Jeju Island

Imagine floating in a big, blue sea, just south of a country called Korea. A tall, sleepy mountain sits right in my middle, reaching for the clouds. All around me, you can find fields of bright yellow flowers that dance in the breeze and special black rocks that look like bubbly chocolate. These rocks are a clue to how I was made. Hello. I am Jeju Island, a special place born from a fiery volcano almost 2 million years ago. My whole body was made from hot lava that cooled down in the ocean. At my center is the gentle volcano, Hallasan, who has been sleeping for a very long time. I am a gift from the center of the Earth, and my story is one of fire, water, and wonderful friends.

For hundreds and hundreds of years, amazing people have called me home. My best friends are the brave ‘haenyeo,’ which means ‘sea-women.’ They are grandmothers, mothers, and daughters who can hold their breath for a very long time and dive deep into the cool ocean to find yummy treasures like shellfish and seaweed. They don’t use any special breathing tanks, just their strong bodies and brave hearts. Their songs and traditions are so important that in the year 2016, the whole world decided their culture was a special treasure to be protected. I also have other friends who don’t swim at all. They are my ‘dol hareubang,’ or ‘stone grandfathers.’ Long ago, people carved these friendly-looking statues from my dark volcanic rock. With their big round hats and gentle smiles, they were placed at the entrances of villages to protect everyone inside. They are like quiet, strong guardians who have watched over my people for centuries.

My volcanic beginning left me with some amazing secrets. My big mountain, Hallasan, hasn’t had a fiery burp since way back in the year 1007, so he is very peaceful now. But a long time ago, when lava flowed across me, it created secret tunnels underground. These are called lava tubes, and they are like long, cool caves that you can walk through today. It feels like you are walking through the heart of a dragon. I also have beautiful waterfalls that tumble down cliffs into bright blue pools and happy dolphins that leap and play in the waves around my shores. My natural wonders are so precious that in the year 2007, I was named a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. That’s a very important title that means the whole world has promised to help keep my mountains, caves, and shores beautiful and safe for everyone, forever.

Today, my shores are filled with the happy sounds of visitors from all over the world. People come to hike up my sleepy volcano, explore my secret lava caves, and watch the amazing haenyeo dive into the sea. They take pictures with my stone grandfathers and learn all about my history. I love sharing my beauty and the incredible stories of my people. I was born from fire, but now my heart is full of peace and adventure. I hope you’ll come and feel my magic for yourself someday.