Jeju Island Debates Proposal to Allow Chinese Tourists to Drive

The Proposal to Ease Driving Restrictions

The push to change rental car regulations began during an expanded senior officials’ meeting on July 2, held by the new administration of Governor Wi Seong-gon. Administrative Vice Governor Park Cheon-su identified current vehicle restrictions as a hurdle for the island’s tourism economy. Because China is not a signatory to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, Chinese driver’s licenses and international permits issued in China are not recognized in South Korea. Consequently, Chinese visitors are currently required to obtain a local Korean license to rent a vehicle.

“A large portion of independent foreign travellers are Chinese, but they cannot use rental cars at the moment. If necessary, we could consider providing several hours of driving training in a short period so they can drive, as part of easing regulations.”

However, the provincial government walked back the proposal on July 4, describing the initiative as not a reviewed or decided policy and noting that any such change would require consultation with the central government, international agreements, and revisions to national law.

Safety Concerns and Historical Context

The backlash from residents centered on road safety, a sensitive topic given Jeju’s existing traffic challenges. Data released by the Jeju Self-Governing Police in May shows that between 2021 and 2025, rental cars were involved in 2,414 accidents on the island, resulting in 26 deaths and 4,032 injuries. Rental vehicles account for 11.4% of all local accidents in Jeju, the highest percentage of any regional government in South Korea.

This is not the first time the island has attempted to modify these rules. A previous attempt to create an exception under the Jeju Special Act in 2014—which would have allowed short-stay Chinese nationals to obtain a 90-day local permit—passed a Cabinet meeting in November 2014 but was ultimately scrapped in April 2015 by a National Assembly committee due to safety and insurance concerns.

Future Outlook and Expert Perspectives

Moon Sung-jong, a tourism policy professor at Jeju Halla University, highlighted the necessity of a cautious, step-by-step approach to the problem.

Proposed frameworks for a potential future system include short-term safety training, temporary driving certificates, and enhanced insurance requirements. While the National Police Agency informed lawmakers in October 2025 that it was studying a model for recognizing foreign licenses through temporary certificates, no official policy shift has been enacted. For now, the island remains focused on enforcing current safety measures, including recent crackdowns on high-risk driving behaviors during the peak tourism months of May and June.