Just off the coast of South Korea, Jeju Island pulls in vacationers and honeymooners by the thousands. Regular direct flights to and from international cities make getting here a snap. The picturesque island is very popular, so popular that Seoul International to Jeju International is the world’s busiest air route, with around 6.5 million people making the return trip last year.
Jeju Island features a volcanic Hallasan commanding the island from the center, a 224-kilometer semi-tropical forested national park, a wild coastline dotted with waterfalls and the longest lava tube in the world. Korea’s largest island, has long been the country’s favourite domestic holiday destination thanks to its beautiful beaches, lush countryside and seaside hotels designed for rest and relaxation.
There’s plenty on Jeju-do to appeal to those who prefer to be active. Hike up South Korea’s highest mountain, Halla-san, or climb the incredible tuff cone Seongsan Ilchul-bong, rising straight from the sea, to watch the sun rise from the ridge of a crater. For a less-demanding nature experience, meander along one of the JejuOlle Trails and explore tangerine-trimmed country roads, jagged coasts and narrow lanes dotted with cottage-style homes made from black lava rock. The ocean is never far away, so plunge into blue seas to view coral as colourful as the sunsets and dig into Jeju-do’s unique cuisine, including seafood caught by haeneyo (female free divers).
Top reasons that can’t keep you away from this destination are slated as follows:
1. The highest mountain in South Korea
The dormant volcano Hallasan stands 1,950 meters above sea level, but you can hike up and down in a day if you start early. Avoid the rain clouds of summer in favor of springtime azaleas, autumn colors or winter snow. Hallasan is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve containing a crater lake, alpine plants, woodpeckers, chipmunks, butterflies and beetles. Hiking clubs regularly take to these slopes, and those of 368 parasitic volcanoes.
2. Lava tubes
Another UNESCO Geopark, the Manjang cave is more than eight kilometers long and you can walk one kilometer of its eerie passageway.
Formed by cooling lava, the cave’s dark, cold, often narrow and slippery with water, and you know there are bats up in its murky corners: not somewhere for the claustrophobic.
3. Grandfather stones
With just a tad of irony, Jeju boasts “three plenties” — wind, rocks and women. The second of these is due to its formation from an outpouring of lava. Ninety percent of its surface is basalt. Dry-stone walls protect fields from storms. Then around 1750, to scare off invaders, masons started carving rocks into forbidding black “grandfather stones” (dolharubang) — massive phallic statues that might be mistaken for distant cousins of Easter Island’s moai. Forty-five still exist — but don’t be fooled by replicas. The stones remain a symbol of a distinct ancient culture furnished with many gods and legends.
4. Deep-diving women
In years gone by, when Jeju’s men disappeared for weeks in fishing boats, someone had to stick around to haul those rocks and put dinner on the table. As rice won’t grow on this wild, windy island, women learned to dive for octopus, abalone, clams, squid and seaweed. Nowadays, the powerful sea-women (haenyo) who dive 10-20 meters without any breathing apparatus, are renowned throughout the country. The haenyo’s average age is 65, with some diving into their 80s in darned wetsuits. You can see them at work in various locations across the island, including Jungmun Beach, Seogwipo.
5. Superb beaches
Korea’s a peninsula; it never lacks for beaches. But most of the superb beaches seem to encircle Jeju Island. Jungmun beach: a sweep of pale sand, blue sea, green creepers trailing over dunes. Just behind is the Lotte World mega-hotel complex’s Vegas-style pool area complete with fake cliffs, swan-shaped pedal boats and a Dutch windmill. The beautiful beach is empty outside of summer. Other top beaches for swimming and surfing are Emerald Bay, Gwakji, Hamdoek and Shinyang.
Hamdeok Seoubong Beach is located an approximately 40 minute drive away from Jeju International Airport in the direction of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. This small but charming beach has emerald colored waters. The beach is perfect for beginner swimmers and touring families as the waters are only waist-high even away from shore. In the spring, canola flowers bloom behind the beach and the yellow field creates harmony with the blue ocean to create captivating scenery. In addition, visitors can take in the view of the ocean by following a walking path that leads to a suspension bridge connected to Seoubong Peak at the end of the beach. As Seoubong Beach is one of the few Jeju beaches to remain open at night in the summer, don’t miss this chance to enjoy the evening sea breeze of JejuIsland. With its moderate waves perfect for surfing and ocean kayaking, Hamdeok Seoubong Beach is a haven to water sport fans.
6. Loveland – It has an erotic theme park
If any of Jeju’s honeymooners need to get in the mood, this is one blatant way to go about it. This hilarious over-the-top adult theme park is dedicated to sex. Grotesque oversized casts of Western-looking nudes are locked in embraces or caught in the throes of ecstasy. It’s no place for prudery. The handle on the door to the ladies’ toilets has an extremely distinctive shape, and interactive displays include a pleasure-giving exercise bike.
7. Olle walking trails / Jeju’s stunning coast.
Olle in the local dialect means a winding path to your front door, and Olle coastal trails now wind around much of the island.
From a lush, ambling south coast route overlooking craggy islands, clamber down to the sea over strange rock formations and see the caves that islanders were forced to dig by Japanese occupiers to hide weapons. The massively popular historical drama “Jewel in the Palace” was filmed here, so you can pose as one of the stars, should you want. The route near Oedolgae has the views made famous in “Dae Jang Geum” (“Jewel in the Palace”).
8. Water/oxygen/massage therapy
At Hanwha Therapy Resort, let jets of water massage you from every angle. Float in the pool with the lights out and music playing, lie back in an oxygen room, get wrapped in a sheet and cocooned in hay in a crib, then wake up in a tropical rain shower. Or try the herb sauna and outdoor spas at Jeju Waterworld.
9. Seaweed and sea urchin soup
Beyond raw seafood, the array of local specialties includes pheasant, whole grilled mackerel in sea salt and barbecued pork from Jeju’s black pigs. But if you really want to get a taste of the island try some of the seaweed and sea urchin soup. The urchin averse can opt for vegetarian health food at Yeonoonae outside Halla Arboretum serving potato pancakes and a green tea and perilla-seed soup.
10. Sunrise from a volcanic crater
Jeju is certainly full of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and here’s another one. Known as Sunrise Peak, it is famed for the picturesque sunrise scenic views one can enjoy at the peak. Sunrise Peak (Seongsan Ilchulbong), the 182-meter-high cone rising from the sea with a wide, green crater on the island’s eastern edge. It can be reached by a bridge, the approach is dominated by a shopping arcade and coach park.
11. It has an impressive 12 World Heritage sites
Jejudo forms part of the country’s roster of 12 Unesco World Heritage Sites. These national treasures include royal palaces, tombs, shrines and well preserved hanok villages (hilly settlements packed with traditional Korean houses).
