Jeju-Si

Jeju-Si (제주시) is the northern district of Jeju island.

Understand

Jejusi (제주시) is the northern part of Jeju Island, where the capital Jeju City is located.

Get in

Jeju city has both the main sea port and airport on the island.

Get around

An administrative city located in the northern part of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. It is an administrative city of Jeju Island, where the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Office is located, and is the largest city in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Based on Hallasan Mountain, it has jurisdiction over the Sanbuk area of Jeju Island and borders Seogwipo-si in the Sannam area.

See

• Iho Tewoo Beach (이호테우 해변), 33.497477°, 126.452379°. is close to Jeju Airport, and it is enough distance to ride a bicycle. There are white and red pony lighthouses, the slope of the beach is gentle, and there is a pine forest nearby, so it is a good place to enjoy the scenery and take a walk. 2022-11-27
• Hangpaduri Hangmong (Anti-Mongolian) Historical Site (제주 항파두리 항몽 유적), 50, Hangpaduri-ro, Aewol-eup, 33.452043°, 126.407141°, +82-2-1330. A special defence unit of the Goryeo kingdom rebelled against the invading Mongolian army in 1270, and eventually retreated to Jeju Island for a last stand. They held off the Mongolian forces here for 2 years before they were all killed at a fortress built here. Free 2022-11-27
• Loveland (제주 러브랜드), 680-26, Yeon-dong, Jeju (on the road between Jeju City and Seogwipo, ₩1,500 by intercity bus, about ₩10,000 by taxi.). Jeju's most eccentric and internationally infamous attraction and almost a reason in itself to visit Jeju, this bizarre sculpture park was created by graduates of Seoul's Hongik University. Few of the (over 140) exhibits are generally shocking, and it makes for some interesting holiday snaps that you won't want to show your parents. Although you will likely see some Korean families in the park, this is one where you should definitely leave the children at home or in the attached playground. Has a sex shop attached, naturally. Elsewhere on Jeju you will find phallic representations are an ancient symbol of the island. Amusingly, the Chinese government prevented the opening of an imitation loveland in Chongqing. ₩7,000 2022-11-27
• Gold Cave (화암동굴), 2487 Hyeopjae-ri, Hallim-eup (Hyeopjae biyangdo-gil, Hallim-eup), +82 64-796-0001-4. The gold cave is a rare lava tube that remains its original shape. It's blocked off from the public. 2022-11-27
• Hallim Park (한림공원). Take a stroll through a 27,000 m² botanical garden including 2 caves. The park is divided into 16 gardens, including a tropical garden, garden of Washington palms, a garden of foliage plants, and a bonsai gardens with bonsai trees that are over 150 years old. Also has a Folk Village. 2022-11-27
• Bijarim Forest (비자림), 3164-1, Pyeingdae-ri, Gujwa-eup, +82 64 783-3857. If the purpose of your travel is to recharge your tired body, Bijarim will more than serve your needs. It is the first forest bathing park in Jeju Island, and the largest of one species of tree in the world. In the center of the forest stands a Japanese Torreya tree that is more than 800 years old, and known to be the oldest tree on Jeju. One can feel the energy of time this ancestral tree, which reaches 25 meters in height and has a perimeter of 6 meters. there are two walking paths in Bijarim : one takes two or three hours and a short trail takes about 30 minutes. if time allows, it is recommended that you slowly walk the longer course and enjoy the scenery. 2022-11-27
• Bangae Oreum (방애오름), Sahn 45, Gyrae-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si (Bijarim-ro, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si), +82 64 710-6072. Bangae Oreum, there are four peaks in the west and southeast while it is flat in the south. There is grassland in the crater of the oreum. 2022-11-27
• Haenyeo Museum (제주 해녀 박물관), 3204-1 Hado-ri Gujwa-eup. Museum dedicated to the Haenyeo (female divers). ₩1,100 2022-11-27
• Manjanggul Lava-tube (만장굴), +82 64 710-7908. A 7 km deep cave, of which only a 1 km part can be accessed by the public. The tube is up to 23 m high and has been created by lava streams running through. Bring a jacket, since it is fairly cold and water drops from the ceiling. The lava-tubes can be reached by taking the coastal bus from Jeju, then walking the 2.5 km from the bus station. It's possible to hitchhike as most cars on the road from the bus station will also be heading to the lava tubes. One of Jeju's three UNESCO World Natural Heritage rated attractions. ₩2,000 2022-11-27
• Gimnyeong Snake Cave (김녕사굴), Sahn 7, Gimnyeong-ri, Gujwa-Eup (Gimnteong-gil, Gujwa-eup). The Gimnyeong Snake cave is a 700-meter-long S-shaped lava tube. It is also called snake cave for its internal shape. The entrance of the cave bulges like a head of a snake and it becomes thin as you go deeper into the cave. 2022-11-27
• Jeju April 3rd Peace Park (제주 4·3 평화공원), Myeongrim-ro 430 (Bonggye-dong San 51-3), Jeju City, Jeju Do, +82 64 710-8461. 09:00-18:00. This museum is about the tragic incident of the 3rd of April, 1948. There were a series of events on Jeju island during the Korean War that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 30,000 Jeju islanders. Free 2022-11-27
• Nexon Computer Museum (넥슨 컴퓨터 박물관), Jeju City. Apparently Korea's first dedicated computer museum, housing over 4,000 working examples of antique computers and video games. ₩8,000 2022-11-27

Folk villages

• Folklore and Natural History Museum (제주 민속자연사박물관), 33.50671°, 126.53138°. The museum is divided into four exhibition halls: natural history, folklore, special resources, and an audio-visual room. It contains natural history of the island as well as relics, animals and plants that are found around the island. The stuffed animals are popular among children.

Other attractions

• Jeju Old Government Offices. A comparably nice set of Joseon-era historical buildings in central downtown Jeju City. What's unusual is the existence of a nicely landscaped square pond in the complex, and its tumultuous history of getting built in lieu of a well, destroyed due to an irrational hatred of noisy frogs and untimately rebuilt.
• Lava tubes and other volcanic sights. Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the "nature" category. Mount Halla (Hallasan) dominating the island is a dormant volcano and there are underground caves with lava tubes to explore on Geomeunoreum. Seongsan Ilchulbong is a tuff cone crater in Seogwipo. All three are very popular attractions and accessible.
• Bultapsa Five-Story Stone Pagoda (불탑사), 33.5298°, 126.5984°. This pagoda was damaged during the Korean War, commonly called the 6.25 War in Korea. The original pagoda was at Wondang Temple, which is said to have been founded by King Choongryeol during the Goryeo Dynasty. The present structure was reconstructed in the 1950s. The angle on the baseline of every corner of the Pagoda looks dynamic due to its turning shape.

Natural landscapes

• Yongduam Rock and yongyeon Pond, Yongdam (용두암), 33.5163°, 126.5121°. A large piece of volcanic rock said to be the solidified remains of Yimugi, a water dragon. Whilst the legends behind just how he got himself turned to stone in that position vary, it hasn't diminshed his influence, as the surrounding suburb is called Yondam by extension: literally "Dragon's Head Rock". Just about 100m to the east one can find the lesser known, but probably prettier Yongyeon Pond, a picturesque canyon straddling a pleasantly turquoise pond with a pavilion perched overhead. Again, a dragon features heavily in the legendary history of this site, but simply that it visted. A festival is held here in May. If all this talk of dragons is making you want to sit on a horse for some reason, then there is an old guy out the front who aggressively and inexplicably offers this service for a fee. Both sites are lit up spectacularly at nigh.

Landmarks

• Mysterious Road (신비의 도로), 33.4512°, 126.4878°. Called the Mysterious Road or the Goblin Road, this is a strange place where if you park your car on a downhill road, the car that has to go down does not go down, but rather steps back toward the uphill. In fact, the side where the uphill road is visible is a downhill road with a slope of about 3 degrees, so it seems to be going up by a simple optical illusion. Due to this phenomenon, Dokkaebi Road has become a tourist attraction due to word of mouth, and various safety facilities are being added (as of Oct 2022) to prevent accidents caused by it, and a tourist park is expected to be created soon.

Do

• Glass Castle (Yuri wi seong(유리의성)), 3135-1 Jeoji-ri, Hangyeong-myeon (inner western portion of the island; take an inter-city bus to Hallim and a taxi from there). One of Jeju's two theme parks specialising in glass sculptures. Also offers an optional hands-on studio experience where visitors can craft their own works. ₩9,000 plus studio fees

• Kimyoung Maze, San16 Gimyong-ri Ggujwa-up (about 500 m down the road from the Manjanggul lava-tube cave). A Jeju-shaped hedge maze which is interestingly complex and fun to walk through. The hedges are evergreen so it runs all year round. The maze claims fewer than 5% of visitors complete it in under 5 minutes, and the layout tends not to favor blind-luck too heavily so try timing yourself. ₩3,300 discounts off-peak

• Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival, Saebyeol Oreum area on Route 95, Bongseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Bukjeju-gun, Jeju-do (take a 50-minute bus ride from Jeju City Bus Terminal). The Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival originates from the traditional harvesting of the grasses found in the local domestic farm animal pastures, which were annually set in fire each winter by the villagers as a way to exterminate harmful insects. It has been held annually since 1997. It is held during the holiday of Daeboreum (which is the 15th day of the first lunar month of the year, typically February). It gets extremely busy directly after the festival finishes (19:00-20:00), so it's sometimes worth staying around for a beer or a meal for an hour or two until the worst of the traffic has gone.

Buy

Previously, cash was mainly used, and card use is now useful. However, there may still be many places that use cash, so it's good to take it.

• One Jeju specialty is brown colored clothing. These have been dyed via juice from the persimmon fruit, which is the traditional way of dying clothing.
• The iconic stone statues, usually in pairs, are called grandfather statues and are for protection. Many places sell small stone replicas of them made of Jeju basalt (volcanic stone). If aircraft weight restrictions are a concern, check the back of the statue for vugs (cavities) as it's entirely possible to find the odd one as light as a feather.
• Citrus fruit (hallabong and mandarines). The specialty citrus of Jeju is the hallabong (dekopon in Japanese) something akin to an over sized tangerine which has a very distinctive plump bulge on its top. Its fame comes from its sweet taste and peelability. Do not be at all surprised if, when arriving back on the mainland, your bag pops into the baggage claim tucked between many crates of hallabong. Mandarin oranges are also a major Jeju product.
• Jeju hallabong chocolate. These come in varieties. The first is a plain flat chocolate with a layer of hallabong flavor sandwiched in the middle. The second however is shaped like a little grandfather statue and is primarily the "flavor" component of the first with a tiny slither of chocolate on the back. The latter tend to be a little less flavorsome (ironically) but are cute enough to make nice gifts. If hallabongs aren't your thing, fear not, for they also come in orange, kiwi, green tea and purple cactus fruit (somewhat a mixed berry flavor) varieties. There are crunch chocolates too, less unique but very tasty.
• Jeju kamgyul (citrus) wine. Similar to Japanese sake but with a fresh citrus finish. At only ₩5,000 for an entire 750-mL bottle though, honestly, you can't complain even if it isn't quite your thing.
• Green tea. Although perhaps not as famed as Boseong, the entire Western end tip of the island is littered with tea plantations.
• Ganse dolls. A souvenir of the Olle hiking coastal trails, they are cute little (15 cm) plush ponies on mobile phone straps handmade out of used clothing (and thus individually unique) by the women of Jeju. Profits go to developing and maintaining the island's hiking trails and they're available from tourist information centers and many budget accommodation. ₩15,000.
• Shop at Jeju Folk Arts Complex. This place is practically a big gift shop of beautiful traditional art. Prices of items at the Jeju Folk Arts Complex are cheaper than those you find elsewhere.

Souvenir shops, craft stores and fruit stands exist almost everywhere on the island, but if you are looking for more mundane daily goods, your best bet is to head into Jeju City or Seogwipoi which have the usual array of Korean conveniences including some __Lotte__s and an unusually high proportion of E-marts (both of which also contain large souvenir shops).

Eat

Regional product

The people of Jeju have evolved various lifestyles, depending on whether they live in fishing villages, farm villages, or mountain villages so specialties vary within the region. Life in the farm villages was centered on farming, as it did around fishing or diving fishery in fishing villages, and did around dry-field farming or mushroom/mountain-green gathering in the mountain areas. As for agriculture, the production of rice is little. Instead, beans, barley, millets, buckwheat, and dry-field (upland) rice are the major items.

The most well known fruit is the hallabong. It has been grown here as early as the era of the Three Kingdoms, and were offered as presents to kings along with abalone as special products of Jeju. Grilled pork from black-haired pigs is also a local specialty.

Foods from Jeju mainly made with saltwater fish, vegetables, and seaweed, and are usually seasoned with soybean paste. Salt water fish is used to make soups and gruels, and pork and chicken are used to make pyeonyuk (sliced boiled meat). The number of dishes set on a table is small and few seasonings are used. And usually, small numbers of ingredients are required to make dishes native to Jeju. The key to making Jeju-style foods is to keep the ingredient's natural flavor. The taste of the food is generally a bit salty, probably because foods are easily spoiled due to the warm temperature. In Jeju, there is no need to prepare Kimchi for the winter as in mainland Korea. It is quite warm during the winter and Chinese cabbages are left in the field. When they do prepare Kimchi for the winter, they tend to make few kinds and small amounts.

Restaurants are scattered across the entire island, usually near highway intersections, but the majority naturally lie around the coast and particularly in the urban centers of Jeju City and Jungmun/Seogwipo.

For non-Korean dining, the best option is Gecko's near Seogwipo (see details in the drinking section). In Jeju city there are some options. There is a Mexican restaurant near City Hall/Sinsan Park named El Paso that apparently serves up mediocre but passable Mexican fare. In Shin-jeju there is also an Indian restaurant named Rajmahal that serves up quality spicy Indian dishes. There is also another place with Pakistani/Indian cuisine called Baghdad Cafe around the City Hall/Sinsan Park area.

Famous restaurants in Jeju-Si:

Olae noodles (올래국수), 24, Yeondong Guiarang gill, 33.4915°, 126.4978°, +82 64-742-7355. Daily 08:30-13:00. 2022-11-27

Sister's Noodles (자매국수), 6, Tapdong-ro 11-gill, 33.5168°, 126.5171°, +82 64-727-1112. Daily 09:00-18:00. 2022-11-27

The representative food you have to eat in Jeju-Si:

• Jeju citrus (제주 감귤) refers to all citrus fruits, a specialty of Jeju Island. It can be largely divided into Jeju Island traditional citrus fruits and Jeju Island cultivated citrus fruits. Jeju Island has held the "Jeju Tangerine Festival" since 1981 to promote the excellence of Jeju tangerines to create demand, inspire farmers' motivation to produce, and provide a venue for harmony among residents.
• Silver hairtail (은갈치) is very famous in Jeju Island. Jeju silver hairtail is caught by fishing, so the silver color of hairtail is not damaged. The freshness is very good and the price is on the high side.
• Umu pudding (우무 푸딩) is a pudding made by boiling agar for a long time, not gelatin. Agar, which is used as a raw material for agar, is rich in dietary fiber and low in calories, so it is also good as a well-being health food. The texture is somewhat watery, and it is not as dense as regular pudding, so you can drink it.
• Jeju Hallabong (한라봉) has been cultivated in Jeju Island in earnest since the 1990s, and it has established itself as a representative specialty of Jeju Island, and in 2015, "Jeju Hallabong" was registered in the geographical labeling system. It is so sweet and refreshing that it is called a honeyed orange. The texture of the pulp is a little hard like an orange, but it is more watery than a tangerine, so it is very cool if you eat it cold.
• Jeju black pork (흑돼지) is as a result of a survey of Jeju tourists' preference for traditional Jeju food, the food culture using black pork is representative of Jeju.

Some other dishes worth trying:

• Bangeo Hoe (방어회) is a raw fish dish of yellowtail fish. Every November, the Bangeo Festival is held.
• Seongge guk (성게국) is mustard soup which is served in the ancestral ceremony or to welcome guests.
• Jaradom Mulhoe (자라돔 물회) is Jeju-style cold fish soup. Traditionally, it has been a summer specialty in Jeju.

Drink

Try Hallasan Soju the local brand of Korean rice wine, soju. Expect to pay ₩3,000 a bottle in a restaurant or ₩1,000 in a shop. Very strong.

Except for Gecko's in the South, there aren't any other genuine Western pubs on the island, but there are some good options. In Jeju City, all the real partying establishments are in Shin-Jeju, about a ₩5,000 taxi ride from Jeju city proper. Some of the establishments in this area rumored to be worthwhile are La Vie, Boris Brewery, Modern Time, Blue Agave, and GP.

There is also Led Zeppelin, a vinyl bar which as the name suggests is focused on album-oriented rock, and has a massive selection of records, CDs, tapes, and DVDs. Song requests are the main pastime and the sound-system rules. Off the main drag in Shin-jeju next to the Indian restaurant.

Bar

• La Via (라비에), 17th floor of Sinseong-ro 13-gil, 33.498718°, 126.529851°, +82 507-1341-1138. 18:00-03:00. 2022-11-14
• Led Zeppelin (레드 제플린), 37 Shingwang-ro, 33.488738°, 126.490397°, +82 1025602291. 19:00-00:00. 2022-11-14
• Naedo Music Market (내도음악상가), 2nd floor, 106 Teu Haean-ro, 33.497966°, 126.445704°, +82 507-1338-9262. 17:00 ~ 24:00. 2022-11-14

Cafe

• Abebe Bbakery (아베베 베이커리), Next to Gate 12 of Dongmun Market, Dongmun-ro 6-gil, 33.512645°, 126.528852°, +82 507-1414-0750. 10:00 ~ 21:00. 2022-11-14

Sleep

Budget

Jjimjilbangs are fairly common across Jeju city. With all of them, expect to pay under ₩10,000 for sauna access, a locker in which to put your stuff, cotton pyjamas or a robe and a patch of heated floor to pass out on. Most are listed below:

• Dong-cheon, Jungangno (down a little alley on the south side of the road, near the stream at the east end of the underground shopping mall). Jjimjilbang downtown.

• JeJu Joyland, Jeju-si, Aewol-eup, Aewol-ri, 82 (take the bus 37at Jeju airport and get off at last station Hagwi then transfer to bus going Aewol (5 min from Aewonro bus station)), +82 10-3131-5270. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A log cabin pension, family/group rooms available, kitchen, washing facilities, WiFi.

• Tap Changito, Tapdong (from Jungangno, walk down to the harbour and turn left; it's behind the E-Mart near a Dunkin' Donuts). Despite having ocean views, this jjimjilbang on the north side of town mysteriously lacks any windows on the inside. Three main spas, with the largest in the men's being myseteriously garlic scented. Sleeping mats are eschewed in favour of a great big foam thingy across the entire floor. Headrest cubes still in short supply, so use towel bundles. More open plan than most so can get noisy. Also has a cinema and comic book library. ₩8000

• Ilchul Bulgama, Gu-jeju (opposite the Culture and Arts Center near Samseonghyeol).

• Yeha Guesthouse (cheap & clean), 561-17, Samdo 1-dong, +82 64 713-5505. Beautiful guesthouse (hostel) near the Jeju Bus Terminal. English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean are spoken. Domitory, double, Double+1 single and Double+2 single rooms are available. Shared room ₩19,000

• Jeju Burim Jimjilbang, Sin-jeju (between Jeju Grand Hotel and Marchen House Apartments in Shin-Jeju). Jjimjilbang on the west side of town.

• Yongduam Sea Water and Sauna Club, Yongdam (on the coast road near the Leisure and Sports Park). Another jjimjilbang on the north side of town. Convient to pop into after visiting Yongduam Rock to see the illumination at night.

• Hani Guesthouse, Jeju-si, Hallim-eup, Geumneung-ri, 1258 (take a bus from the Jeju-si local bus terminal gate No.11, get off at Guemnueung-ri (금능리) bus stop (1 stop after Hallimpark)), 33.41998°, 126.514435°, +82 64-796-5000. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Aimed at younger travellers. A hotel like atmosphere with all the usual amenities like a communual kitchen/lounge area, washing facilities, PCs, WiFi. Dorm: from ₩18,000, private standard/deluxe room available

Mid-range

If you are not looking for luxury, minbak (guesthouses) abound on Jeju, and due to its reputation as a honeymoon getaway, there is a wide variety of other accommodation. Outside of the peak tourist seasons (such as Korean national holidays and July-August summer holiday season), and as long as all you're looking for is a clean affordable room, don't be afraid to come to Jeju and find accommodation as you travel. In Jeju City, Seogwipo and the smaller towns there is an abundance of rooms in small guesthouses with character.

There are several motels next to the bus terminal in Jeju City at around ₩30,000 a night. They are fairly obvious to find as all three are in a row with lit signs and the ubiquitous motel logo of South Korea and are called You-cheong, Oh-cheon, and Nam-san.

For larger hotels, the majority are in the urban centers of Jeju City and Seogwipo with the most luxurious 5-star options on the entire island within Seogwipo's Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex. Refer to the individual city pages for listings.

For budget travellers, jjimjillbangs are pretty ubiquitous in Jeju City but outside of the capital city's limits, the only other jjimjillbang options exist under the World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo.

• Hotel Impress. Great seaview with large comfy beds, a PC, TV and a couch. Bar upstairs. Large windows give it plenty of sunshine. ₩50,000 for seaview rooms, ₩40,000 for others 2022-11-27
• CF's Motel. A nice, if slightly tacky motel near the seafront. Some rooms have round or heart-shaped beds (ask at the front desk). Some rooms have a small bath. ₩40,000 per room. ₩5,000 extra for rooms with a PC 2022-11-27

Hotel

There are a total of 13 five-star hotels in Jeju-Si.

Examples include Grand Hyatt Jeju, Maison Glad Jeju, Ramada Plaza Jeju, Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju, Marriott Hall Jeju Shinhwa World Hotel & Resort, Howard Johnson Jeju Hotel, Sweet Hotel Jeju, Jeju Sun Hotel & Casino(postponement of reopening), Lotte Hotel Jeju, Jeju Shilla Hotel, Grand Chosun Jeju, CS Hotel & Resort, and Lotte Jeju Resort Art Villas.

• Maison Glad Jeju (메종 글래드 제주), 80 Noyeon-ro, 33.485094°, 126.48864°, +82 64-747-5000. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 2022-11-14
• Ramada Plaza Jeju (라마다 플라자 호텔), 66 Tapdong-ro, 33.518835°, 126.518095°, +82 64-729-8100. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 2022-11-14

Camping

You can enjoy camping and glamping in Jeju-Si.

• Eco Hill jeju (에코힐제주), 22 Gwangnyeong Pyeonghwa 8-gil, Aewol-eup, 33.44974°, 126.440875°, +82 64-743-0060. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. 2022-11-14
• Jeju Jayeonin Glamping (제주 자연인 펜션 글램핑), 110B East Annex, Aranseo-gil, 33.511082°, 126.502101°, +82 64-723-7502. Check-in: 17:00, check-out: 11:00. 2022-11-14
• Jeju Best Hill Glamping & Pension (제주 베스트힐 글램핑 & 펜션), 2109-36 Namjo-ro, Jocheon-eup, 330454208°, 126.646694°, +82 70-4400-3300. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. 2022-11-14

C0pe

Consulates

• 🇨🇳 China, 10, Cheongsa-ro 1-gil, Jeju City, Jeju-do, +82 64-749-8810.
• 🇯🇵 Japan, Segi Bldg, 8F (Nohyeong-dong) 3351, 1100-ro, Jeju City, Jeju-do, +82 64-710-9500.

Go next

• South Korea – flights to most major cities. Within South Korea there are also ferries to and from Jeju-Si; the nearest is Mokpo, a serene medium-size port city.

• Japan – flights to Fukuoka (the nearest), Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya.

• China – flights to Shanghai (the nearest), Beijing, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shenyang, Dalian, Yangzhou, Kunming, Nanjing, Harbin, Ningbo, Xi'an, Changsha, and Changchun.

There are also flights to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, and Hanoi.