Gwangpyeong-ri, the first village beneath Hallasan—this is where wholesome buckwheat grows.
This tiny village of about 15 households sits at one of the highest elevations in Jeju. Because the land is harsh, people began leaving one by one. Fearing their hometown might disappear, the residents formed a community called “First Village Beneath Hallasan” and began creating healthy local food from their home.
Located in Gwangpyeong-ri, Andeok-myeon, this buckwheat specialty restaurant offers a variety of dishes made with Jeju-grown buckwheat directly cultivated by local Gwangpyeong-ri residents. Signature menu items such as Bibijakjak Noodles, Buckwheat Cold Noodles in Broth, and Spicy Buckwheat Cold Noodles highlight the nutty, savory flavor unique to Jeju buckwheat, drawing many visitors. Set in the pristine nature at the foot of Hallasan, it’s a great place to enjoy a relaxed Jeju countryside view along with your meal, and it’s especially popular with travelers who prefer clean, light flavors. A special local eatery where you can experience Jeju ingredients and the story of the village community together.
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This is a place where the waiting line is always long, so we came early in the morning. We arrived an hour before opening and barely managed to become the restaurant’s first customers.
If the mainland has Pyeongyang naengmyeon, Jeju has memil guksu (buckwheat noodles).
It’s not intensely bold—its simple, gentle flavor lets you taste the nutty essence of buckwheat all the more deeply.
It’s the kind of flavor that keeps coming back to you.
Thanks to buckwheat—one of the few crops that can be double-cropped here—they can make delicious buckwheat noodles year-round. Buckwheat takes root in Jeju’s rough, rocky fields and blooms into a spectacular sea of flowers in May–June and again in September–October.
Leaving the bright white buckwheat flowers behind, we head to Gobaegi Dongsan, located behind the village of Gwangpyeong-ri.
With its dense cedar forest, Gobaegi Dongsan is a great place to quietly enjoy a “forest bath.”
In Jeju, you can spot cedars just about anywhere. They’re used as windbreaks for tangerine orchards and also as boundary trees that divide vast pasturelands.
It’s ironic that these cedars—so iconic in Jeju’s scenery—were brought in from Japan as compensation for forests on Hallasan that were damaged during the Japanese colonial period.
A forest walking destination located in Gwangpyeong-ri, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, where dense cedar trails blend with quiet rest areas in nature. It is known as a forest created by the people of Gwangpyeong-ri—rebuilt after the Jeju 4·3 Incident—as an expression of gratitude to nature, making it ideal for a peaceful stroll. Benches and netted lounging spots are placed along the paths for relaxed breaks, and a forest playground has recently been added, making it popular with families as well. Rather than a flashy tourist attraction, it is Gwangpyeong-ri’s 대표 healing spot for walking slowly and taking a restful pause in nature.
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I can’t even begin to measure it.
What your years have been like—
I simply smile as I look at you, standing tall and straight.
There’s a place often named a photo spot for a single reason: architecture that melts into Jeju’s nature.
Bangju Church, designed by world-renowned architect Itami Jun with Noah’s Ark as its motif, shows off a one-of-a-kind beauty as it blends with Jeju’s blue sky, green lawn, and surrounding landscape.
Designed by world-renowned architect Itami Jun, this church showcases an original architectural beauty inspired by Noah’s Ark. The water surrounding the building and its simple, linear structure blend together to create a scene that feels as though it’s floating on the surface. It is known as a beautiful space where Jeju’s nature and architecture harmonize. With its quiet, calm atmosphere, it’s a great place to take a stroll and admire the architecture, and it’s also loved as a popular photo spot. Beyond being a religious facility, it is considered one of Jeju’s must-visit architectural travel destinations.
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Come June, round hydrangea blooms begin to color Jeju. Seeing hydrangeas blooming here and there is when you really feel summer approaching.
We found a place where you can enjoy hydrangeas in a quiet, unhurried way. It used to be a landscaping company just a few years ago—Jeju is a place that changes year by year, and you never know when everything transformed like this.
A popular attraction where you can take in expansive gardens and seasonal floral scenery all in one place. Throughout the year, a variety of flowers bloom by season—canola flowers, hydrangeas, pink muhly, pampas grass, and camellias. With a large tangerine orchard and dedicated photo spots, it’s a great place for taking pictures. There are also hands-on programs such as animal feeding and tangerine picking, making it especially popular with families. With photo zones like the Hobbit Village-themed area and the “Stairway to Heaven,” it’s an ideal spot to relax and enjoy Jeju’s nature.
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Hydrangeas can start blooming as early as May, peak in June, and in the mid-mountain areas you can even see them into July.
Whenever travelers ask what they should do in Jeju, there’s one thing I always recommend: oreum. Jeju’s oreum are filled with Jeju-only vibes, romance, and scenery.
We head up Gunsan Oreum, which you can even drive up.
As the weather gets hotter, climbing an oreum becomes tougher. But at Gunsan Oreum you can drive close to the top, so you can reach the viewpoint without much effort and take in Jeju’s stunning landscapes.
Located in Changcheon-ri, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, this oreum is a renowned viewpoint known for its outstanding vistas even among Jeju’s many oreums. You can drive up close to the summit, making it relatively easy to enjoy the beautiful scenery without too much effort. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with wide-open views stretching across Hallasan, Sanbangsan, Songaksan, Marado, and all the way to the Seogwipo coastline. It’s especially stunning at sunset, when the sky turns red and blends with the landscapes of southwestern Jeju. With different natural scenery across the seasons, it’s a representative viewpoint where even a short walk lets you fully experience the charm of Jeju’s oreums. Visits are currently possible, but some sections may be restricted depending on weather or management conditions, so checking ahead is recommended.
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Gunsan Oreum is among the very best when it comes to views. In particular, the sweeping panorama that looks out over the entire southern coastline of Jeju sends a shiver down your spine.
After coming down from Gunsan Oreum, we take a stroll along the quiet Sagye Beach.
Sagye Beach, with the Hyeongje-seom (Brother Islands) as its backdrop, is such a great place to walk that it was selected as one of the most beautiful coastal paths. If you follow Olle Trail Route 10, you can take in Sanbangsan, Hallasan, and Yongmeori Coast all at once.
A coastal attraction located in Sagye-ri, Andeok-myeon, where you can enjoy scenery featuring Jeju’s iconic Sanbangsan Mountain and the Brothers Islets. The distinctive Jeju landscape—formed by black basalt shores and the blue sea—is especially striking, and it’s a great place to take a leisurely walk along the coastal path. On clear days, the Brothers Islets appear to float on the sea, and at sunset, the sky glows behind Sanbangsan, creating an even more beautiful view. With Hyeongjehaean-ro nearby as well as cafés and popular restaurants, it’s one of southwestern Jeju’s 대표 destinations for enjoying both a scenic drive and a stroll.
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The red sun stretches long, and the western sky turns crimson.
On the once-quiet Sagye sea, shimmering 윤슬 (sun-glitter) ripples—soaking everything in its uniquely tranquil mood.
What words are needed?
Today, which was happy,
and the sun that slips into hiding,
and even the goodbye to things that will soon disappear—
forgetting all of it, we greet the darkness in silence.
제주살이 10년 차, 일상 속 여행을 기록하는 크리에이터입니다. 바다와 바람, 낯선 골목에 스며든 제주를 좋아하고, 그 안에서 느꼈던 순간들을 글과 사진으로 전하고 있어요. 여행지보다는 여행의 온도를 담는 일을 합니다.
Comments
2멋진코스입니다 군산오름은 언제 어느계절에 가도 좋은곳. 고배기동산 파더스정원 가보고싶네요
@올쉼 감사합니다^^ 고배기동산은 휴식하기 좋았고 파더스가든은 한적해서 방문을 했는데 입장료가 비싸서 가성비가 좋지는 않았습니다. 카멜리아힐이 근처에 있으니 비교해 보심이 좋을 거 같아요😊