google Maps' driving support in the app at the time of travel: on 27 February 2026 the Korean government conditionally approved export of 1:5,000 mapping data under strict security terms, with government review before export and suspension possible for violations.
• Additional drivers: register and document everyone who will drive. Coverage and waivers will not protect an unregistered driver after an accident.
• Pickup time: call the branch if your flight is delayed. Rental offices have limited hours; confirm pickup arrangements before a late-night arrival.

Jeju Airport pickup: Gate 2 desk, shuttle outside Gate 5, rental-car area

Rental cars are not handed over inside Jeju Airport's terminal. The companies' branches are in a separate rental-car area (렌터카하우스). The airport directs arriving passengers toward Gates 3 and 5 after baggage claim, across the road and along a covered walkway to the shuttle stop outside Gate 5. LOTTE has a desk beside Gate 2 on the first floor; you can check in there before taking its shuttle. LOTTE says to board at rental-shuttle Zone 1, stop 4. Shuttles run from 06:00 to 22:40, every 10–15 minutes outside peak hours and every seven minutes from 07:30 to 19:30. Jeju Auto House is open daily year-round from 06:00 to 23:00 at 92 Yonghae-ro, Jeju-si. At the branch, staff check your passport, original IDP, Taiwan driving licence and payment card. You sign the rental agreement and card authorization, pay, and inspect the vehicle in the parking lot with staff. Photograph every pre-existing scratch and have it recorded on the inspection form. Check the fuel gauge, navigation language and child seat before driving away. In peak season, allow about 90 minutes from landing to departure by car because the desk may have a queue.

Read the full description

Six steps. Before travel: obtain an original Taiwan-issued IDP from a motor-vehicle office, enter its number when booking online, meet LOTTE's minimum age of 21 and select a CDW plan. Jeju Airport: report to LOTTE's desk beside Gate 2 on the first floor, walk toward Gates 3 and 5 and across the road along the covered walkway to the shuttle stop outside Gate 5. Shuttles run from 06:00 to 22:40 every seven to 15 minutes. Rental-car area: LOTTE Auto House is open 06:00–23:00; present your passport, original IDP, Taiwan licence and card, then sign the agreement and card authorization. Coverage: basic property-damage liability is KRW 20 million and personal-injury coverage KRW 15 million; LOTTE lists zero-excess CDW for international customers and for both Korean-brand and imported cars in Jeju. The Jeju Auto House Full Exemption page includes tires and wheels, while a separate LOTTE page restricts relief from loss-of-use charges to Korean-brand cars other than the Hyundai Solati when the renter has enrolled in Zero Excess CDW. The general FAQ lists other exclusions including interior damage; check the vehicle-specific agreement. Pickup: photograph scratches, check fuel level and type, set up Naver Map or Kakao Map, and secure the child seat. Return: restore the pickup fuel level, park in the return area, complete inspection and take the shuttle to the airport. LOTTE refunds cancellations more than 24 hours before pickup in full and deducts KRW 3,000 later; later traffic fines may be charged to the card.

On the road: right-hand traffic, speed limits, cameras, parking and fuel

South Korea, like Taiwan, drives on the right in left-hand-drive cars. Indicator and wiper positions are also familiar, so adjustment is usually easier than in Japan. Watch the posted speed limit: Jeju has fixed and average-speed cameras even on rural roads, and limits in town and around schools are lower than many Taiwan drivers expect. A fine may reach the rental company after you have returned to Taiwan; the company can charge your card for the fine and an administration fee. Jeju has no toll expressways, so no toll budget is needed. Petrol stations may be staffed or self-service (셀프). Check whether the car takes petrol (휘발유) or diesel (경유); misfuelling repairs are not covered. Many self-service pumps offer English and accept cards. Parking is usually paid in Jeju City and at popular sights, while some coastal and rural sights have free spaces. Do not park on yellow lines or pavements; towing is still at the renter's expense. Never drive after drinking. South Korea's drink-driving threshold is strict, and the rental company may terminate the agreement.

Return: inspection, deposit release and the airport shuttle

LOTTE's return sequence is simple: park at the branch's return area, let staff inspect the car and fuel level, then take the shuttle back to the airport. Allow at least an hour for inspection, payment, a shuttle that may be up to 15 minutes away and the ride back. As a planning buffer, reach the branch about two hours before a domestic flight or three hours before an international flight. New scratches are assessed against the inspection form and your pickup photos. After an accident, report it to the police and rental company promptly; coverage and waivers rely on an accident report. The deposit or card preauthorization is released after an undamaged return. Any traffic fine received later may be charged separately to your card, with notice.

No IDP? Use a chauffeured car, bus or taxi

• Chauffeured day tour: comparison platforms offer drivers who speak Chinese. Split between two or three people, a car for the day can cost roughly as much as a rental plus coverage, without driving fines or accident handling.
• Bus: Jeju buses follow the coast and cross the center. Check current departures in the Jeju bus information system. This works best for two or three sights in a day and a flexible schedule.
• Taxi: convenient for short city trips. You can negotiate a day rate for a cross-island trip; a translation app can bridge the language gap.
• Stay in Jeju City or central Seogwipo and add a day tour. A three-day trip without a rental car is possible; see the Jeju itinerary linked below.

Three days in Jeju: Udo, Seongsan Ilchulbong and Seogwipo itinerary

Renting a car in Okinawa: Japanese translation of a Taiwan licence, coverage and the Naha Airport shuttle

Plan a Jeju trip: sights, transport and itineraries

Jeju food guide: black pork, seafood hotpot and tangerine desserts

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