Jeju is the largest and southernmost island isolated from the Korean peninsula.
It has an area of 1,850 ㎢and a population of 673,665 residents as of 2024.
After Jeju was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 2002, World Natural Heritage in 2007 and a Global Geopark in 2010, the Culture of Jeju Haenyeo was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, Nobel Prize laureate in Literature, referred to Jeju as one of the world`s last islands of outstanding natural beauty.
Explore Jeju
① Mt.Hallasan
Saryeoni Forest Path is a forest walking trail that starts from Bijarim-ro and goes through Mulchat Oreum Volcanic Cone and Saryeoni Oreum Volcanic Cone. Its starting point is located at National Road No. 1112, which is thick with cedars. A variety of species of trees grow in the forest, such as Konara Oak, Red-Leaved Hornbeam, Snowbell, Hinoki Cypress, and cedar. The average altitude is 550m. It is popular among tourists who love hiking, because the nature of the forest hasn’t been tampered with.
② Saryeoni Forest Path
As one of Korea’s 3 spirit mountains, Hallasan Mountain is located on the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula, and lays claim to the title of South Korea’s tallest mountain with the height of 1,950m above sea level. Home to all sorts of vegetation, the mountain possesses immense scientific value and is a veritable treasure trove of animals and plants. In fall, when everything is blanketed by a colorful display of flowers, the mountain covered with the red color of the fall foliage is truly a sight to behold, while the snow-covered mountain in the winter stands out as the view to surpass all views.
③ Gwandeokjeong Hall
Gwandeokjeong Hall, which is located at the center of downtown Jeju, serves as a meeting ground as well as a milestone. It is designated as Treasure No. 322 and is familiar sight to the resident in Jejudo Island. In 1448, during the reign of King Sejong in the Joseon Dynasty, Jeju Moksa Sin Suk-cheong built Gwandeokjeong Hall in order to train soldiers and to boost martial spirit. It is popular among tourists for experiences such as wearing hanbok (for a fee) and playing traditional games.
④ Soesokkak Estuary
Soesokkak Estuary is a valley formed by flow of lava, and its geography is just as unique and interesting as its name implies. Soesokkak Estuary is also one of the "Hidden Sceneries of Seogwipo Chilsimni," and the harmonious view of strange rock formations and pine tree forests is visually stunning. There is also a famous raft called “Teu”, which you can ride on to admire every nook and corners of Soesokkak Estuary. On the raft, you pull the rope to pass through the crystal clear water, letting you enjoy the exotic view of the interesting array of rocks.
⑤ Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market
Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market is a traditional market located in Seogwipo City, which is known as the top tourist destination in Jeju. Included in the Jeju Olle Trail courses, Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market receives great responses from tourists through various cultural events and festivals. The market mainly sells local specialties such as tangerines, Hallabong oranges, and tilefish.
Location
Located at the center of Northeast Asia, the Korean Peninsula neighbors China, Russia, and Japan. Under the World Geodetic System, it lies between 33 and 43 degrees north latitude and 124 and 132 degrees east longitude. The Peninsula (including both North and South Koreas) is 1,000 km long and 300 km wide on average, and its total land area is 222,000 km2. The total land area of South Korea (below the Military Demarcation Line) is around 100,364 km2.
Culture
Language
Korea has a unique language and its own writing system, “Hangeul,” which is invented by King Sejong (1397-1450) during the Joseon Dynasty. Hangeul is the only writing system in the world created by deliberate efforts. It features highly scientific letter-forming principles, and is capable of expressing the largest scope of sounds among the writing systems currently in existence. It is also easy to learn because letters can be formed by following simple rules.
Food (Hansik)
Korea’s natural environment features mountains, plains, and seas in equal measure, contributing to the country’s diverse and unique culinary cultures. Korean food, or hansik, is characterized by a clear distinction between the main dish (rice, noodles, etc.) and the side dish (called banchan), diverse recipes, a balanced mix of animal and plant products, and refined fermented foods created with great care over long periods. The Korean people have also believed that food and medicine share the same origin, following the adage that “food is the best medicine.”
Housing(Hanok)
Hanok refers to Korea’s unique wooden housing consisting of ondol (floor heating system), maru (wooden-floored hall), bueok (kitchen), and madang (yard). There are multiple types of hanok depending on the roof materials: giwajip (tiled roof housing), chogajip (made of rice straws), neowajip (made of shingles), cheongseokjip (stone slabs), and gulpijip (tree bark). many tourists visit hanok coffeehouses and stay at hanok guesthouses for the traditional experience. Popular hanok–themed tourism sites include Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul and Jeonju Hanok Village.
Clothing (Hanbok)
Adapting to the natural environment, Koreans have developed an excellent and unique food, clothing, and shelter culture. To stay well in the cold winter and hot summer, they developed various clothing materials, made their own clothes, and made food with the mindset that “health comes from eating.” Today, hanbok is more often worn for special occasions than as casual clothes, such as wedding ceremonies, children’s first birthdays, and seasonal holidays including the Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok.
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