VISIT JEJU

There are many spots in Hado-ri that are like hidden gems. In July, just 50 meters offshore is Tokkiseom Islet, which is filled with lilies. At low tide you can walk there and feel the warmth surrounding the village. Hado Coastal Road is great fun as you play on the beach. Also organized by the Hado Fisheries Collective are 11 haenyeo (Jeju women divers) experience programs to learn more about their lives.

Panpo Port, a small fishing village on the west side of the island, is known for its snorkeling spots because its breakwater is large and keeps the turquoise sea calm and safe to enter. If you go a bit further out into the ocean, though, the water gets deeper. But it is still suitable for adults to enjoy swimming. Please note that you can rent snorkeling equipment from nearby fishing outlets or cafes. After a short dip, take a short 10-minute drive further west to the Shinchang Windmill Coastal Road. The towering windmills stand in line on and offshore and the sea and the sky blend with the pinks sunsets that are the stuff of fantastic Jeju dreams.

As surfing becomes ever more popular, Jeju is emerging as a sanctuary for surfing. The most famous beaches for this marine activity are Jungmun, Gwakji and Iho Tewoo Beach. There are rental outlets where you can get the equipment you need. Anyone can learn to surf and enjoy a day on the waves. In addition to surfing, the International Leaders Club has paddle boards that make you look like you’re just taking a stroll on the surface of the sea. Pacific Land has yacht tours and the Jeju Marine Leisure Experience Park has a semi-submersible tour to satisfy your curiosity about what lies below the surface along Jeju’s coast.

It is the summer season when Jeju welcomes beach crowds with open arms. On June 23, Gwakji, Geumneung, Iho Tewoo, Hamdeok, and Hyeopjae beaches open. On July 1st, Gimnyeong, Samyang, Sinyang Seopji, Jungmun Saekdal, Pyoseon and Hwasun Black Sand Beaches open officially. As for activities by the sea, on July 14 to July 15, and July 21 to 22, is the Iho Night Concert series. And on July 27 to 29, it is the Iho Tewoo Festival. At Hamdeok Beach on July 13 and 14 you can attend the 15th Annual Stepping Stone Festival, the island’s representative celebration of rock music.

Let's take a journey into a valley where the cool, clear water flows like ice from Hallasan Mountain. The Donnaeko Valley in Seogwipo offers up an exquisite natural stream of clear blue-green water. An Eco Party is scheduled for July 14th, so try to go if you can and enjoy the festivities in this marvellous natural setting. In the area closer to shore is Jeongmo-si Shelter, which welcomes people who are tired from all the sun. Although it is small in scale, this valley is so nice that you’ll find more locals than visitors there to take a relaxing break in the shade on the benches and pavillions.

The 'Jeju Light Art Festa' celebrates light as a component in installation art. Bruce Munroe, a British lighting artist whose work is featured here, was inspired by the volcanic landscape of Jeju. In addition, artists from all over the world, such as Jen Lewin, Tom Fruin, Jason Krugman and Lee Byung Chan, fill some 200,000 square meters of space with their light art. Jeju LAF hold its colorful display of light from July 27 to October 24.

Let's experience the raw, primeval side of Jeju on an off-road course at Jerazin Camp. The 6.5-kilometer course takes you along a horse path and rugged uphill and downhill trails as well as muddy roads, reed basins, Gotjawal Forest, and Seonsaemi Volcanic Cone. This is an hour-long course with an off-road specialist to accompany you and make sure you have an exhilarating experience. After all the excitement, you can come back down to earth and spend time with the horse and deer that live in a meadow on the property.

Beer lovers need to put a tour of the Jeju Beer Company on their list. You can see just how the brewing process works for this Jeju beer brand and then enjoy the fresh Jeju beer that is served in the pub located just upstairs from the brewery. The tours are reservation-only and run from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. On July 20-22, Jeju’s first beer festival will hold its second annual event with 40 kinds of beers from all over the world, including domestic handmade beer, buskers, a Dj’ing party, and a flea market.

Kim Kyung Sook's Sunflower Farm, which opened in 2012, is Jeju’s largest with some 750,000 plants on about 33,000 square meters of land. It is known as a great photo spot for social media and in the summer its popularity skyrockets through word of mouth endorsements both on and offline. You can also purchase souvenirs such as domestic sunflower seed chocolate balls. Let's Run Farm also welcomes tourists to adorn their clothes with poppies and yellow sunflowers.

In Jeju, the flour that is milled from barley grain is referred to as “gaeyeok” in the Jeju language. Barley has the ability to lower one’s body temperature and so is an excellent ingredient in summer cooking. At Sunah Coffee, located in Jeju City, you can try their “Borigaeyeok” drink made from Jeju barley during summer and early fall. And in the Namwon area of southeast Seogwipo, Neuyeong Nayeong Chogajip serves barley powder on its traditional Korean bingsu shaved ice dessert. It’s a beloved item on their menu.