A World of Wonder at Seongsan Ilchubong

Our visit to Seongsan Ilchulbong introduced us to another otherworldly beauty that left us captivated. The landscape is so breathtaking that it had people questioning whether the photos we took were genuine or mere stock images cleverly photoshopped with us inside. While the journey by car from our hotel was quite lengthy, approximately an hour, the rewards were more than worth it. Seongsan Ilchulbong offers visitors two activities to relish: a captivating Haenyeo performance and a hike up the mountain. In Jeju, a remarkable community of women divers, known as Haenyeo, braves the depths of the sea without the aid of oxygen masks to harvest a variety of seafood, including sea urchins, abalone, and octopus. Although the community has dwindled in size over the years, a dedicated few still pursue this traditional livelihood. At Seongsan Ilchulbong, these extraordinary women put on a daily performance at 2 pm, providing a glimpse into their preparations for diving and demonstrating how they capture marine life near the water's surface (as the water here is not deep enough for actual dives). Following this, we embarked on a short hike up the mountain, a roughly 50-minute round trip. Despite its brevity, the ascent involved a considerable number of stairs. It's important to note that if you're unaccustomed to climbing stairs or have high blood pressure, it's advisable to forego this particular hike. In sum, our experience at Seongsan Ilchulbong was nothing short of wonderful and thoroughly enjoyable, leaving an indelible mark on our memories. #jeju #fallvibes