8 interesting things about Jeju Island, Korea that not everyone knows-Travel

The island created by the gods or where there is a haunted road is one of the interesting things about this largest Korean island.

Jeju or Jeju-do is the largest island of Korea, dubbed the “Hawaii of Korea”. This place has long become a famous vacation spot not only for Koreans but also for international tourists because of its beautiful beaches and rich ecosystem. Hidden on this island are interesting things that not every visitor to Jeju knows.

1. Jeju has its own language

Korea is known for having many regional dialects, but Jeju has not only its own dialect but also its own distinct language. Today, however, only a few elderly local residents still speak the language, most of the young people speaking a variant of Korean with the Jeju dialect. Children also no longer learn Jeju language at school. In an effort to protect this language, UNESCO added the language of Jeju Island to the Red Book of Endangered Languages ​​in 2011. Also according to this organization, today on Jeju Island no more than 10,000 people can use it. use this particular language.

2. Jeju is home to the highest mountain in Korea

Mount Hallasan on Jeju Island is the highest mountain in Korea. This is a volcano up to 1950m above sea level and is considered one of the three god mountains of Korea. The mountain dates from the Quaternary of the Cenozoic Era, experts believe it may have erupted about 25,000 years ago.

There is a rich flora and fauna and is known as the “door to heaven”. There are a number of Buddhist temples on the slopes of the mountain, of which the oldest temple on the island, Hyomyeonsga, is also located here.

3. The island was created by god

Legend has it that Jeju Island was created by a giant goddess named Seolmundae Halmang. She used her dress to carry small stones and then dumped them into the vast waters to create a resting place for herself.

Soon an island gradually formed, to perfect it, she created an extremely high mountain in the center of the island, so high that it could reach heaven, that is Hallasan Mountain. However, after that, the goddess felt the mountain was too high and decided to break its top. The top of the mountain was knocked out into the sea and became the Sanbangsan cliff.

4. People on Jeju Island are matrilineal

In Jeju, women are considered the main provider for the family, so they play the role of head of the household. The main reason is that the traditional diving profession on the island is performed by women, they are also known as haenyeo, or female divers. Female divers often harvest seaweed, mollusks and other marine life.

The female divers can dive up to 10m deep without the need for an oxygen mask. Each dive, they can hold their breath for more than 1 minute. Their work can last up to 7 hours a day. Many of them are already old (from 60 to 80 years old) but can still do this job regularly. Before diving, female divers often pray to the sea goddess Jamsugut for safety and a bountiful harvest.

5. Jeju is an autonomous province

Jeju became the first and only autonomous province in Korea in 2006. This policy aims to make Jeju a “free international city” similar to Hong Kong and Singapore. Under the Special Autonomous Province Act, the Jeju provincial government is granted a high degree of self-determination in many areas, with the exception of diplomacy, defense, and the judiciary.

6. Stone Statues of Grandfather and Grandmother

Coming to Jeju, visitors will surely be impressed by the basalt stone statues located all over the island. They are called Dol Hareubang stone statues, the people on the island have said that the ancestors of Jeju people are these stone statues, and they also consider these statues to be the gods who protect the people from evil. and bring bountiful crops.

The special thing is that these Dol Hareubang stone statues have gender demarcation, which people call Grandpa and Grandmother. It is also believed that if you want to have a son, put your hand on Grandpa’s nose, and vice versa, if you want to give birth to a girl, put your hand on Grandma’s nose.

7. There is only one waterfall in Asia that pours into the sea

Cheonjiyeon waterfall is the last point of a stream, 22m high, 12m wide, water from upstream pours here all year round, white in the whole area. At the foot of the waterfall is an artificial lake 20m deep, creating an extremely wild and majestic scene. In particular, this is also the only waterfall in Asia that pours into the sea.

8. Ghost road Dokkebi road

Dokkebi is a strange and most famous street on Jeju Island, it is not famous for its beautiful scenery but for the strange phenomena here. Legend has it that if someone stops the car and turns off the engine at the bottom of the slope on this road, the car will automatically climb up the slope without the engine, as if someone pushed the car up from behind.

In the past, people around spread rumors that this road is haunted, but when scientists investigated, it was explained that this is actually a phenomenon of light refraction. On clear days, no sun, no rain, people walking on this road can be deceived visually, thinking that there is an uphill slope, but it is actually a downhill.