VISIT JEJU

The first thing you’ll notice about the area around Jeju City Hall in the evening, besides its huge variety of restaurants, cafes and bars, is the distinctly younger crowd milling about and having a great time. With its central location and easy accessibility to public transportation and taxis, this part of the city is a natural draw for young people to meet for an evening of food, fun and friendship. Recently, the area has seen a lot of target shooting and basketball hoop throwing outfits open their doors, as well as retro fun like DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) platforms and claw machines. It’s a time-tested fun way for friends to have a friendly competition, earn some brownie points with their significant other, or simply to blow off steam. How about giving it a try one summer evening? Do some shopping, enjoy some good food, and walk down memory lane...

With the hot weather comes a certain amount of lethargy. You can see people lounging comfortably at the beach, dozing under the cover of large umbrellas and soaking up the sun and surf. But if you live in the city, and especially if you have kids, it’s not that easy to arrange to head down to the coast on any given sizzling summer night. That’s why the Donam-dong neighborhood of Jeju City has set up its own cool summer site — complete with a colorful water fountain that is perfect for the kids to play in — within easy access of the city center. The fountain is called Chilseongdae, hinting at the unity and prosperity of the Tamna Kingdom centuries ago. The lighted fountain, which symbolizes the North Pole and the Big Dipper, is installed in the center of the square at the Citizen Welfare Town. Especially on hot summer days and nights, it is a great  place for children to enjoy playing in the water to their hearts’ content. Better yet, parents can easily keep an eye on their kids and enjoy the evening too, as there is plenty of space to set out a mat and enjoy an evening picnic with fried chicken or pizza. Young and old can enjoy a cool summer evening together here!

Sinsan Park, a symbol of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, is a memorial to commemorate the arrival of the Olympic torch. Currently, it is a park in the city center of Jeju which is being used as a rest area for citizens. It is also suitable as a picnic area, and in the evening it is crowded with lovers enjoying a date along the promenade and locals getting in shape with some light exercise on the public equipment there. Also in the park are a variety of cultural and culinary destinations, including the Jeju Culture and Arts Center, the Folklore and Natural History Museum, Samseonghyeol Shrine, and an area with a number of great Jeju-style noodle restaurants. At the Culture and Arts Center, you can see any number of art exhibitions, music concerts and theater performances, or learn all about Jeju culture and its geological origins at the folklore museum just a stone’s throw from there. And of course if you need a break from all this history and culture, you can take a pleasant stroll among the trees or if you’re hungry, dig into some delicious, rich, pork noodle soup. Make a half- or even a full-day of it!

The plaza at the Tapdong seaside area of old Jeju City is central, popular, and convenient for travelers and locals looking to enjoy some good food and fun near their homes or hotels. In the summer there are frequent cultural and music events and exhibitions held here. But that’s just the start of the nighttime attractions. You can ride bikes, play basketball, or have a picnic. Sit along the sea wall and listen to the waves, take a stroll, watch the airplanes arrive and depart from nearby Jeju International Airport, and take some lovely night shots. There’s also fast food and an amusement park if you’re looking to entertain your kids. Please note that due to the popularity of the area, a number of rules have had to be strictly enforced, including a prohibition on fishing and littering. Please follow these simple rules to keep everyone safe and comfortable in this public space.

Located along the coastal road very near Jeju International Airport, this is a great place to watch the many aircraft to and from Jeju roaring through the sky north of Jeju City. This part of the coast is popular for its proximity to the airport, as well as being very pretty and having lots of great cafes and restaurants to chose from. The evening is particularly pleasant as there is a small valley, complete with pedestrian bridge, which is colorfully lit for people walking through the area at night. The pond over which Yongyeon Bridge spans has a dragon-related legend to it, adding to the mysterious atmosphere of this beautiful spot. You’ll find it hard to believe this site is located so centrally in Jeju City proper.