Aqua Planet Jeju: Experience the 11-Meter Main Tank and Haenyeo Exhibition in One Day

‘The Sea of Jeju’ and the 11 m Tank Opened in July 2012

Aqua Planet Jeju is the marine ecology aquarium of the Jeju Marine Science Museum, which opened in July 2012. According to reports at the time of its opening, the marine ecology aquarium covered 16,200㎡, the marine performance hall 5,483㎡, and the marine experience science museum 3,091㎡. The development of a large marine cultural facility on the coast of Seopjikoji in Seongsan-eup was also part of an effort to create a tourism zone connecting eastern Jeju with Seongsan Ilchulbong and Seopjikoji.

The current official introduction centers on the 11 m-high ultra-large main tank, ‘The Sea of Jeju.’ The tank offers ray-feeding sessions and mealtimes accompanied by ecological talks, scheduled at 12:10, 14:20, and 15:50 for approximately 10 minutes each. If you only plan to take a quick look at the tank, it is better to plan your route backward from one of these time slots.

Admission at 09:30, Ticket Sales End at 17:00, Full Package Adult Ticket ₩45,500

It is open year-round from 09:30 to 18:00. Ticket sales end at 17:00, and admission is allowed until 17:30. The main telephone number is 1833-7001, and the official website is https://www.aquaplanet.co.kr/jeju/information/use_price.do. Since arriving in the late afternoon makes it difficult to see the entire exhibition and performances together, it is safest to plan to enter around 15:00 or earlier to allow the officially recommended viewing time of 2 hours and 20 minutes.

On-site individual full-package tickets (Aquarium + Ocean Arena + Minions) are listed at ₩45,500 for adults, ₩43,600 for teenagers, ₩41,400 for children, and ₩43,600 for seniors. Children under 36 months enter free when accompanied by an immediate family member and with supporting documents. Jeju residents and overseas Jeju residents receive a 30% discount upon presentation of proof of eligibility. Visitors with disabilities and national merit recipients receive a 20% discount on admission tickets when they present the relevant documentation.

• Address: 95 Seopjikoji-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
• Age criteria: Based on calendar age, not age in full years
• Re-entry: Not permitted after leaving
• Pets: Not permitted in order to protect the exhibited organisms

An Itinerary of 2 Hours 20 Minutes Including the 50-Minute Ocean Arena Show

The official viewing guide recommends approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes in total: 60 minutes for the aquarium, 50 minutes for the Ocean Arena, and 30 minutes for the special exhibition. Therefore, instead of following the exhibition route without a plan immediately after entering, first check the Ocean Arena schedule for the day and arrange the main tank and special exhibition before or after the show to reduce wasted time. Show and animal programs may vary depending on the animals’ condition and on-site circumstances.

Inside the aquarium, a harbor seal ecology talk is held on the second floor at Harbor Planet at 10:00 and 16:00 for approximately 10 minutes; an otter talk is held on the first floor at Aqua Safari at 10:50 and 16:20 for approximately 10 minutes; and a penguin talk is held on the second floor at Penguin Planet at 14:00 and 17:20 for approximately 10 minutes. ‘Flying Penguins’ takes place on the first floor at 14:10 for approximately 5 minutes, so leave enough time to change floors if you want to see both penguin programs consecutively.

Why ‘Grandmother Haenyeo’s Story of the Sea’ Makes the Marine Hall Uniquely Jeju

The haenyeo content here is not merely exhibition decoration; it connects the labor and everyday history of Jeju’s sea with the viewing of marine life. In 2016, UNESCO inscribed Jeju haenyeo culture on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At Aqua Planet Jeju, ‘Grandmother Haenyeo’s Story of the Sea’ is presented at the touch pool at 11:40, 14:30, and 15:30 for approximately 10 minutes each, explaining diving tools and haenyeo culture while visitors see starfish, sharks, conchs, and abalone.

The special exhibition ‘Water and Breath: Jeju Haenyeo’s Sea’ explores the lives of haenyeo through works by several artists, including an artist who is an active haenyeo. The exhibition consists of sections by Nika Chaikopskaya, Jeon Isu, Lee Yujeong, Ko Heeyoung and Eva Armisén, Na Kyunga, and Yoo Yongye, as well as a haenyeo experience space. Check during the booking process whether the product includes admission to the exhibition, and remember that food and beverages cannot be brought into the special exhibition.

The 20-Minute Glass-Bottom Boat Is First-Come, First-Served On Site; Experience Diving from Age 12

The glass-bottom boat in the main tank operates from 09:50 to 17:30, with the last boarding at 17:10. The fare is ₩10,000 per person for all adults, teenagers, and children, and up to 8 people may board. Online and telephone reservations are not available. Only Aqua Planet ticket holders can receive boarding tickets on a first-come, first-served basis on the second floor, so if this experience is your priority, go to the second floor immediately after entering.

Children 90 cm or taller may board the glass-bottom boat, while those under 90 cm must be accompanied by a guardian. Boarding may be restricted for people with epilepsy, limited mobility, high blood pressure, pregnancy, advanced age, or who are under the influence of alcohol. Experience diving in the large tank is offered at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, and 17:30. It costs ₩98,000 (admission ticket not included), takes approximately 60–90 minutes including instruction, and is available only to people aged 12 or older and under 55.

• Candle and fragrance experience: 09:30–17:10, approximately 5–20 minutes, ₩6,000–₩15,000
• Experience diving inquiries: 1899-6325
• Glass-bottom boat: Card and partner discounts cannot be applied
• Checking the day’s program schedule for Ocean Arena times is recommended

Free Wheelchair Rental and ₩3,000 Stroller Rental at the Second-Floor Art Shop

Wheelchairs and strollers can be rented at the second-floor art shop. Wheelchairs are free, while strollers cost ₩3,000 when paid by card. Rental hours are 09:30–17:30, and rentals close at 16:30. For safety reasons, strollers may be used only by children under 36 months. If visitors with disability grades 1, 2, or 3 wish to enter the Ocean Arena performance early, they can apply in advance at the ticket office and receive guidance from staff.

International visitors can use the EN and CHN menus on the official website. Since the visit itself is primarily indoors, it is relatively easy to keep to your itinerary even on days with strong wind and rain. However, the glass-bottom boat may be restricted for people with limited mobility, and seeing the exhibition, performance, and special exhibition all together involves standing and walking for more than two hours, so it is best to consider the mobility needs of everyone in your group first.

Between Seongsan Ilchulbong and Seopjikoji: An Eastern Seongsan Itinerary Centered on a Rental Car

Aqua Planet Jeju is located at 95 Seopjikoji-ro, Seongsan-eup. Since it lies in the area between Seongsan Ilchulbong and Seopjikoji, a natural order is to take a morning walk at Seongsan Ilchulbong, visit the aquarium and Ocean Arena, and then move to the Seopjikoji coast. Conversely, if you walk around Seopjikoji first, the indoor visit makes a good afternoon buffer in consideration of wind and rain.

The official page does not separately specify parking fees, parking capacity, or bus numbers by stop, so it is safest to reconfirm these details on a map or rental-car navigation system just before departure. Since the journey from Jeju International Airport to the eastern Seongsan area is long, a plan centered on a rental car or taxi is practical if you have a lot of luggage or are traveling with young children or elderly companions. Aqua Planet does not allow re-entry after exiting, so do not insert Seongsan Ilchulbong or Seopjikoji into the middle of your visit; travel there after finishing the tour.