Sunny's Jeju Travel Guide

A currency exchange counter near Jeju Dongmun Market · Photo © sunny Shopping in Jeju sounds simple until you're standing at Olive Young wondering if the tax refund kiosk is even open, or realizing your cash exchange spot closed an hour ago. I've made most of these mistakes myself , so this page pulls together everything I've learned into one place. Whether you're here for K-beauty, duty-free deals, or just need to swap currency before hitting the market, here's where to start. ☀️ Sunny's Tip Bookmark this page before your trip. It's the one I keep coming back to whenever a friend visiting Jeju asks "wait, where do I exchange money again?" 📖 Table of Contents 1. 💰 Where to Exchange Money 2. 🛍️ Duty-Free & Tax Refund 3. 🧴 Olive Young K-Beauty Shopping 4. 🥬 Local Markets & Supermarkets 1. 💰 Where to Exchange Money Curren...

Dongmun Traditional Market — Jeju's most celebrated local market, and recently designated a K-Tourism Market · Photo © sunny If you're used to the mainland Korean rule of supermarkets closing on the second and fourth Sundays each month, Jeju will catch you off guard. Here, the closure days fall on a Friday and a Saturday , and the traditional five-day markets run on their own rotating schedule that changes by village. I've turned up at a dark, shuttered supermarket more than once before finally sitting down and figuring out the whole system. So here it is: every five-day market (오일장, oiljang) in Jeju, every supermarket's mandatory closure dates, and the practical details I've picked up from actually going to each one. Whether you're on a short trip or doing a month-long stay, this should save you at least a few wasted trips. ☀️ Sunny's Tip All five large supermarkets in Jeju — three E-Mart branches, one Lotte Mart, and one Homeplus — c...

The try-me station is there for a reason — and yes, it lives up to the hype · Photo © sunny Every time I stop by an Olive Young branch here on Jeju , I notice the same thing — half the customers around me are speaking English, Chinese, or Japanese, not Korean. For a lot of visitors wrapping up their island trip, this has quietly become one of the last stops before the airport. It makes sense. The K-beauty products that go viral on TikTok and Instagram are genuinely hard to find back home , or they show up on resale sites marked up well beyond their real price. Picking them up here, in person, has become part of the trip itself. Why Do Jeju Visitors Put Olive Young on Their Shopping List? For many visitors here on Jeju, stopping by Olive Young has become as much a part of the trip as trying Korean barbecue or wandering a local market. The combination of affordable prices, tax refunds, exclusive gift sets, and products that are difficult to find overseas has turn...

Currency exchange counter at Jeju International Airport · Photo © sunny A friend visiting from overseas asked me something I get a lot. "Do I actually need cash in Jeju, or can I just use my card everywhere?" It's a fair question. Korea has a reputation for being almost cashless. Honestly, that reputation holds up pretty well here too. Most hotels, cafés, restaurants, and tourist spots take foreign cards without any issue. Unlike Seoul, Jeju doesn't have currency exchange offices on every corner. I've watched a few travelers get caught off guard by that. So I put together what I've learned from living here — where to exchange money, where the reliable ATMs are, and a few things I wish someone had told me before my first foreign card withdrawal in Korea. When you'll actually need cash in Jeju Card payment covers most of a Jeju trip. But there are a few situations where I noticed cash still matters: Some stalls insid...

Heading home — but not before one last Olive Young run · Photo © sunny Last day of your Jeju trip, bags already stuffed with souvenirs — sound familiar? Even so, there's one stop I always squeeze in before heading to the airport: Olive Young . It's Korea's biggest health and beauty chain, and honestly, it's the most practical last errand you can run. Whether you forgot sunscreen, need something to survive the flight, or still haven't sorted gifts for everyone back home, Olive Young has you covered. Here's a practical guide to the best Olive Young branches near Jeju Airport, what to buy before your flight, and gift ideas that are always a hit. Which Branch to Visit Before the Airport Not all branches are created equal. Here are the ones worth factoring into your last-day route: Olive Young Jeju Airport (inside the terminal) There's a branch on the second floor of the domestic departure lounge — past security, in the gate area. It...

Olive Young, Jeju · Photo © sunny When most people plan a trip to Jeju, the itinerary is all about Hallasan, Seongsan Ilchulbong, and those impossibly blue beaches. Shopping often ends up being an afterthought — usually a quick stop at the airport duty-free before flying home. But living here, I've come to see Olive Young — Korea's biggest health and beauty chain — in a completely different light. It's not just a skincare shop. It's the place I send friends when they need hiking snacks for Hallasan, something to soothe sunburned skin after a beach day, a last-minute gift that actually feels thoughtful, or a vitamin to get through the second half of a packed trip. One stop, done. Honestly, I take visiting friends here more often than the duty-free. Here's everything I know about making the most of Olive Young while you're on the island. Getting Your Tax Refund on the Spot Global Hot Issue corner · Photo © sunny ...