My Weekend Getaway to Jeju Island

In late November, I visited Jeju Island with a group of friends. The equivalent of Hawaii for Koreans, Jeju is a popular family vacation spot and a perfect getaway from the bustling city of Seoul. A one-hour flight took us to the subtropical oval-shaped island.

If you’re planning on studying abroad in Korea, I highly recommend budgeting for a weekend trip to Jeju, as this isn’t included on the list of TEAN program excursions. Make sure to book your flight at least a month prior to get the best deals. It’s a bonus if you go with a group since you can save more money by splitting lodging, transportation, food, and more. Plus, it’s more fun with friends and more people to look after each other!

Here are some highlights of the three days I was there that you should add to your itinerary for your visit.

Yurim Mandarin Farm

Jeju is known for their oranges—or as they call them, mandarins—so orange picking was a must. This is a fun activity to do with friends and, if you’re like me, a chance to take cute pictures. The mandarins grow year-round and are deliciously sweet and fresh, even during the winter.

One bucket, over a dozen mandarins, was ₩10,000 KRW (about $7.50 USD). I found these to be great snacks throughout the day as we walked about from place to place. You can even take some with you on the plane ride home!

Snoopy Garden

The Snoopy Garden theme park is a must-visit attraction on Jeju Island. If you grew up watching Charlie Brown or are a Snoopy fan, get ready to reminisce about your childhood and meet the comic characters from The Peanuts.

To get in, you pay a ticket depending on your age (for adults, it was ₩18,000 or $14). It took about two to three hours to see and do everything we wanted to. There’s a Peanuts comic exhibition, five themed indoor halls, and eleven outdoor zones. I enjoyed walking through the gardens the most and appreciated the beautiful scenery with props, signs, and figures.

Sinchang Windmill Walkway

Next, I visited the Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road, located on the northwest coast of Jeju Island at Sinchang, Hangyeong-myeon. I nearly thought I was going to be swept away by the wind! But besides that, there’s a walking course to relax and enjoy the view, as well as interesting statues and figures.

Gwangchigi Beach

When you’re on an island, you have to visit the beach! I went to Gwangchigi Beach, where you can view the beautiful Seongsan Sunrise Peak, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and a jewel of Jeju Island.

I took so many pictures here. It’s so peaceful and serene and a nice break to enjoy the scenery with friends. A fun activity I did was collecting seashells, and I took some home with me as a souvenir.

JUSANGJEOLLIDAE CLIFF 

Jusangjeollidae Cliff is another popular tourist place with incredible scenery by the sea. The cube-shaped rock pillars seem like someone carved them out, but it’s all natural.

These stone pillars along the coast are marked as a cultural monument of Jeju Island. It’s an eye-catching view of the sea as you watch the waves hitting the stones and “dissolve” into white bubbles.

Melody Pha, Messiah University, is studying abroad in South Korea with TEAN.