Cheonjeyeon Falls, Like a Painting

The weather that had been chilly for a while has turned warm again over the past few days.

It feels like a mild spring day and also like early summer, yet the wind is still cold.

While passing through the Jungmun Tourist Complex, I suddenly decided to visit Cheonjeyeon Falls.

It had been a long time since I’d been, and I’d visited back then with relatives who came to Jeju—so I didn’t really have any vivid memories that came to mind.

That made me want to enjoy it properly, on my own.



There are two entrances to get to Cheonjeyeon Falls.

Both are in Jungmun, but I chose the entrance inside the Jungmun Tourist Complex right next to Yeomiji Botanical Garden.

The approach from this side is pretty, and it also connects to Yeomiji Botanical Garden, making it a pleasant walk.



Under the blue sky, the path was unbelievably beautiful.

There were camellia trees on both sides, though not many flowers were in bloom yet.

The street trees above the camellias, hanging with fruit, are called Dendropanax.

The bright-red fruits, with not a leaf in sight, look even more striking.





A few days ago, Hallasan got hit with a heavy snow, and the mountain’s southern cliff turned white.

The entire drive over, the south face of Hallasan showed off its snowy gullies—but once I arrived at Cheonjeyeon Falls, I couldn’t see it anymore and didn’t get a photo.

Even now, it still feels like a missed chance.

Leaving that behind, I kept walking. Clouds swept across the sky incredibly fast, and then light poured through a gap between them—so beautiful and almost mesmerizing.

There’s a bridge called Seonim Bridge that connects the valley where the waterfall runs, and I couldn’t just walk past it. The blue sky and the structures on both sides of the bridge practically stopped me like, “Take a photo here!”

I still couldn’t quite understand my wife making a fuss about how scary such a gorgeous bridge was.

Cross Seonim Bridge, and you finally reach the path leading to the falls.

Cheonjeyeon Falls is divided into the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd waterfalls. You can only see the 1st waterfall flowing after it rains, and the 3rd waterfall is just as impressive as the 2nd—so many people end up visiting the 2nd waterfall the most.

To get to the 2nd waterfall, you’ll be heading down stairs continuously with no flat stretches.

It only takes about 5 minutes to reach, so it’s not a particularly tough course. But if you want to see all three waterfalls from the 1st to the 3rd, plan for about an hour.



The beautiful cascade is unforgettable. But you view it from quite a distance.

When I previously visited Cheonjiyeon Falls (with a similar name), there was that cool breeze blowing up from beneath the waterfall—but not here.

One downside was that you can’t take photos on the rocks. You can only take photos from the deck set up as an observation platform, which felt just a bit limiting for getting truly great shots.

If you want more natural photos on the rocks, I recommend the 1st waterfall.

Travel

Cheonjeyeon Falls132 Cheonjeyeon-ro, Seogwipo-si

Located within the Jungmun Tourist Complex, Cheonjeyeon Falls is one of Jeju’s 대표 attractions and is known for the legend of heavenly maidens descending from the sky to bathe here. Walk along the valley and forest paths that connect the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd waterfalls to take in Jeju’s distinctive natural scenery. The 2nd and 3rd waterfalls are especially beloved for their refreshing cascades and emerald-colored pools. Seonim Bridge, which links the waterfalls, features sculptures of the Seven Heavenly Maidens, bringing the Cheonjeyeon legend to life. It is a 대표 natural spot in Jeju where you can enjoy beautiful views in every season.

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