Driving in Jeju
If you plan or interested to visit Jeju island on your own, I will strongly recommend you to rent a car and drive it on your own. Before myself going to this island, I’ve done some research online and found out that public transport is not as convenient since it’s a island. At first, I was considering renting a bike but after I found out that the price of renting a bike is almost the same as renting a car, of course a car is the best pick. Moreover, i went during a rainy season(end of May).
All you need to do is, get yourself a international driving license before you leave your country. If you are a Malaysian, just pay rm150 at JPJ office and you would get it on the spot. Although South Korea is a ‘right-hand traffic’ country and Malaysia is a ‘left-hand traffic’ country, there is no hassle in getting an international license. Then google any car renting company at Jeju such as Avis that provide an online booking service in English. Watch out for promotion period! I was unlucky to miss the promotion period because it ended after I got my international license 
the license number is needed during the account registration in their site. Jeju Avis URL
Remember to get the basic insurance coverage during your car booking. You don’t want to put yourself in risk since driving in other country especially if you are not familiar to drive in right traffic.
When you reach Jeju airport, there would be an Avis counter right inside the airport itself where you could show them your booking details. After getting the booking slip from the counter, head to the free Avis shuttle bus outside the airport and head to their main office which is just few minutes ride away.
We required to make the full payment at the office before the car key is given to us. Payment by credit card is accepted. 4 days full days rent cost us KRW225,200.00(RM633.86) including the basic insurance. After payment being made, go and get the car!! Yippie!!
Avis employee would show where my rented car is and I notice the car arranged for is actually a new Chevrolet Matiz. ODO showing only 350km! and of course it’s a white car. In fact, 9 out of 10 cars in Jeju is white in color! Korean like white so much ehh..
Yeah! I finally got my cute little car and what next? Next is the challenge to adapt myself to cope with right traffic and roads in Jeju. How to get to my hotel?!
Prior reaching Jeju, I’ve save all the locations I wish to go in Garmin installed in my Nokia 5800. However, Avis do provide a free GPS navigator in my rented car. However the software menu is in Korean but the voice in English. After some explanation from a guy in Avis center, I know how to search for a location by just using phone number! eg, my hotel phone number. Hmm.. how nice..
I open my own Garmin together with the Gini gps and heading to my hotel. At certain point, I ignore Gini and follow Garmin which guiding me the direction to the hotel. However I notice, I’m taking a narrow and winding road to Seogwipo. Then I realize, Garmin choose the shortest route but Gini would pick the highway toward Seogwipo. As the result, my first right drive in Jeju was hairpin road drive all the way to Seopwipo from Jeju-si!
Gini would be able to let us know the speed trap location(there a lot!), and warn if your current speed exceed the limit! The maximum speed allowed in Jeju is just 80km/h, 50km/h at school area! Moreover, almost all bump locations in Jeju are updated in Gini. What a good driving companion ^^
Even my journey is longer by taking the mountain road right beside Mount Hallasan, consolation is some fascinating scenery and dreamy view along the way 
I’ve read some blog mentioned that the most dangerous people in Jeju is tourist who driving a rented car! 
The author mentioned it came out in some local tv news and it’s true! Haha, I ran into the opposite lane at some junction and luckily able to avoid the coming traffic. Lastly, if you are planing to drive in Jeju, I wish you would have a safe and enjoyable experience there!
