“Exploring the Lava Column of Jeju Island”🌋🌴

I woke up early in the morning and headed out to Jusangjeolli Cliff. The sun was just starting to rise and the sky was a beautiful shade of pink and orange. As I walked towards the cliff, I could hear the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

When I arrived at Jusangjeolli Cliff, I was amazed by the beauty of the lava columns. They were hexagonal in shape and looked like they were made of black glass. The columns were stacked on top of each other and formed a wall that stretched out into the sea.

I walked along the cliff and took in the stunning views of the ocean. The water was a deep blue color and was so clear that I could see fish swimming around in it. As I walked further along the cliff, I came across Cheonjiyeon Falls. The waterfall was surrounded by lush greenery and had a beautiful pool at its base.

Image by Jaesung An from Pixabay

After spending some time at Cheonjiyeon Falls, whichis 22 meters high and 12 meters wide1. The name Cheonjiyeon means sky (Ch’eon) connected with land.

At Cheonjiyeon Falls, white water falls from the rock cliff and makes a thundering sound. The view and the sound that the waters create when they fall is magnificent.

I then decided to hike up Hallasan Mountain which is the highest mountain in South Korea. The hike was challenging but it was worth it for the stunning views of Jeju Island from the summit.

Jeju Island has a thousand year history of settlement and interaction with the mainland kingdoms. It was annexed by Japan in 1910 and suffered from colonial exploitation and militarization. In 1948, it became the site of a violent uprising against the U.S. allied South Korean government that resulted in the deaths of up to 30,000 civilians and the repression of the islanders. Today, Jeju Island is a self-governing province in South Korea, meaning that it is run by local inhabitants instead of politicians from the mainland.

In Jeju Island, there is a community of women, some aged in their 80s, which goes diving 10m under the sea to gather shellfish, such as abalone or sea urchins for a living without the help of oxygen masks. This community is known as Jeju Haenyeo (women divers) and was inscribed in 2016 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Overall, my day trip to Jusangjeolli Cliff was an unforgettable experience. The beauty of the lava columns and the stunning views of Jeju Island will stay with me forever.