TRAVEL: Discover beauty of Mt. Hallasan and hidden gems on volcanic island of Jeju

한라산 — Baengnokdam, the crater lake at the peak of Mt. Hallasan on Jeju Island. AJP Cho Bo-hee

Jeju, October 24 (AJP) - The beauty of South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju owes much to volcanic activity. The area, now the largest island on the Korean Peninsula, was originally a shallow sea.

From deep beneath the earth, molten magma surged upward and collided with seawater in explosive volcanic eruptions, eventually forming land that rose above the sea.

As volcanic activity continued, magma kept erupting, forming volcanic formations called "oreum" along with countless lava caves and plains.

Massive volcanic eruptions tens of thousands of years ago, concentrated in one spot, gave birth to Mt. Hallasan, which stands at 1,947 meters today. Around 25,000 years ago, another eruption formed Baengnokdam, the crater lake at its summit.

For many locals, there is a deeply-rooted belief that Mt. Hallasan is Jeju and vice versa, because the mountain has sustained generations of families who built their lives and livelihoods along its slopes and hills.

There are several routes that lead all the way up Mt. Hallasan: Seongpanak, Gwaneumsa, Yeongsil, Donnaeko, and Eorimok, with the latter three offering views of the mountain's crater wall without requiring a climb to the peak.

The Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa routes, which require hikers to book in advance, stretch 9.6 kilometers and 8.7 kilometers, respectively, and take about five hours to reach the top.

A round-trip hike on these routes takes roughly 10 hours, so hikers should allow sufficient time. In particular, during the winter season when the sun sets early, it is best to begin climbing before 8 a.m.

The trails are strewn with rugged basalt rocks, making them uneven and bumpy, so sturdy boots are essential for hikers. Visitors including foreigners are often seen struggling due to insufficient preparation.

Around 1,500 meters up, the trails open to a field known for azaleas in full bloom during the spring season, where shrubs and small trees offer a breathtaking panoramic view of the ocean below.

곶자왈 — Trees are mysteriously tangled in a forest on Jeju Island. AJP Cho Bo-hee

Jeju also has a slew of unique forests called "gotjawal," a name coined from the words for "forest" and "thicket." These dense and crooked areas, where wild trees and plants are tangled atop hardened lava rocks, are scattered across the island, covering about 6.1 percent of its land.

The one in Gyorae in the eastern part of the island is situated at the highest point, with walking paths spanning 230 hectares that allow visitors to observe the forest's natural formations up close.

The moment visitors step into the forest, they are instantly greeted by a rush of fresh air and a landscape of nothing but lush green. The rocky ground is carpeted with moss and ferns, while trees have forced their roots through cracks in the rocks, growing twisted and gnarled as they stretch their branches toward the sky.

Vines from some trees have entwined themselves around moss-covered trunks, their long tendrils dangling, while others grow atop rocky mounds with roots exposed above the soil. These exposed roots, called "pankun," grow upward because the hard lava rocks prevent them from penetrating the earth below.

The unique terrain of these forests, formed from viscous lava that slowly solidified, has created dips and hollows that collect water, nourishing ferns and naturally filtering through layers of rock to become clean mineral water.

Tunnel-shaped small holes, called "sumgol," help maintain the forest's humidity and temperature. They release cool air in summer and warm air in winter.

돌문화공원 — Traditional stone statues are displayed at Dolhareubang, a outdoor museum and ecological park on Jeju Island. AJP Cho Bo-hee

Visitors will also see countless stones on Jeju. In fact, stones are everywhere, as the island is traditionally said to have three things in abundance - stones, wind, and women - represented by the island's famous female divers who search the sea for shellfish and other marine life.

They can learn how stones have shaped the lives of locals and explore the island's volcanic origins, with its curious rock formations and caves, through artifacts, statues, folklore, and other exhibitions at Dolhareubang, a stone-themed outdoor museum and ecological park.

용암구 — Various stones formed from volcanic lava are displayed at Dolhareubang, a outdoor museum and ecological park on Jeju Island. AJP Cho Bo-hee

Cho Bo-hee jobo@ajupress.com