Gold Stella Sets Sail for a New Start After 7 Billion Won Deficit

Wando-Jeju Route to Launch on the 15th, Taking 2 Hours and 30 Minutes
"Resolving Tourist Inconvenience and Revitalizing the Local Economy"

The new large-scale car ferry passenger ship 'Gold Stella-ho', which had suspended operations on the Yeosu-Jeju route due to accumulated deficits, will begin operating on the Wando-Jeju route starting from the 15th.

According to Wando County on the 14th, the 'Gold Stella-ho' will depart from Wando at 9:20 AM and from Jeju at 4:00 PM, making one round trip per day. The journey from Wando to Jeju takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and the vessel can accommodate 948 passengers and 343 passenger cars.

Goldstella. Provided by Hanil Express

The 'Gold Stella-ho' decided to suspend operations on the Yeosu-Jeju maritime passenger transport route on the 30th of last month due to a deficit of 7 billion won.

In 2020, Hanil Express introduced the 21,989-ton Gold Stella-ho with the goal of revitalizing the Yeosu route, but faced several challenges. The aftermath of the Sewol ferry disaster and a decrease in passengers due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact. Additionally, the rise in fuel costs and the increase in flight services further intensified operational difficulties.

In particular, as the number of flights between Yeosu and Jeju increased from one to three round trips a day, continued deficits (about 7 billion won annually) caused further hardship. The shipping company requested operational support measures from local governments and related agencies, including Jeju Province, but since Yeosu City was unable to provide a solution, the route was ultimately changed to Wando-Jeju.

The newly departing Gold Stella-ho from Wando takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Jeju and can accommodate up to 948 passengers and 343 passenger cars. In addition, it is equipped with a variety of facilities for passenger convenience, such as premium cabins, floor, bed, and capsule rooms, pet rooms, rest spaces, an arcade, and a kids' room.

A county official stated, "There has been much disappointment among travelers due to the lack of morning passenger ferries between Wando and Jeju. With the launch of this new passenger ship, these inconveniences have been resolved. We hope that the number of tourists visiting Wando will increase, revitalizing the local economy."

A Hanil Express official said, "Compared to Yeosu, where the journey to Jeju takes more than five hours, Wando only takes two and a half hours. While Yeosu suffered severe annual deficits, the losses in Wando are expected to be alleviated. The newly launched service from Wando is expected to overcome the difficulties experienced on the Yeosu route and have a positive impact on both passenger convenience and the revitalization of the local economy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.