Sunny's Jeju Travel Guide

A quiet stretch of the Nonadri-gil boardwalk · Photo © sunny I went back to Jeolmul Recreation Forest recently, and this time I actually made it all the way up Jeolmul Oreum , instead of just passing by it like I did years ago while writing about the Jangsaengi Forest Trail. I continued on to walk Nonadri-gil as well. The two trails couldn't be more different, and honestly, walking them back to back turned out to be a great combination. Here's how it went, in the order I actually walked it. The full trail map at Jeolmul Recreation Forest · Photo © sunny Jeju Oreum Series #005 Jeolmul Oreum & Nonadri-gil Trail ⛰️ Jeolmul Oreum Climbing Trail ⏱ Duration 1 hr round trip (1.6km) ⭐ Difficulty ★★ ★★★ 📐 Gradient Mostly gentle · short steep boardwalk sections 🌳 Shade Plenty · some open sections on the summit loop 🥾 Surfa...

Jeju black pork on the grill · Photo © sunny There's one question I get asked more than any other, living here. "What should I eat in Jeju?" Some Jeju foods are famous across the whole country — black pork, for one. But there's a whole layer of local dishes that most visitors never hear about, and after years of living here, I've noticed I end up recommending the same handful of things to almost every visitor. So here they are: 10 dishes I think every first-time visitor should try , plus 4 local favorites for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper into how Jeju actually eats. 📖 Table of Contents 1. Jeju's 10 Must-Try Foods 2. 4 Traditional Local Dishes 3. Final Thoughts Jeju's food tends to fall into a few natural groups — black pork, fresh seafood, local noodle dishes, and traditional soups. Most people start with the first two, so that's roughly the order I've laid these out in. 1. Heuk...

The stone gate marking the start of Jangsaeng-gil Forest Trail · Photo © sunny Jeolmul Natural Recreation Forest is one of those places I come back to over and over, mostly for the cedar trees — there's something about how tall and quiet they are that resets my whole week. I'd always stuck to the shorter Neonadri-gil loop or hiked up Jeolmul Oreum, but I'd never actually walked the full 11.1km of Course A from start to finish. So this time I committed to walking the entire course , and it took me almost exactly three hours. The path is so well maintained that even in summer heat, it never felt like too much. ☀️ Sunny's Tip It was 32–34°C outside that day, but inside the forest it stayed around 27–28°C. Not cold by any means, but every gust of wind through the trees cooled things down fast. If you're short on time, the 7.2km Course B still gives you plenty of the forest's best moments. Through the Cedars to the Trailhead The parki...