Yongmeori Coast

Welcome, observant traveler, to the Yongmeori Coast, situated on the rugged southwestern edge of Jeju Island. As a scholar of geology and natural history, I can assure you that you are about to step onto one of the most…

Before we descend to the ancient rocks, we must pause at this large, somewhat incongruous replica of a 17th-century European sailing vessel resting near the entrance. This is the Hamel Shipwreck Exhibition, and it marks a pivotal…

As we walk down the steps and onto the rock shelf, the environment immediately transforms. You are now standing on the very edge of the ocean, flanked by towering cliffs of sedimentary rock. …

As we navigate the uneven terrain of the coastal shelf, direct your analytical gaze downward. The erosive power of the ocean has not only carved the towering cliffs but has also pitted the flat rock shelf beneath our feet with…

As we round this section of the coastal shelf, you may notice small gatherings of people huddled around specific spots on the rocks. If you look closely, you will see older women, often clad in dark, worn wetsuits, seated on low…

As we approach the end of the Yongmeori coastal path, turn your gaze inland, away from the ocean. Towering directly above the coastline is a massive, bell-shaped mountain. …

As we step off the ancient volcanic shelf of the Yongmeori Coast, let us gather our academic reflections. We have literally walked through a million years of geological history, tracing the dramatic, violent hydrovolcanic…