Jeju Island Becomes a Hotspot for Taiwanese Tourists

Jeju Island is rapidly gaining popularity among Taiwanese travelers, thanks to the success of the Netflix original series 폭싹 속았수다 (Bokssak Sogassda), visits from popular Taiwanese YouTubers, and the expansion of flight routes. According to the Jeju Tourism Organization, the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Jeju reached 159,485 in 2024, a significant increase from 69,941 in 2023, marking a 2.3-fold rise in just one year. This figure also surpasses the previous record of 87,981 set in 2019 by 81.27%. Up until February this year, 19,217 Taiwanese visitors had already arrived, reflecting a 50.7% increase compared to the same period last year.

Traditionally, Chinese and Japanese tourists have dominated the foreign visitor statistics for Jeju. However, since 2023, Taiwanese tourists have overtaken Japanese visitors to become the second-largest group. In 2024, after Chinese tourists (1,383,013), Taiwanese visitors ranked second, while Japanese tourists fell to third with 78,734.

The surge in Taiwanese tourists is largely attributed to the influence of popular YouTubers. In December 2022, the Jeju Tourism Organization invited the well-known Taiwanese YouTuber Chaiyaga Team, who has 2.56 million subscribers, to Jeju for a 4-night, 5-day tour. The resulting video became the most viewed travel content on Taiwanese YouTube, amassing over 2.1 million views as of this month.

Following the video's success, a Taiwanese travel agency launched a tour package based on the same itinerary, which sold out all 800 spots within a month. Chaiyaga Team returned to Jeju last year, showcasing various attractions such as Doduhyusasauna, Dongmun Traditional Market, Eco Land, Udo Island, Oedolgae, and coin karaoke, with those videos collectively garnering 1.88 million views. Local travel agencies have noted that popular YouTuber visits often correlate with increased Taiwanese tourist numbers.

Additionally, the Netflix series 폭싹 속았수다 (Bokssak Sogassda), filmed in Jeju, has also contributed to the island's appeal. According to Netflix's official site, the show ranked first among non-English TV programs in Taiwan from July 7 to 28, highlighting unique attractions like canola flower fields and haenyeo (female divers) experiences.

The expansion of direct flights and cruise routes between Jeju and Taiwan has further facilitated this growth. Direct flights from Jeju to Taipei were launched by Tigerair and T'way Airlines in late 2022, with Eastar Jet joining in January 2024, now operating daily flights. After a hiatus due to COVID-19, cruises from Taiwan resumed last year, docking at Seogwipo's Gangjeong Port seven times.

This year, a direct flight route from Jeju to Kaohsiung will resume for the first time in five years, with T'way Airlines set to operate four flights a week starting April 22. Additionally, the Wangpin Group, Taiwan's largest dining company, plans to bring over 2,100 employees to Jeju for group tours throughout the year.

A representative from the Jeju Tourism Organization stated, "We anticipate a continued influx of Taiwanese tourists this year and are supporting the development of travel packages themed around popular dramas and variety shows filmed in Jeju. We are also working with local tourism industries in Taiwan to boost demand for visits to Jeju."