VISIT JEJU

Yongmeori Coast is located on the coast of Sanbangsan Mountain in Seogwipo. The beach, made up of rocks that have been stacked up for tens of millions of years, is considered one of the finest natural attractions in Seogwipo. Walking down the narrow passage toward the beach, you can see the Yongmeori Coast with its stone resembling a dragon head. Walk further down to the end of the rock stairs and stroll along the coast?there, you’ll occasionally encounter Jeju aunties selling seafood on the shore. Time will magically pass while you choose your seafood and sit in front of the Jeju aunties, watching them prepare the seafood. Grab a plate of seafood and find a place where you can eat it quickly. Just flip over the rough merchandise basket as a makeshift table, put a tray on top, and voila?it’s like you’re at a simple sushi restaurant, just for you. Despite the rather modest seasoning served with the seafood?some chili pepper paste and a few slices of onion?many people revisit the place every year, yearning for that unforgettable, simple but crunchy fresh Jeju seafood plate.

Please note that there is an entrance fee of KRW 2,500 per person for the Yongmeori Coast. Make sure to check via phone before your visit since entry is restricted during high tide and bad weather. You’ll also find small jars of shells around the beach. Laid out on wide rocks, these shells dry up in the hot summer sunlight. After the shells have dried completely, Jeju aunties sell the prettiest of them in bottles as little souvenirs. The area near Yongmeori Coast has so much to offer: including Songaksan Mountain, Kim Jeong-hui's House of Exile, Jeju Sculpture Park, Hwasoon Beach and Marado Island, which can be visited in a 1-day travel course.

If you must leave Jeju soon after a short weekend trip, don't be sad?make sure to visit Yongduam, located close to Jeju Airport, as your last destination. Legend has it that dragons that failed to ascend to the sky became these rocks. It is a popular tourist attraction where many people visit every year to see the dragon head-shaped rocks standing towards the sea. Passing through the parking lot and going down further to see Yongduam, you might see a black tent on a rock where seafood is sold. On closer look, you can see people huddled around a Jeju auntie preparing seafood, eating sea cucumbers, sea squirts, and octopus.

Choose your seafood, and take a seat. The black tent blocks the hot afternoon sunlight, and the summer breeze blowing provides welcome cooling. It won’t bother you for long that your seat is not as comfortable as a sushi bar, as you can see the blue Jeju ocean right before your eyes. You’re about to taste the fresh seafood from that sea! The sweet and sour chili paste, chopped garlic, and red pepper form a fantastic combination with the refreshing flavor of the ocean.

7 sorts of seafood including abalones, red sea cucumbers, sea cucumbers, sea anemone, and octopus are sold at this tent. A simple bamboo fish trap hanging on a black rock is the sign for Yongduam Haenyeo House. There are only two words written on the fish trap which each mean "Haenyeo House" and "Seafood." This matches the atmosphere of Yongduam better than any other signboard. After enjoying the fresh seafood at Yongduam Haenyeo House, take a walk along the Olle Route 17, which is right above this place. The Olle Route 17 course runs from the Gwangnyeong 1-ri office to the Ganse Lounge in downtown Jeju. Along the way,  you can enjoy the view of both the mountain and the sea. Stroll along the Olle Route, and also treat yourself with some delicious seafood!

Imagine a cool, refreshing waterfall in front of you. What a relief in the summer, when you can sweat from just sitting still... ...Now, try adding the taste of fresh Jeju seafood in front of that waterfall! In Jeju, there’s the Seogwipo Jeongbang Falls, where this lovely vision is a reality. Jeongbang Falls forms Jeju Island's 3 major waterfalls, along with Cheonjiyeon Falls and Cheonjeyeon Falls. Its water stream falling from the coastal cliffs flows directly into the sea, and is one of Jeju's magnificent, natural sights. Above the cliffs grows a dense expanse of old pine trees. All year round, these trees add to the mystique of the Seogwipo sea scenery. The road leading to Jeongbang Falls is shaded with trees. It’s easy to find a place to rest and cool down for a while. To the front of the waterfall, there are two desert islands: Seopseom Island and Munseom Island.

After seeing the Jeongbang Falls, take a closer look at the small tent at the exit. There, a Jeju auntie will greet you with a large basin full of turban shells and sea cucumbers in front of her. The yellow saucepan next to her contains well-cooked octopus. The price of seafood is around KRW 20,000 - 30,000, and sometimes parboiled octopus in the pot is offered. Make sure to order with a big, friendly smile. The usual sauce served with the seafood is red chili-pepper paste mixed with vinegar and sliced onions. No seats are available, so you’ll have to find a flat stone nearby to sit down. You can create a makeshift table by placing a large tray on your lap. Taste fresh sea cucumbers dipped in red chili-pepper paste mixed with vinegar while looking at the Jeongbang Falls, where cool water falls and flows into the Jeju ocean.

The Jungmun Saekdal Beach is a heaven to surfers for its high tides. It’s no wonder why it’s crowded with people who want to enjoy the summer time excitement of swimming in the sea. It features a long, white sandy beach that curves like a bow, as well as its signature black, white, red and gray sands. The scene of coastal cliffs surrounding the back of the beach is like a folding screen, and the picturesque view of the Chilshimni coast, linking Munseom Island, Saeseom Island, and Beomseom Island. is considered a must-see when you visit Jeju.

Follow the stairs inside the parking lot to the entrance of Jungmun Saekdal Beach, and you’ll come across a parasol on the street corner. In front of it stands a Jeju auntie cutting seafood. If you peer inside, you can see the table and parasol facing towards the Jungmun Saekdal Beach. There, you can eat seafood while gazing at the coastal scenery.

The seafood tents at the Saekdal Beach with tables and chairs are more comfortable compared to other places where customers have to sit on smaller chairs. The seafood here is quickly washed with seawater, which adds a nicely salty favor to the dish, even without seasoning. Jungmun Saekdal Beach serves seafood in a special way by packing leftover seafood in a plastic container for you. In this way, even if guests get distracted by the beautiful scenery of Jungmun Saekdal Beach and don’t manage to finish their food, they can just close the lid and enjoy it again later.

The family-friendly Jungmun Resort complex is located right behind the Jungmun Saekdal Beach, which makes it a perfect place for families to visit. If your little ones are too young to walk up and down the rough stone steps, this beach is a place you must visit. Since this beach is part of the Jungmun Tourist Complex, there are direct bus lines to Jeju Airport and the Jeju Intercity Terminal. This is a fantastic place to visit for travelers without cars. So, what are you waiting for?

The only snack cart on the coastal road of Jeju Island. On the Sinsan-ri Coastal Road, there is a snack cart where visitors can conveniently enjoy seafood supplied directly by Jeju haenyeo. Run by villagers, this snack cart is still unknown to many. It’s a hidden gem where one can relax and eat seafood while looking at the waters of Seogwipo. The calm atmosphere of the quiet Jeju village is also a relief to travelers who wish to avoid places crowded with people.

Sinsan Sinyang Coastal Road is a 9.4-kilometer-long road that runs from Sinsan-ri in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si to Sinyang Beach. It boasts beautiful scenery with Seongsan Ilchulbong and Seopjikoji Beach, which are famous for serving as backgrounds for many movies and TV series. This also makes it one of the most popular driving courses for visitors who wish to experience the quieter side of Jeju. The Sinsan-ri Coastal Road Snack Cart is operated with permission from Jeju City, and the seafood here is supplied directly from local haenyeo to guarantee freshness. Both simple seafood such as turban shells, sea squirts, sea cucumbers, and abalone, as well as full meals such as raw cuttlefish, abalone porridge, seafood ramen, and parboiled octopus are served.

In addition, semi-dried squid is also carefully prepared and offered in various sizes. Take advantage of the takeout option if your accommodations are nearby, and bring the fresh taste of Jeju seafood to your room! Now, if you're ready, set Sinsan Sinyang Coastal Road as the destination on your navigation system and drive off. Keep an eye along the road, as there are no fixed locations for these snack carts. Note that 3 roadside snack carts are being operated in Sinsan-ri.