Getting There
The airport in Jinju is the Sacheon Airport, 1720-1, Guam-li, Sacheon-eup, Sacheon-si (tel. 055/831-9300; http://sacheon.airport.co.kr), about 20km (12 miles) from Jinju-si. Currently, the airport serves about seven flights daily from Seoul's Gimpo Airport and one from Jeju-do by Asiana and Korean Airlines. Taxis to Jinju and other long distances can be found right in front of the terminals, while short-distance taxis are to the right on the national road. Buses from Sacheon to Jinju (about a 25-min. ride) are cheaper, only W3,000 for adults and W2,000 for children.
The Jinju Train Station (tel. 055/1544-7788) is located on the south side of the river. There are five trains daily to and from Seoul -- four first-class Mugunghwa trains (W27,700 for a half-hour) and one special-class Saemaeul train (W41,100 for 5 hr.) -- and four to and from Busan. Other trains go once a day to Suncheon, Masan, and Gwangju, with three trains daily to Mokpo.
The Jinju Express Bus Terminal (tel. 055/752-5167 or 8) is right near the train station. Buses from Seoul's Gangnam Express Bus Terminal leave daily every 20 to 30 minutes. The almost 4-hour trip costs about W20,000. Daily buses leave about every 10 minutes from Busan's Seobu Terminal. Rides last about 90 minutes and cost W6,900. There are also frequent daily buses from Masan, which are about an hour long and cost W4,000, as well as daily buses from Gwangju, Daegu, Daejeon, Suwon, and Incheon.
The intercity bus terminal (tel. 055/1688-0841) is located on the north bank of the river and has buses to and from Samcheonpo, Namhae, Hadong, and Tongyeong, as well as other nearby areas.
Getting Around
There are local buses available with frequent service within the city and outlying areas. As in most small South Korean cities, the buses have postings only in Korean and the drivers generally can't speak English. Still, buses are the least expensive way to get around. Your best bet is to ask for bus information at your hotel or at the tourist information office.
Taxis are available outside the airport and the bus and train terminals, but drivers generally won't know English. It's best to have your destination written in Korean or have practiced the proper Korean pronunciation so that the driver knows where you want to go -- again, ask at your hotel or the tourist information office. Yellow taxis are less expensive than the deluxe black taxis, which can cost up to 20% more.
Jinju is small enough to explore on foot, especially since many sites of interest are located in the vicinity of the Jinju Fortress. Be sure to pick up a detailed city map at the tourist information office before putting on your walking shoes.
Visitor Information
There is a Jinju Tourist Information Office (tel. 055/749-2485; daily 8am-6pm) right in front of the fortress's north gate, and another at the east gate (weekdays 8am-6pm). You can also find a tourist information booth at Sacheon Airport (tel. 055/852-8490).
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange & ATMs -- There are a handful of banks in the downtown area of Jinju, along the main street; the most convenient is the Foreign Exchange Bank across from the intercity bus terminal (near the fortress). They're open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Internet Access -- Most large hotels and even a couple of the lower-priced motels and youth hostels offer Internet access. If you don't have your own computer, your cheapest option is the PC bahngs in town. Just look for the letters PC; most of them are found on the second or third floors above restaurants and other businesses.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
