Jeju Island

New 7 Wonders of Nature

Jeju is a volcanic island formed by eruptions over roughly the last two million years, dominated by Hallasan, South Korea’s highest mountain at 1,947 metres, with a crater lake near its summit. Around it, hundreds of small parasitic cones called oreum dot the land, black basalt walls divide fields, and cliffs and beaches ring the coast. UNESCO inscribed three areas as Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes: the Hallasan Natural Reserve, the Geomunoreum lava tube system and Seongsan Ilchulbong, a tuff cone that rises from the sea on the eastern tip and is famous for sunrises. The island is also known for its culture. The haenyeo, women who dive without breathing equipment to gather seafood, are recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage, and local lore speaks of three abundances: stones, wind and women. Subtropical weather supports tangerine orchards, camellia forests and rapeseed fields in spring, while coastal paths such as the Olle trails offer gentle walking. Visitors can climb Hallasan, but summit routes require advance reservations and are closed or restricted at times, while shorter trails are available without booking. The south coast has waterfalls and sea cliffs, and the east has Seongsan Ilchulbong, where the summit trail takes about half an hour and is free of reservation. Jeju is popular with domestic holidaymakers, so book accommodation and car hire early, and check weather before ferry or mountain plans.