When I first arrived in South Korea to work as an ESL teacher, I received many recommendations on how to fill my free time and where to go. Many expats around me highly recommended checking out Jeju-do, or Jeju Island.
Also known as the “Island of the Gods,” Jeju is Korea’s largest island and hugely popular with tourists, both local and foreign.
Although this is just a snapshot of what Jeju is like and has to offer, keep reading for some quick travel tips to help you decide whether or not to put Jeju on your bucket list!
Best time to visit
Jeju is great any time of the year, really. As with many touristy destinations, summer is always considered peak season. The weather is great and kids are on school vacation. My personal favourite season in Jeju is early spring, when the weather is still mild and travel prices are lower.
Getting around
Although there are bus tours you can join and public transportation available, renting a car is very affordable and easy to do on the island. If you decide to do this, remember to get your international driver’s license. I recommend this method of travel because the island is so big and attractions can be far apart from each other, as well as further away from the cities. If you aren’t going to include a GPS navigation system as part of your car rental, be sure to have the Naver Maps app available on your phone. Naver Maps is the Korean version of Google Maps and way more accurate. Don’t worry though, they have an English-language version that you can download.
Places to stay
Like any popular destination, there are plenty of hotels to choose from for your stay. However, if you’d prefer a more affordable and authentic experience with a local feel, I recommend hostels. Before you start turning your nose up at my option, hear me out. If you’re an expat, you’re not getting paid the big bucks in Korea. Hostels in Korea are also cleaner and more comfortable than your stereotypical image of a hostel in say, Europe. In fact, all my hostel experiences in Korea to date have always made me feel at home, giving me great sleep at night and tasty breakfasts each morning before I head out exploring for the day. Definitely give hostels a chance if you’re travelling around Korea!
What to eat
Surrounded by great weather and nature, farming and fishing are very common lifestyles, depending on the villages that you visit. As a result, you can get some pretty tasty and fresh products and dishes during your stay.
- Abalone: Fresh abalone is top notch here. Island female divers, also known as haenyeo, dive 10 to 20 metres under the sea, without the aid of oxygen masks, to harvest a variety of shellfish. Their collection consists of abalone, octopus, conch, etc. Pretty impressive, right? Abalone is served in a bunch of ways, including abalone porridge, grilled abalone, and abalone sashimi.
- Black pork: Black pigs are only available on the island, as evident by the many organic pig farms that dot the landscape. Black pork is best served via barbeque on hot charcoal, accompanied by a special dipping sauce. If you’re a carnivore, this is the dish for you.
- Grilled mackerel: In addition to harvesting shellfish from the sea, fishing is popular pastime and way of life here. Mackerel is in huge abundance and when grilled and served with side dishes and rice, it’s heaven.
- Oranges: Hallabong is a Korean tangerine and native to Jeju Island. Easily recognizable from its top protruding stem, this fruit is super juicy and sweet. Aside from eating it fresh, its flavour is frequently infused into chocolates, tea, and desserts around the island.
What to see and do
Being an island definitely comes with its scenic perks. Whether you’re a nature lover or museum explorer, there’s something for everyone here. Here are just a few of my favourite examples!
Nature lovers
- Mount Halla, or Halla-san, is Jeju’s most famous landmark and South Korea’s highest peak. There are a multitude of trails to choose from, ranging from quick jaunts to all-day treks. You can walk around the base of the mountain or make your way to the top.
- Coastal trails, also known as Olle trails, stretch alongside the island’s coast if you’re looking for more views of the sea, rather than forest.
- Seongsan Ilchubong: Also known as “Sunrise Peak,” this volcano is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and a popular climb to view the sunrise. The aforementioned haenyeo (female divers) can also be spotted performing here throughout the day.
- Manjanggul Lava-tube: Another UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, these lava tubes are accessible via entry to a cave. Once inside, you can check out stalactites, stalagmites, and other cave-worthy formations.
Museum explorers
- O’Sulloc Tea Museum: If green tea is your bag, then you need to check this out. It’s a pretty Instagrammable spot where visitors can walk amongst the actual plantations of green tea. Once you’ve frolicked to the max, head inside the museum learn more about their production line, as well as shop their souvenir shop and sample desserts from their teahouse.
- Jeju 4.3 Peace Park: On a more somber note, visit this memorial park and museum to read about the Jeju uprising, which occurred from April 1948 to May 1949 and was noted for its extreme violence, leading to the death of 14,000 to 30,000 people killed.
I hope this blog post has given you a good snapshot of what Jeju Island has to offer. Check out my other blog posts for other places I’ve visited in South Korea!
Now, get packing!
Check out my other travel posts on Twitter (@JSummer8824) and Instagram (jsummer88).
EXSM 3989 - Digital Storytelling Class Blog 