Jeju Island is Korea’s favorite recreation area, home to the sea, parasitic cones, and mountains. It takes on many different looks across the seasons, from springtime flowers to the green palm and blue seas of summer, silver grass in fall, and snowy mountains in winter.

Jeju is a volcanic island created by volcanic activity from Hallasan Mountain, so it is also home to volcanic formations that are quite rare in mainland Korea, such as parasitic cones, columnar joints, lava tubes, and basalt formations. Aewol’s Handam Coastal Trail is a great place to enjoy the Jeju sea, from its coastal trails to clear kayaks and observatories. Get the most out of Jeju experience in this sea and gourmand trip featuring Jeju’s specialties.

Aewol-eup, a village situated next to Jeju’s beautiful sea, is thought to have been named "Gatdal" in the past: The name combines "gat," a Jeju Language word meaning coast, and "dal," or the moon, and is said to originate from Aewol Port’s resemblance of a crescent moon. 

Follow the winding curves on Handam Coastal Trail, which connects Aewol with Gwakji. When the Jeju city government designated Handam Coastal Trail as one of the "31 Hidden Views" of Jeju in 2009, a lot of cafés and restaurants moved into the area along the trail. 

Today, the trail is popular enough that it cannot be described as a "hidden view" in good faith, but that just means that more people know about the charms of this beautiful trail.

Start your Jeju seaside trip with dishes made with Jeju abalone, a shellfish that feeds on kelp and seaweed. It has one of the highest protein content of its kind, and is thought to be one of the most esteemed seafood in Korea and East Asia.

Jeju abalone is famous in Korea for its taste and quality, as it grows in the cracks between coastal rock formations. Its particularly firm and chewy texture is built by braving the strong waves. 

Located at the entrance to the Handam Coastal Trail in Aewol, Eunhye Jeonbok specializes in abalone dishes, such as abalone hot stone pot rice, abalone hot pot, abalone porridge, and abalone and seafood ramyeon. 

Its signature menus are the "abalone hot stone pot rice," which features rice cooked in a stone pot with a sumptuous topping of sliced abalone, and the "abalone hot pot," full of abalone and Jeju seafood.

Adress: 1F, 24-3. Aewol-ro 1-gil, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Island

Opening Hours: 09.40 - 20.00 (Last order: 19.00)

Signature Menu: Abalone Hot Stone Pot Rice, Abalone Hot Pot

Handamhaebyeon Beach, located at the entrance of Handam Coastal Trail, is where one can rent out a kayak and explore the sea of Jeju. 

Kayaks available here are clear kayaks, which offer a clear view of the seabed and even the stones and mosses. Kayaking naturally depends on the weather, so make sure to check the weather before visiting. Even if the weather is poor, you can still sit on the seaside pavilion and watch the sea.

Address: 22, Aewol-ro 1-gil, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Island

Opening Hours: 10.00 - 18.00 (Closed during winter Nov - Feb)

Feeling tired out after kayaking? Head to a café with an ocean view to take a breather. TRIBE is a place that serves hallabong desserts and beverages with a view of the sea. 

Hallabong is a tangerine variant that is famous for its tangy and sweet flavors, leading some to describe it as "honeyed orange." It began to be cultivated in Jeju in the 1990s, and its name references how its peak resembles the peak (bong) of Hallasan Mountain.

Address: 11, Aewol-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Island

Opening Hours: 09.00 - 21.00 (Last order: 20.30)

Signature Menu: Hallabong Souffle, Hallabong Sorbet-ade

After sampling Jeju’s seafood and tangerines, wrap up your travel with some delectable Jeju black pork. Jeju black pork has more than 13 times the fat content of standard pork, so it has a much more tender and juicier texture than others.

Jeju black pigs tend to be much healthier and less susceptible to diseases, thanks to being grown on Jeju’s fertile soil. Because of its taste, Jeju black pork has become a food representing the island to visitors.

Address: 4169-3, Gwideok-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Island

Opening Hours: 11.00 - 22.00 (Last order: 21.00)

Signature Menu: Grilled Aged Pork Shoulder, Grilled Dry-aged Pork Belly, Kimchi Jjigae with Prok Belly

Walking for about 10 min from Gwakji Beach takes one to Geumseong Port, where Geumseongcheon Stream meets the sea. Before, it served as an important port for ships sailing to mainland Korea and China, but today’s port is all but inoperable because of the rocks displaced by the stream blocking its entrance.

To the back of the port is the Silk Bridge (Geumseong Bidangyo Bridge), which connects Hallim-eup and Aewol-eup over the Geumseongcheon Stream. One can watch the sunset and then enjoy a night walk along the illuminated bridge.

While crossing the bridge, one can find a mural made by the JTBC show Suddenly Heroes, a program that featured K-pop star guests like Red Velvet, Lovelyz, and B1A4 solving different issues across Jeju. The mural depicts colorful dol hareubang stone statues along the coastal road with the caricatures of the cast.

Geumseong Port Address: 573-1, Geumseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Island

Silk Bridge Address: 569-5, Geumseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Island

About 20 min down the coastal trail lies the sandy Gwakji Beach. Many beaches in Jeju are beloved places for surfing and bathing in summer, but Gwakji Beach is notable for the Gwamul Outdoor Pool, which opens seasonally. 

This pool is made with yongcheonsu, or spring water rising from cracks in the ground, which fills the pool with cold water at about 15°C even at the height of summer. The pool is small, ideal for a foot bath.

Address: Aeworwondang-gil, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Island

Aewol Handam Park is located at a higher elevation than the coastal trail, so it has a clear view of the winding trail and the sea beyond. You can capture the charms of Jeju sea, which changes according to the light and the surroundings. 

Choose the Handam Coastal Trail to enjoy the sea up close, or head to Handam Park to get a more expansive view of the area: The choice is yours.

Address: 11, Aewol-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Island

Credit: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/