Jenny Yang ‘26

In my junior year, I studied abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul.  During my semester in Korea, an Intercultural Enrichment Stipend from Swarthmore allowed me to make a meaningful trip to explore the historically and naturally significant island of Jeju.  Jeju’s serene environment offered a temporary escape from the bustling and saturated city of Seoul.

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

During my trip to Jeju, I wanted to be strategic about my time on the island, ensuring that every moment was well-spent to be fully immersed in its unique landscapes and culture. One destination I was particularly excited to visit was Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, also known as the “Sunrise Peak.” This well-known tuff cone, formed by a hydro-volcanic eruption, boasts a crater 600 meters in diameter and 90 meters deep. 

It holds deep cultural significance as its crater is believed to serve as a resting place for the gods. Additionally, at its base, you can often see the island’s living tradition, Haenyeo —Jeju’s legendary female divers— perform ceremonial rituals before they depart out to sea. I was able to hike up Seongsan Ilchulbong just in time to catch the sunset over the west coast of the island, and it was absolutely breathtaking as the ocean stretched endlessly before me. 

The hike from the base to the summit and back took about 50 minutes, though I took my time to make several stops in between to take in the entire island’s beauty. Seongsan Ilchulbong offers multiple viewpoints from different levels that overlook the entire island, where I was able to see Hallasan Mountain rising in the center of the island, as well as the small, picturesque Udo Island off the east coast. This hike was absolutely restorative and introduced me to a glimpse of the natural beauty of Jeju Island. 

The Snoopy Garden and Museum

After visiting the Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, I stumbled upon the Snoopy Garden in Jeju and spontaneously decided to visit the museum.  This was an unexpected find! To my surprise, it offered an extensive look at the history of the Peanuts Series, including its characters, the creative direction, and many parallels that emerge from and are woven through the Peanuts franchise. The museum was interactive and allowed visitors to be immersed in each exhibit that storylined the Peanut characters. It also nicely displayed Jeju’s organic landscape as the museum spans indoors and outdoors. Throughout the museum, I could admire the island’s organic landscapes, lush gardens, and local vegetation. The light-hearted space was well designed to bridge together Jeju’s agriculture and iconic Peanuts characters.

O’sulloc Tea Museum

I was also able to visit O’sulloc Tea Museum in Jeju, which proved to be an absolute eye-opening experience. Upon arrival, I was greeted by endless green rows of tea leaves that stretched farther than the eye can see. The crop of tea leaves are deeply rooted in Jeju’s agricultural identity. The museum highlights the cultural and historical significance of tea on the island, illustrating to us how Jeju’s volcanic, nutrient-rich soil and humid, misty climate create the perfect environment for tea cultivation. 

The museum itself is both educational and immersive. Visitors can explore the history of tea in Korea by observing the unique traditional tea machinery, ceremonial rituals, and practices. It also offers an immersive experience to taste the products firsthand, from sampling various teas to enjoying specialty matcha treats made from the green tea leaves at O’sulloc. Personally, I would recommend the matcha latte as well as the matcha crepe cake! Both are delightful and radiate the fragrances of the green tea. 

Reflecting on Where You Are

My excursion to Jeju Island was truly incredible and unforgettable.  Far more than what I could have ever imagined, the humble island of volcanic material and surrounding nature is rich in earthly beauty. My trip to Jeju Island allowed me to explore Jeju’s culture deeply and to appreciate what has been preserved uniquely on the island. Its significant landmarks, immersive culinary experiences, and interactions with local residents allowed me to delve into diverse and rich perspectives of Korea. Paired with its deep historical roots, Jeju’s serene environment offered a temporary escape from the bustling and saturated city of Seoul.