Sea World Express Ferry to withdraw Santa Monica from Jeju–Chuja–Jindo after 31 December

Jeju Sori reported on 12 October 2026 that Sea World Express Ferry (씨월드고속훼리) has told Jeju Province it intends to end the service of Santa Monica (산타모니카호). The paper, citing Moon Dae-lim of the Democratic Party of Korea (더불어민주당), who represents Jeju City Gap on the National Assembly’s agriculture, food, rural affairs, oceans and fisheries committee, says the company will operate only until 31 December 2026 because of the burden of operating losses, and will leave the Jeju–Chuja–Jindo route from January.

The paper says Santa Monica entered service in 2022 and can carry 606 passengers. It sails once a day between Jeju port and Sangchuja, a crossing of 50 minutes, and continues via Chuja to Jindo in 1 hour 35 minutes. It says that if the ship is withdrawn, the Jeju–Jindo route goes with it. In October 2025 the ship was out of service for more than four months after equipment was damaged while berthing at Chuja port.

Songlim Haewoon’s Songlim Blue Ocean would be the remaining ship on the Chuja routes. Moon said Songlim Blue Ocean leaves Chuja in the afternoon and arrives in Jeju in the evening, so a same-day return is difficult.

Jeju Province is to support ₩3.9 billion in operating deficits for the operators this year. Of that, the support for Santa Monica is ₩1.95 billion. The Mokpo Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries is to advertise for a new operator ahead of the withdrawal. The paper says profitability and the difficulty of securing a ship leave it unclear whether a new service will start.