Klook builds ferry booking system to bring foreign tourists to Ulleungdo, Dokdo

Foreign tourists visiting South Korea will soon be able to travel beyond the mainland by rail and express bus, as coastal ferry routes to island destinations become accessible through an online booking platform.

Klook, a global travel booking platform for accommodations, transportation and activities, announced Monday it had signed an MOU with the Korea Shipowners' Association to build a coastal ferry booking system for foreign tourists. Under the agreement, the two organizations will work to let foreign visitors book domestic coastal ferries through Klook and plan to expand the available routes in stages.

Klook said it is already the first online travel agency to offer booking services for several major coastal ferry routes, including Pohang–Ulleungdo, Ulleungdo–Dokdo, Wando–Jeju and Mokpo–Jeju. Building on the MOU, the company will extend its booking coverage to additional regional coastal routes, with a full service launch — including the expanded routes — planned for the fourth quarter of this year, followed by a gradual rollout of further bookable routes.

The MOU also aims to make ferry travel easier for foreign tourists who have struggled with language barriers and limited payment options when booking tickets on their own. Klook supports more than 15 languages and over 40 currencies and payment methods, allowing foreign visitors to book domestic coastal ferries in the language and payment format they are most comfortable with.

Klook and the Korea Shipowners' Association said the expansion of the ferry booking service is intended to draw foreign tourists to Korea's islands and coastal regions, extend their stays and boost local tourism and economic activity.

Klook has been building out a suite of domestic transportation products to make it easier for foreign tourists to travel around South Korea. As an official partner of Korail and the Korea Express Bus Lines Association, the company operates real-time booking services for trains and intercity buses, and also offers a range of mobility products including car rentals, airport transfers and local public transit.

"Korea has many attractive destinations centered on its islands and coastal areas that are well worth introducing to foreign tourists, but language and payment barriers have made ferry travel relatively difficult to access," said Lee Jun-ho, Klook's South Korea country manager. "Through this partnership with the Korea Shipowners' Association, we will create an environment where foreign tourists can use domestic coastal ferries more conveniently, and we will support more travelers in experiencing the diverse regions of Korea."