"Jeju Travel Is Too Expensive" Complaints... Han Eun Employee Finds 'Affordable Dates'

Jeju Flights Cheapest on Tuesday to Thursday Evenings
Evening Departures May Increase Accommodation Costs
Airfares Also Lower from December to March, July, and September

Soesokkak located in Hayodong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Island. Photo by Park Heungsoon, Korea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery

As the 'spring flower viewing season' continues from March, airfares to and from Jeju are rising. In particular, with the warm weather coinciding, the Netflix drama filmed against the backdrop of Jeju, 'Poksak Soksassuda,' has recently gained global popularity, causing airfares to soar sharply. Amid this, an analysis by a Bank of Korea employee has drawn attention by revealing that the cheapest Jeju-bound airfares are available when purchased late afternoon between Tuesday and Thursday.

Jo Gang-cheol, deputy head of the Bank of Korea's Price Trends Team, stated in a contribution to the Bank's newsletter 'BOK News' on the 21st, "Companies sell air tickets at various prices to maximize profits." He first explained the concept of 'price discrimination,' saying, "Economic principles are hidden in companies' strategies." Companies charge lower prices to groups with high price elasticity of demand and higher prices to groups with low elasticity to increase profits.

He gave an example, saying, "Consumers who purchase Tuesday airfares can travel to Jeju on weekdays, so they have more time flexibility than those buying Saturday tickets," and "They are more likely to respond sensitively to airfare prices rather than departure days." He added, "This means that consumers buying Tuesday airfares have higher price elasticity of demand, naturally making Tuesday airfares cheaper than Saturday airfares."

Jeju Cityscape. Photo by Park Chang-won

Jo said, "Ultimately, to get cheap airfares to Jeju, tourists should consider which season, day of the week, and time of day have higher price elasticity of demand from the tourist's perspective." He noted, "In 2023, the months with the most tourists were October, May, August, April, and June, in that order," and "From December to March, July, and September, price elasticity of demand is high, so prices tend to be lower."

He added, "By day of the week, airfares departing for Jeju between Tuesday and Thursday on weekdays, and by time of day, airfares heading to Jeju in the late afternoon to evening have higher price elasticity of demand and are cheaper." However, Jo cautioned, "Buying the cheapest airfare does not necessarily reduce overall costs," explaining, "If you purchase an evening departure ticket, additional accommodation costs may be incurred."

A scene from the Netflix series "Poksak Soksassuda," which depicts 70 years starting from Jeju in 1960. Provided by Netflix

Meanwhile, as the Netflix drama 'Poksak Soksassuda,' filmed in Jeju, has recently gained worldwide popularity, Jeju Province announced on the 18th that it will hold a special travel week called '2025 Now, Travel Jeju - Deeply Immersed in Jeju' from the 28th to the 6th of next month. This event was organized to stimulate travel demand and revitalize the local economy in response to the recent decline in tourists.

The program includes tours of filming locations of the globally popular Netflix drama 'Poksak Soksassuda' and linked programs for the '2025 Year of National Heritage Visits.' Especially, through cultural and artistic festivals and experiential programs that allow visitors to fully enjoy Jeju's spring atmosphere with blooming cherry blossoms and canola flowers, tourists will be offered special memories and abundant benefits.

Jeju Province also prepared 'Gifts of Jeju' in six categories for tourists during this special travel week. As a welcome event, visitors participating in the 'Promise with Jeju' pledge at Jeju Airport can enter a draw to receive 'Tamna Jeon,' Jeju's local currency. Special programs are also prepared for tourists to enjoy Jeju's attractions in a fun way. A stamp tour operates by installing Jeju symbols such as tangerines, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and camellias at filming locations of Poksak Soksassuda, festival sites, and photo spots. Visitors who visit and certify three locations will be entered into a draw to win Jeju air tickets.