Woljeongri Beach

On Jeju's east coast, in Gujwa-eup, the village name Woljeong-ri means roughly "where the moon stays". The beach in front of it combines white sand, jade-green water and outcrops of black basalt into one of the best-known seascapes on the eastern side of the island. Steady waves draw surfers, and cafés with sea views line the coastal road.

From fishing village to café strip

Woljeong-ri was once a small fishing village, but as word spread about the colour of its water, restaurants, cafés and guesthouses opened one after another along the shore. A few cafés put chairs out facing the sea, and photos of people sitting in them became the image of Woljeongri. Today the window seats and terraces along the beach road are still full of people watching the water.

What to see

• The water: the sand is white and the sea shallow, so on a sunny day the colour shifts from pale green near the shore to deep blue further out.
• Basalt rocks: black lava rocks break through the sand here and there, a typically Jeju contrast. At low tide it is fun to look into the rock pools.
• Surfing and kayaking: waves arrive at a fairly even height, so plenty of people take surf lessons here. Snorkelling and kayaking are popular too.
• Wind turbines: a line of turbines runs along the coast to the east, making a striking backdrop against sky and sea.

Walking routes

The beach lies on Jeju Olle Trail Route 20, which runs from Gimnyeong to Hado, and is part of the Gimnyeong–Woljeong Geotrail. Follow a rest on the beach with a stretch of the Olle trail and you get a close look at everyday life in Jeju's east-coast villages, with paths winding between stone walls and fields.

Along Haemaji Coastal Road

The road past Woljeongri Beach is Haemaji Coastal Road (Haemaji-haean-ro), which follows Jeju's east coast from Gimnyeong towards Seongsan. Driving it, you pass black basalt shoreline, white beaches and wind turbines in turn, which makes it a popular scenic drive. Gimnyeong Beach is a little over 3 km to the west and Manjanggul, a lava tube within the Jeju UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, about 4 km to the south-west, so Woljeongri makes a natural break on an east-coast day trip. In summer it is busy with swimmers and surfers; the rest of the year travellers come simply to sit and look at the sea.

Tripto tips

• Time needed: 1–2 hours for a walk and a café stop; half a day if you take a surf lesson.
• When to go: the water colour is at its brightest from May to September, when the sun is strongest. Lifeguards are only on duty during the official swimming season, so don't go out of your depth at other times.
• Getting there: trunk bus 201 runs from Jeju City Bus Terminal around the east coast to Seogwipo and passes through Woljeong-ri; walk down to the shore from the stop. By car it is about 40 minutes from the airport.
• Parking: there are car parks near the beach, but on summer weekends the beach road gets congested and spaces are hard to find. Arrive early.
• Olle trail: sections of Route 20 are sometimes rerouted for maintenance, so check the official route before you walk.