Asia > South Korea > Cheongju (CJJ)
The Car or no Car advice for Cheongju can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Cheongju ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Cheongju ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Cheongju?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🚇 Getting around Cheongju without a car
Cheongju is simple to navigate using buses, taxis and short walks. The bus network is extensive and frequent, especially between the major districts. Taxis are reliable and inexpensive. Neighbourhoods such as downtown Heungdeok-gu and the university quarter are compact enough to walk comfortably between cafés, markets and cultural spots.
Because of this, most visitors do not need a car for everyday movement within the city.
🚆 Osong Station: Cheongju’s real transport powerhouse
Although Cheongju has its own airport, the real game-changer is Osong Station, one of the most important high-speed rail junctions in Korea. Both Osong Station and Cheongju Airport sit roughly the same distance from central Cheongju. They are connected by a railway line. However, airport trains are infrequent because the branch line sees limited service. Buses and taxis to both locations are plentiful, so transfers remain simple.
Osong, meanwhile, sits at a major KTX and SRT Y-junction, which means the whole country opens up quickly:
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Northbound: Seoul in about 45 minutes.
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Southbound: Busan in under two hours.
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Southwest: The Honam high-speed line to Gwangju and Mokpo.
Because the station is such a powerful link, many travellers base themselves in Cheongju while relying entirely on trains for onward journeys. This dramatically reduces the need for a rental car.
🚗 When renting a car helps
Even with superb long-distance trains, a car becomes useful for the countryside. Rural Chungbuk Province is dotted with lakes, forest trails and mountain temples. Places such as Songnisan National Park, Beopjusa Temple, Suanbo Hot Springs and remote hill viewpoints are all easier to reach by car than by bus.
Roads around Cheongju are modern and well-maintained. However, parking in the busiest central districts can be limited, so a car is most useful for day trips rather than inner-city transport.
🧭 Conclusion – Should you rent a car in Cheongju?
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🚶♀️ No car needed if you rely on Osong Station’s high-speed trains, explore downtown, use buses, and take taxis for short hops.
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❔ Consider renting a car if you want to reach Songnisan, lake districts, hot springs or rural temples that fall outside the main public transport corridors.
