Jeju (city) Things to Do

JEJU (Bis): The Interior of Jeju Island, east of jeju's Highest peak Mt. Hallasan (2002m) is the area of Seongup-ri, Pyoson-myon.

The area of Seongup-ri, Pyoson-myon, still remains as a typical mountain village, and is home to a number of cultural treasures. This area was Jeju's provincial capital during the Koryo period, and the area has been maintained by the local government. On eof the cool features of this area is the Seongup Jeju Folk Village, which is a 'fair dinkum' traditional Jeju village that has been maintained. And it rocks.

The village contains loads of thatched roof houses with basalt and mortar walls. Villagers still live in these houses, although they have modernised them for modern living. Also located here are Hyangyo (local school annex of a Confucian shrine), Tolharubang (the basalt guardianof the island), an old government building, and tomb sones.

The unique characteristics found here include folk songs, tradition foods, craftmanship, and the Jeju provincial dialect which is impossible to understand. Still it is a fun dialect to here them do for you.

Information: 82-064-787-1302
Admission: free

Songsan Ilchulbong or Songsan Sunrise Peak on the eastern end of Cheju Island protrudes into the sea, rising high in the sky. There is a plateau like basin which is the crater of an extinct volcano. From a distance it looks like a place where a conjurer might reside. This basin covers an area of a littel over 64 acres, and it is one of the principal craters on Jeju Island which include Paeknoktam and Sangumburi.

This peak was created about 100,000 years ago. It rose from under the sea in a volcanic eruption. The crater is about 600 m in diameter and 90 m high. The area has 99 sharp rocks that peak around the edge of the crater, making it look like a gigantic crown. The southeast and north sides are cliffs, and only west side has grass growing on its ridgeline and is connected to the Seongsan Village below. The ridge is good for walks and also for horse riding as well. The most famous activity at Seongsan Ilchulbaong Peak is watching the sunrise from the crater.

Around April (Spring in Korea) every year, the whole area blooms in vibrant yellow from rape flower fields. These rape flowers form a brilliant forground for a picture of SeongSan Peak in the Which is situated on the northern Flank of Shin Yang Bay. Which forms a natural port for the village of Songsan.

After climbing Seopjikoji or Seopji Hill, and following the nice stone fences, and the mulitude of Church Photographers, en route to the rather ordinary looking lighthouse, you will pass this wonder point, or as I call the Nuggets, because it looks like Nugget Point in my own New Zealand. But this point is actually called “seondol” or 'sticking out' in english.

Oh one point about the stone fences, as I said earlier most of them are for sheltering the road, but in the fields, they are shelterbelts sheltering succulents from the Jeju elements. So ithin these stonewalls, are field upon field of rape flower. A flower that Jeju is synonomous with. Around April every year, you can see brilliant rape flower fields from this road. And these rape flowers form a brilliant forground for a picture of SeongSan Peak in the bay.

Seopji Hill or Seopjikoji is located at the end of the eastern shore of Jeju-do island. “Seopji” is the old name for the area, and “Koji” is native Jeju dialect meaning a sudden bump on the land. At Seopjikoji, there are cliffs by the seashore, where there is not a single tree, only a large field of grass.

This is me standing on the top of Shipji Hill or point with the dramatic Seong san or Sunrise Peak behind me. directly behind my person is a rock wall, one of the many ubquitous walls that are all over the Island.

These walls often demarcate not only houses and their Madang or Courtyards, they are often also used to shelter paths (Walls of both sides) jeju is somewhat windy you see. But most commonly you will see these walls demarcating boundaries and providing shelter as shelter belts for non wind hardy crops.

Anyway Shipji Hill is a great stroll. You will find thousands of korean people making the hike. At first I thought that they were going for the view or to see the nuggets at Shipji Point, or perhaps to enjoy the fine stone walls, or even to scale the stairs of the point lighthouse, but alas I was wrong. At the top of this hill there is a small church. It was the infact the church a famous Korean 'TV' couple get hitched. Everybody goes in their multitudes to photograph themselves there.

Hmmmmm. But who am I to Judge.

Hallasan (or Halla Mountain) is the highest mountain in the republic of Korea, and if i am not mistaken (But probably am, is the second highest, after Baekdusan (Baekdo Mountain) which is now in North Korea. Hallasan stands in the centre of Jeju Do. At Hallasan's summit lies Paeknokdam or "White Deer Lake" which is home to loads of species of plants. If I remember to scan the slides I'll put some Hallasan Forest Pics on this page. Hallasan is also characterised by high peaks, steep slopes, rock-strewn valleys, and omnipresent azalea bushes, all of which provide a feast of the eye.

Anyway, as one of the Sam-shin-san (Three mountains where God lives), Hallasan is one of the most famous mountains in Korea for its scenic beauty. The southern part of the mountain is very steep, contrasting with the northern part which is comparatively easier to hike. The high peaks in the east and west are extensive and excellent places for challenging hikes.

If you make the Trip to Seogwipo, The southern City of Jeju you will pas a complex of waterfalls on the way. There are three main ones. They are Chonjiyon Waterfall, Chonjeyon Waterfall and the Coastal Jongbang Waterfall.

My fave is the Chonjiyon Waterfall. The path to the waterfall cuts through a lush garden/forest of subtropical plants and it is nice to walk there in the evening when fairylights twinkle nicely. There is a path made of lava stones over a small river coming out from the waterfall, which should be crossed by the newlyweds with the bride riding the husband's back. It has something to do with long love.

Chonjeyon Waterfall is located in the tourist area of Chungmun, near Yomiji Garden. From the side of the garden the road to the waterfall goes over the arched "bridge of seven nymphs", named after the legend that says 7 nymphs come down at midnight to bathe in the pool under the waterfall. I waited for them, but the buggers didn't even put a toe in the water pool. Grrrrrrr.

the last is the Jongbang Waterfall which is said to be the only seaside waterfall in Asia. A long stairway encumbered by lush subtropical forest hanging over it leads to the waterfall. Its quite a Beautiful place. Apparently The famous Jeju Women Divers (Haenyo) dive here and sell there wares right beside the falls. Cool huh?

The Yongduam (or Dragon Head Rock) is on the Yongdam-dong seashore which is in Jeju City. It is simply a Clump of jagged basalt rock, but if you look at it from the west Yongduam resembles a dragon with its mouth open ready to roar. However the Rock also steeped in tradition and superstition, and it comes with a few legends.

According to one legend, a Dragon envoy of the Dragon King was sent to Mt. Halla (the Highest Mountain in Jeju) to pick a herb which would give eternal youth. But a god of Hallasan (or maybe Hallasan himself) biffed him into the sea, and only the head protruded above the sea. The shape of the head is like that of a wailing dragon.

20 minutes off Cheju island is the even smaller island of Udo. It's quaint and you can spend an afternoon exploring the perimeter on a rented bike or relaxing on the beach.
Don't go to Cheju and miss Udo!