7 Best Tourist Spots in Jeju Island to Visit this Summer

Traveling is one of the most joyful things to experience in life as it gives you the opportunity to witness magnificent places, meet diverse...

Traveling is one of the most joyful things to experience in life as it gives you the opportunity to witness magnificent places, meet diverse people with rich cultures, eat authentic & exotic food, learn new cultural heritages and so much more. Unfortunately, the pandemic affected us in ways the world did not imagine. Thankfully, economies are beginning to thrive again, and tourism is starting to boom, particularly in South Korea. What’s more exciting is that Filipinos can now travel in Jeju Island *Visa-free* and can stay up to 30 days starting June 1, 2022!

Planning to visit there next month? Then you might want to keep reading as we give you a list of the best tourist spots in Jeju Island to explore this Summer!

1. Jeju Stone Park

Courtesy: corejeju.com

A museum and ecological park, the Jeju Stone Park museum is an iconic tourist spot which showcases the general and systemic stone culture of Jeju Island. According to KoreanLii, Jeju Stone Park is an output of the public-private joint project which has established a scientific and art museum, and provided indoor and outdoor exhibition, of a variety of Jeju stones on more than 300 hectares of land at Jocheon, Jeju Island. The park officially opened on June 3, 2006 and after 21 years, construction of the park finally finished last February 2021.

The park’s main theme is said to be based upon the legend of Seolmundae Halmang (Grandma Seolmundae) who created the stone, soil, tree, iron, water and Jeju Island. According to Visit Jeju, there are 48 Dol Hareubang, a Stone Pagoda to repel evil forces and misfortunes, Jeongjuseok, which acted as the front door for Jeju houses since there were no thieves, and Dongjaseok, which was placed around the tomb to soothe the grief of the deceased, which shows the afterlife view of Jeju Island, are installed in the Outdoor Exhibition Space, and it is a natural and cultural rest area.

2. Jeju Dongmun Market

Courtesy: tripadvisor.co.kr

If you love shopping for food and souvenirs, then Jeju Dongmun Market is for you. According to Korea Trip Tips, the market was first established after the liberation in 1945, but unfortunately, a large fire broke out in March 1954, a devastating incident which reduced the whole market and nearby areas into ashes. Because of this, the market was then transferred to its current location and kept the original name until this day. As one of the most popular traditional markets in Jeju, Dongmun has served countless customers, selling diverse items at inexpensive prices. As the representative traditional market of Jeju, the market is popular for fresh seafood.
Jeju Dongmun Market is the island’s largest and oldest permanent market. An all-in-one market that both tourists and locals can enjoy as it is a street market, night market, traditional market, and seafood market all combined into one. This is a must-see market where people can enjoy numerous shops and eateries – truly, a Jeju experience one should not miss.

3. Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls

Courtesy: Korea Tourism Organization

According to Korea Tourism Organization, Cheonjeyeonpokpo Falls, also known as "The Pond of God," consists of three sections. The first waterfall falls into a pond with a depth of 21 meters. From here, it falls two more times, creating the second and third waterfalls, which then flow into the sea. To the east of the first waterfall is a cave, where water falls from the ceiling. In the past, people believed this water had healing properties, with many people bathing in the waters. These days, swimming is strictly prohibited.

In Cheonjeyeon Valley, visitors can see Seonimgyo Bridge (an arch bridge with 7 nymphs carved on the side) and the octagonal Cheonjeru Pavilion. Seonimgyo Bridge is also called Chilseonyeogyo, meaning "seven nymphs bridge," and it connects Cheonjeyeon Falls with Jungmum Tourist Complex. On the surface of Cheonjeru Pavilion, there is a painting that tells Cheonjeyeon’s legend of the seven nymphs and the mountain god.

4. Hallim Park

Courtesy: destimap.com

One of the most popular tourist spot on Jeju Island, Hallim Park is approximately 33 kilometers west of Jeju-si and Hallasan Mountain along the beach in Hallim-eup. According to Visit Jeju, Hallim Park first opened in 1971 and is the site of pioneer spirit of Song Bong-gyu, who have planted palm trees in 330,578㎡ of wilderness and turned it into haven of green. 9 magnificent themes are displayed in Hallim Park and was in fact visited by many world-renowned individuals such as Jiang Zemin, the previous Head of State of China and Nakasone, the previous Prime Minister of Japan. More than one million domestic and foreign visitors visit this site making it such a world-wide famous tourist destination. Tourists can enjoy various gardens in the park in all seasons like the Palm Tree Road, Jeju Stone and Bonsai Garden, Water Garden, Subtropical Botanic Garden and many more.

5. Jungmun Saekdal Beach

Courtesy: koreattrack.com

Surrounded by cliffs with a romantic panoramic view, Jungmun Saekdal Beach is a tourist spot in the island located in the city of Seogwipo-si, Saekdal-dong. According to Doosan Encyclopedia, The beach is 560 meters long and 50 meters wide, and the sand features a variety of colors, including black, white, red, and gray. Jungmun Saekdal Beach is a treasure of Jeju Island as the place was chosen as the best uncontaminated beach among 44 beaches in South Korea in 1999 through an environmental water quality investigation conducted by the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement. Locals and tourists alike can enjoy recreational activities like surfing, waterskiing, parasailing, windsurfing and so much more. If you’re an adventure junkie, then you might want to put this amazing tourist spot in your bucket list when you visit!

6. Manjanggul Cave

Courtesy: thisiskoreatours.com

According to Expatolife, Manjanggul Cave, located in Gimnyeong-ri, Gujwaeup, Jeju City is the 12th longest lava tunnel in the world. This lava tube was formed hundreds of thousands of years ago and is a must-visit destination on Jeju Island, South Korea. The cave is regarded as having significant scientific and heritage value, owing to its excellent condition of preservation despite its age of formation (about 300,000 to 200,000 years ago).

The most favorable habitats for cave life can be found in Entrance No. 3. In between Entrances No. 1 & 2, there is a lower level main tube where most of the living creatures can be found. In the Geomunoreum Lava Tube System, the Manjanggul Lava Tube has the greatest number of living creatures, including the Jeju cave-spider. In the upper part of Entrance 2, there are at least 30,000 common bent-wing bats forming the largest colony of bats confirmed to be living in Korea so far.

7. Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff

Courtesy: tripadvisor.com

The Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff is a spectacular volcanic rock formation at the southern coast of Jeju Island, South Korea. It is similar to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. According to Korea Tourism Organization, the cliff was designated as a Natural Monument on January 6, 2005, and that the Cliff was formed when the lava from Hallasan Mountain erupted into the sea of Jungmun. The rock pillars are shaped like cubes or hexagons of various sizes and almost seem as if stone masons had carved them out. The administration of the district named them 'Jisatgae Rocks' from their old name 'Jisatgae'. The 20m cliff makes it a popular spot for high tide and sea angling. The waves of the high tide crashing into the side of the cliff provide a breathtaking view of the ocean surrounding the pillars.


There are many more places to visit and things to do in Jeju Island. Are you excited to explore this beautiful place? If you already have or about to, share with us your thoughts and perhaps it might help other future tourists too!

This article is written by Cathrine Grace S. Alcachupas, a Digital Marketing Department Intern of PS Media Enterprise and an AB Communication student in De La Salle University-Dasmarinas.