Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do, South Korea

An easy coastal walk around the small extinct volcano of Songaksan, on the southernmost section of Jeju Island. Nice if you are staying in the area.

Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea

The Island of Jeju is dominated by South Korea’s tallest mountain, Hallasan, and I presume this offers the best walking on the Island. Nevertheless, there is a trail called Jeju Ole that circumnavigates the island, and is broken up into a series of sections. We (my wife Sophia and a few family members) walked a short portion of section 10, around the extinct volcano of Songaksan. It’s an easy walk and doesn’t require any hiking gear. The scenery was nice enough, including views along the coast in both directions, and to small islands which form the southernmost points in South Korea. 

Track Notes

The village in the map below can be the start and end of your walk, although we started further down the coast and got picked up from this spot, where there’s a Starbucks and restaurants. I’ve rated the walk easy (it’s about 3km long), but perhaps it’s moderate if you start where we started. The track is obvious and constructed the whole way.

Songaksan Circuit: The Scenery

Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea
We started our walk some way down the coast towards Sanbangsan (pictured). Hallasan in the distance to the centre-right.
Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea
Further down the coastline from the official start of the circuit walk.

Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea

Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea
The Japanese built these in WWII. They had occupied the Korean peninsula since about the turn of the century.
Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea
Hallasan on the right, and the bulgy Sanbangsan roughly centre.

Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea

Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea
This depression was lush and sheltered with many palm trees in it.

Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea

Songaksan Circuit, Jeju-do South Korea
The start and end of the walk.

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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