Jeju: Seongsan Ilchulbong
Seongsan Ilchulbong rises in the background
Seongsan Ilchulbong sits on the eastern edge of Jeju—naturally, since its name translates to Sunrise Peak. The tuff cone dominates the horizon and rises 182 meters from the ocean.
At the bottom of the tuff cone, haenyo divers harvest seafood with the most rudimentary equipment: loose wetsuits, black rubber fins, and those old school dive masks. These women have been diving around Jeju island for over two hundred years, and the craft is dying out with this generation.
Beach where the tuff cone plummets to the ocean
Haenyo divers prepare to enter the water
Fishing and diving since the 19th century
Sampling fresh, raw octopus minutes from the ocean
Of course, this being Korea, there is a trail that climbs the tuff cone. It’s a steep, but quick ascent to the top. The actual crater is not accessible, but the view across the perfectly formed bowl is impressive. Despite the dreary weather during our week in Jeju, we left with indelible memories of how many marvels are packed into this one little island. Not a bad place to spend your first days in wedded bliss.
Views along the ascent
At the top, looking into the tuff cone crater
