Korea Culture Weekend Exploring Jeju Island Korea

We flew from Busan to Jeju. We chose the volcanic island purely to immerse ourselves deeper into Korean culture during this South Korea trip, especially after watching the hit Korean drama Boys over Flowers, which was shot there.

There were scenes from the drama taken on a yellow flower field. I always want to be taken pictures while running on a sunflower field, ala Indian movies. However, it didn’t cross my mind that we were visiting Korea during winter. Hence there wouldn’t be any flowers blooming, let alone a flower field. Nevertheless, Jeju was gorgeous and culturally engaging.

Korean Culture Weekend On Jeju Island, Korea

Climbing Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise) Peak

After realizing there wouldn’t be any running in between the flowers, Jeju’s itinerary was empty. The guesthouse managers suggested a few things. We decided to go to Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. It took more than an hour bus ride to reach the place, but it was worth it. Even during winter, the sunrise peak was breathtaking. The natural beauty was a treat to the eyes.

Sighting the Mermaids

When you visit Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, make sure you are in time to see the women divers at either 1 PM or 3 PM. These so-called mermaids are Haenyo, women divers who make a living by diving into the sea to catch “food” with simple diving equipment. This is a protected tradition and an admirable part of Korean culture.

 Staying in South Korea Hostels

Jeju has hundred of guesthouses, and we stayed in one called Yeah. Staying in a guesthouse was a fun experience, you guys! We got to do a lot of people-watching.

Feasting on the Famous Jeju Black Pig

Jeju is famous for black pig meat, and we had to try it as the best way to taste any culture, including Korean culture, is through eating.

It took us four cabs; the last one finally agreed to take us, after we called the guesthouse manager to explain to the driver to drop us somewhere we could eat the famous local dish.

It turned out that there was a street dedicated to the black pig dishes. Until I looked down at the Korean food in front of me, I thought a black pig would be black meat, like maybe the heart was darker or marinated in soy sauce. It wasn’t. It’s red meat that came from a black-skinned pig.

The food came, and it was so good! The meat was so tender that it melted in the mouth. It was so good t that we decided to stay one more night here to have another dinner session there. We bought a new ticket, a direct flight from Jeju to Shanghai; that way, we also had another full day to explore Jeju.

Taking a Peek at the Spirited Garden

The garden, built with love, was so peaceful and nurturing. We spent our time here walking and reading the words of the owner/gardener written on the rocks around the garden. Spirited garden is voted one of the most beautiful gardens, and I agree. I left the place feeling lighter.

Learning More about Korean Culture in Jeju Museums

One of the most obvious things about Jeju Island, besides its natural beauty, is that it’s a short getaway island for tourists, both local and international. There are many guesthouses on the island and touristy activities, including parks, gardens, and museums. The must-visits are the Dak Paper Doll Museum, the Teddy Bear Museum and the Museum of Sex and Health.

Enjoying Jeju Seaside

During the bus ride to Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, we passed by a picturesque seaside with many houses, hotels and other amnesties built right in front. It’s so beautiful. Those sights alone make Jeju island worth visiting.

On our last day, we went to the seaside at Wangjeong-ri. It has a small white sand beach with a few coffee shops. We went to the called hi & bye and spent the whole morning enjoying the tastiest drinks and fantastic weather.

Follow me on Instagram @KultureKween for more recent updates.