The government will subsidize up to 100,000 won in travel expenses for visitors to islands in July and August this summer.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 16th that, marking 2026 as the Year of Visiting Islands, it will push a program to support travel expenses to boost island tourism. The recipients are travelers visiting islands that are not consolidated with the mainland and require passenger ferries (support is provided per team).
Eligible items are travel expenses spent within island areas, such as lodging, food, passenger ferry fares, and grocery purchases. If you submit related proof, such as round-trip boarding passes and receipts, up to 100,000 won will be provided after review.
However, the main island of Jeju is excluded. An official at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) said, "Islands such as Chuja-do and Marado in the Jeju region, which you enter by boat from the main island, are eligible for support, but the Jeju main island is not." Ulleungdo is also eligible.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) also plans to pursue a second round of travel expense support in Oct., in connection with the "2026 Yeosu World Island Expo."
Jin Myeong-gi, head of the Office of Local Autonomy and Innovation at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), said, "Islands are Korea's valuable asset, home to beautiful natural scenery, unique culture, and diverse foods," adding, "We hope this travel expense support will encourage more people to visit and stay on islands and experience their charms firsthand."