3 Places you Must Visit in Jeju

A visit to Seongsan Ilchulbong in Seongsan-ri will help you understand why Jeju Island has a reputation for phenomenal natural beauty. Designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, the area is well preserved. After paying an entrance fee, you can easily hike up the volcanic crater. Brilliantly, the area was designed with stairs for tourists going up and another set of stairs for those coming back down. No need to weave through oncoming foot traffic.

After finding your way back down to the entrance, instead of leaving the area, I highly recommend you take a right turn to check out the remarkable Haenyeo women divers. They are the keepers of a long cultural tradition that dates back to the early 17^th century where female divers collect shellfish, seaweed, and other sea life for their livelihood. Some of these women are in their 80s. Seeing them with their wetsuits carrying their swollen nets full of shells fills you with a strong sense of admiration. Apart from watching these women go about their daily lives, they graciously perform a show for tourists twice a day.

Jeju Stone Park is another remarkable place where collected volcanic stone sculptures highlight Jeju’s culture and history. Right off the bat, you feel like you’ve landed in a different era. There are several walking trails that lead you to outdoor exhibits featuring a reproduction of Jeju traditional villages. The mythical side slowly reveals itself as you stroll through the park. Legends about Grandmother Seolmundae, who created Jeju Island are found throughout the park. The Sky Pond on the roof of the museum symbolizes the pot she threw herself into to save her starving children. And then there is an actual pond that symbolizes the soup pot. Around the pond are statues of her lamenting five hundred sons. The vast area also has a museum which showcases information on tectonic plate movements, the formation of lava tubes and volcanic eruptions.

Lastly, Cheonjeyeon Falls is worth a visit. According to a local legend, fairies would descend from heaven to bathe in the waterfalls. Once you see the stunning beauty of the place, you’ll understand why the legend exists. There is a dedicated path that takes you to the three waterfalls. And on the way to the third waterfall, you can cross the Seonimgyo Bridge (arch bridge with 7 nymphs carved on each side) which gives you a view of the surrounding dense vegetation. One thing to keep in mind is that waterfalls are most impressive after heavy rain.