17 Facts About Jeju Island, South Korea That You Didn't Know Before!

South Korea's Jeju island is an exquisite volcanic island situated on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula.

Jeju Island, commonly known as the Island of the Gods, is an oval-shaped island that covers an area of 707.8 sq. mi (1,833.2 sq. km). The island originated 2 million years ago during the Cenozoic era.

It is one of South Korea's oldest and biggest islands. This island is South Asia's most popular tourist destination. It receives about 15,000,000 visits each year.

Jeju Island is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Throughout the history of South Korea, this beautiful island has been known by several names, including Doi, Dongyeongju, Juho, and Tammor.

The Portuguese were the first European sailors to discover the island and named it Ilha de Ladrones or Island of Thieves. The shortest method to get to Jeju is by flying to the island's northernmost airport, Jeju International Airport. Jeju Province is one of South Korea's nine provinces.

We have curated a bunch of interesting facts about Jeju island. Do not miss out on them. Once you have finished reading this article, you can also check out our other articles on Rhode island colony facts and Arctic ocean islands.

Jeju Mini Land

This is South Korea's first miniature museum. The museum is well known as it houses models of the world's most prominent attractions. World heritage monuments, like the Great Wall of China and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, from over 50 countries can be found in the Mini Land.

World heritage land, dinosaur land, fantasy land, and adventure land are the different zones of Jeju Mini land. It is not just a fascinating tourist attraction, but also an educational park. In addition, the park has Korea's first go-kart track.

The closing time varies depending on the month. In the months between December to March, the closing time is 5.30 pm, from April to June it is 6.00 pm from July to August it is 7.30 pm, and 6.30 pm from September to November. The Mini Land opens at 8.30 am.

Things you need to know before visiting Jeju Mini land:

Pets are not permitted in this region.

Parking facilities, restrooms, and baby strollers are some of the essential facilities available.

You can take a cab or car to get to this place from other parts of Jeju island.

For disabled people, the entry ticket is $5.90. It is the same for school students as well. Kids who are older than three years have to get a ticket for $4.21.

Jeju Mini Land is most crowded on Wednesdays and least crowded on Thursdays.

Museums On Jeju Island

Jeju Folk Village Museum: Jeju Folk Village Museum is a traditional village. It showcases the Korean tradition in a realistic manner. The village provides a peek into South Korea's rich cultural heritage.

The place also flaunts a variety of traditional Korean products like woodenware, porcelain ware, and wax candles. A variety of Korean food is available at the on-site restaurants. It is one of the most popular places in South Korea.

Hello Kitty Island: This museum is the best spot for kids on Jeju island. The museum has three themed floors. The history of the kitty cat is located on the first level. This section focuses on presenting Hello Kitty as a character.

The second floor has a kitty bedroom and cafe. It also has other exhibitions. This floor has a catchy tagline: 'Where dreams come true.' The third floor, commonly known as the healing zone, features a 3D show and an outdoor display.

O'Sulloc Tea Museum: Tea lovers are very fond of the O'Sulloc museum in Jeju island. The museum is known for its fine green tea flavor. Cultural specialties in Korea and their traditions and a plethora of different varieties of tea and green tea cuisine make this place appealing. The O'Sulloc museum, when compared to other museums, is relatively small.

Jeju Play K-pop Museum: This museum is popular among teenagers who like K-pop. You can get to know a lot about the country from its art and music.

Here you will get to know about the roots of K-Pop culture and how it has evolved through the years. You will also learn more about other topics that are related to K-pop. There will also be holograms of various idols.

There are also artificial concerts that are remarkably comparable to actual performances. The museum allows you to dance and have fun, making it suitable for individuals of all ages.

Jeju Glass Castle: Jeju Glass Castle is situated in Jeju si, South Korea. The entire place is made of shaped glass.

The exquisite glasswork collection is separated into indoor and outdoor sections. A glass waterfall, mirror lake, and other naturalistic works are featured in the outdoor garden. Out of all the 260 glass models, the glass diamond and glass ball are the most popular ones.

Places To Explore On Jeju Island

Udo Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations on Jeju Island. The wonderful scenery is what attracts millions of people each year.

Udo island, also known as Cow Island as the outline of the island resembles the animal, has eight types of sceneries. The set of sceneries is called Udopalkyeong. Udo Island is one of the biggest islands in Jeju.

There are three more beaches on the Hamdeok beach, all of which are encircled by the Seoubong Mountain. Hamdeok Beach's receding sandbar is a one-of-a-kind characteristic. It disappears at night and miraculously returns in the morning. When viewed from a volcanic bridge past the Cafe Delmoondo, the vista of Hamdeok Beach is even more enthralling.

Out of the seven geomunoreum lava tubes in Jeju Island, the Manjanggul lava tube is the most famous one. Lava tubes are formed by flowing lava. This cave ranks as the 12th longest lava tube in the world. It was created thousands of years ago and is one of the most visited places on Jeju island.

The Hyeopjae beach situated near Hallim Park is a sight for sore eyes. The white sandy landscape along with the pine forest is effortlessly attractive.

It is 656 ft (200 m) long and 60 m (197 ft) wide. This beach is no less than a luxurious hotel as it has multiple amenities like camping, changing rooms, shower stalls, and many other amazing services. Delectable meals made from fresh seafood are very famous.

Seongsan Ilchulbong or sunrise peak is a volcanic crater that was formed due to hydrovolcanic eruptions. Sunrise peak is situated on the eastern seaboard of Jeju Island. The area is open from 7.10 am to 7.00 pm. It takes about 40-50 minutes to climb the sunrise peak and head down.

The name of the waterfall means sky meets the land. The Cheonjiyen waterfall is 72 ft (22 m) high. It is one of the most famous waterfalls in South Korea. A rock formation called the Hidden Face can also be seen at night. Different types of attractive koi fish can be seen under the bridge leading to the falls.

The dormant volcano Mount Hallasan is 1.2 mi (1947 m) high and situated in Jeju-Si. It is one of the most preferred hiking spots. Though the mountain is quite high, it is easy to climb.

The Dongmun market was constructed in 1945. After a fire, the market was relocated to its current location. This is Korea's most traditional market. The market is popular due to the variety of inexpensive items sold.

This market is well known for its live and fresh marine food. It is the largest market on the island of Jeju. Dongmun Market combines a street market, a seafood market, and a night market.

Hallim park is a renowned tourist site featuring several gorgeous gardens, a mini zoo, and two caverns. It is visited by at least one million tourists each year, making it one of the popular tourist destinations in the world.

The park was opened in 1971. The park also has a lotus flower festival between July and September and a pumpkin festival in October.

Jeju Waterworld is famous for its health care and recreational amenities. People engage in a variety of aquatic activities in the water world. Some of the amenities available here include a sauna, commonly known as jjimjilbang, and hot baths. Aside from attractions like water slides and pools, massages and aromatherapy treatments are also available at various pricing points.

These amazing places and the security on the island make this island a very interesting and safe place to visit. A trip to the island is slightly on the pricier side, however absolutely worth it.

A trip for a week will cost around $1,400-1,500 for solo travelers, $2,600-2,700 per couple and $4,900-5,000 for a family. The temperature of the island is best during the months between November and March.

It is the best time to visit the island. You can also have a look at marine life by taking a submarine tour.

Samyang neighborhood in Jeju City is said to have the most delicious meals in Jeju.

The Yeomji Botanic garden is the best botanical garden in Asia. Indoor gardens have over 1300 species of rare plants and flowers.

The garden is housed within a large sunflower-shaped building. It has six themed gardens, namely aquatic garden, floral garden, mystery garden, cactus garden, jungle and tropical garden. The outdoor garden has more than 1,000 species and several tropical fruits.

Fun Fact: Almost 13,400,000 people flew between Seoul (South Korean capital) and Jeju city in 2017, making it the busiest air route in the world.

Jeju Naval Base

The Jeju Naval Base, also known as the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex, is located in one of Jeju island's villages on the southern shore, Gangjeong village. The base was constructed by the Korean government in 2011 and is a combined civil and Republic of Korea Navy base.

The expenditure was estimated to be 977 million yes ($907). This caused a stir.

Controversy: People were particularly concerned since the development was United States-based. Instead of boosting South Korea's military, the new development was geared towards China.

The residents of Jeju Island were concerned because the government was vague about the motive for the navy facility.

A referendum on the establishment of the base was held in April 2007. The original referendum performed by the Korean government found that the base's opening was generally supported.

Based on the 87 votes received, this conclusion was made. A re-poll performed by local authorities in Gangjeong village, however, showed a 1600 vote against the base's establishment. Not many people welcomed the idea due to which the development of the base was prohibited seven times by the end of 2011.

Refugees On Jeju Island

There are 552 refugees that are Yemenis who came and sought shelter on Jeju island between 2016 and 2018. The refugee status of Korea, which has made it possible for Yemenis to stay on the island for prolonged periods, sparked criticism.

The number of refugees seeking asylum surged dramatically from 42 in 2017 to 942 in 2018, out of which 551 were Yemenis.

People believed that peace and security were under threat. In response to the unfavorable public attitude, a petition urging the deportation of Yemeni migrants was launched on the Blue House website.

Citizens of all nations who are not authorized to enter Korea without a visa are permitted to enter Jeju island through a specific procedure. The restrictions are only implemented for individuals who fly or cruise straight to Jeju island. The permissible regions are restricted to Jeju island.

The shortest method to get to the island is to take an aircraft from Seoul or Busan, both of which take an hour or less. The island's transportation options are not limited. You have several alternatives, including intercity buses, bikes, scooters, and cabs.

There are various resorts and hotels with rates ranging from low to high. Making a circle of Jeju's magnificent Olle trails is the greatest way to discover the island. The Jeju Olle Trail is 264 mi (424 km) long and covers the whole island.

Did you know that following the Incheon airport, the Jeju Gukje Gonghang in Jeju city is the second-largest airport in South Korea!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about Jeju Island, South Korea, then why not take a look at Christmas Island facts, or Snake Island, Brazil facts?