Island Travel Subsidy Guide: How to Get $73 for 1 Night and 50% Off Ferries

Island travel
One-night travel subsidy
Words & photos by Sseuz


Hi there.
Let’s head out together again today—
I’m travel blogger Sseuz,and I’m back with another trip idea.

If you’re already planning to visit the Yeosu World Island Expo,
you’ve probably wondered
whether it’s worth adding a nearby island trip too.

Perfect timing, because there are currently
travel subsidies and discount perks tied to island travel around Yeosu.
If you plan your itinerary well,
you can do this trip much more affordably than you’d expect.

Here’s
a simple breakdown of the key conditions and how it works.

1. Get up to $73 if you stay 1 night on an island

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety
is offering this as part of the 2026 Visit Korean Islands Year campaign.
From October 1 to November 4,
travelers who spend at least one night
on an island can receive up to $73in travel support.

It’s being run in connection with
the Yeosu World Island Expo period.

And the reimbursable expenses
aren’t limited to lodging alone.
Eligible costs include accommodations, meals, ferry fares,
and even grocery purchases, as long as they were
actual travel expenses used on the island.

That said, not just any island qualifies.
The island must not be connected to the mainland,
which means you need to take a boat to get there, and stay for at least one night.

So if you’re heading to the Yeosu World Island Expo
and bundle in an island trip to places like Gaedo or Geumodo,
this program is a great fit.

2. The application deadline is September 21

This is the part that really matters:
you do not apply after your trip!!

First, you have to be selectedas an eligible applicant.

The application window runs from
10:00 a.m. on September 8
to 6:00 p.m. on September 21only.

There isn’t much time left,
so if you’re reading this right now!!!
go get ready and apply.

You can apply online through
the official 2026 Visit Korean Islands Year website.

Apply for the island travel subsidy

If there are too many applicants,
recipients will be selected by lottery,
and chosen applicants will receive a separate text notification.

After that, between October 1 and November 4, you need to
travel to the island and stay at least one night,
then submit proof such as round-trip boarding tickets
plus lodging and meal receipts
to be reviewed for reimbursement of up to $73.
That’s how the system works.

Pre-application and selection
Travel to an island for at least one night
Submit ferry tickets and receipts
Receive up to $73
That’s the process in a nutshell.

Also,
if you’re traveling with family or friends,
the application is submitted by team,
soone representative person can apply for the group.

3. Ferries to Yeosu islands are 50% off

If your Yeosu trip includes island hopping,
there’s one more perk to know about.

From September through December,
passenger ferry and island boat fares
to islands in the Yeosu area are discounted by 50%.Yes, half off.

This benefit is for travelers from outside Yeosu, not Yeosu residents.
I’m honestly thinking about doing this myself on my next Yeosu trip!

Unlike the $73 island travel subsidy,
this is not a reimbursement you claim later.
The discount is applied immediately
when you book or issue your ferry ticket.

Just note that vehicle fares, fuel surcharges,
and terminal fees
are not cut in half—only the passenger fare gets the 50% discount.

Some vessels may be excluded,
so once you decide which island you’re visiting,
it’s smart to double-check
whether the discount applies at the time of booking.

Check the details here

4. A 2-night, 3-day Yeosu itinerary worth trying

What makes this support program especially good
is that it’s useful not only for people already planning island travel,
but also for anyone visiting
the Yeosu World Island Expo.

Day 1

Arrive in Yeosu → visit the World Island Expo → stay 1 night in the city

Day 2

Take a ferry to an island → explore the island → stay 1 night on the island

Day 3

Finish your island trip → look around Yeosu city → head home

If you build your Yeosu itinerary like this,
you can enjoy a more unique island getaway and claim the travel subsidy too.
It’s basicallytwo wins in one trip.

Especially since the Yeosu World Island Expo itself
runs through November 4,
and this $73 island travel subsidy
also applies to travelers between October 1 and November 4,
it’s a perfect match for a fall trip to Yeosu, South Korea.

Add in the 50% ferry discount,
and it becomes an especially good chance to cut travel costs.

Island travel subsidy

So, what’s the quick summary?

Let me wrap up everything I covered
so you can see it all at a glance.

Category

Details

Application period

9/8 10:00 ~ 9/21 18:00

Travel period

10/1 ~ 11/4

Requirement

At least 1 night on an island reached by boat

Subsidy amount

Up to $73

Eligible expenses

Lodging, meals, ferries, groceries, and more

Selection method

Lottery if applications exceed capacity

Proof required

Round-trip boarding tickets + receipts, etc.

Yeosu ferries

50% fare discount for non-local travelers

Half-price period

September to December, until the budget runs out

For applications and full details,
check the official websitefor the program
and you’ll find everything there.

Have an amazing trip~

Travel with Sseuz
through every moment of the journey

Asia | South Korea | food | hot places

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