Oedolgae Rock

On the coast just west of central Seogwipo, at the end of a path through pine woods, a lone pillar of rock rises out of the sea. Oedolgae means "the solitary rock", a name earned by the way it stands alone in the water. This stack, about 20 m tall, together with the surrounding sea cliffs was designated a national Scenic Site in 2011, and it is also the starting point of Jeju Olle Trail Route 7.

How it was formed

Oedolgae was left behind when the waves gradually wore away a lava field formed by volcanic eruptions, leaving only the hardest part standing like a column. It is just over 20 m high and 7–10 m wide. The coast around it is lined with vertical sea cliffs and sea caves, so the stack and cliffs together form a distinctive seascape. Look out for the small trees growing on top of the pillar.

Legends

• Halmang Rock: When a fisherman failed to return from the sea, his wife is said to have waited on the shore until she turned to stone, which is why Oedolgae is also called Halmang ("grandmother") Rock. The story reflects the lives of Jeju people who depended on the sea.
• General Rock: Another tale says that at the end of the Goryeo period, while fighting forces loyal to the Yuan dynasty, General Choe Yeong dressed the rock in a general's clothes so that it looked like a giant warrior, to frighten enemies hiding on Beomseom island offshore. Seeing it, the enemy is said to have lost heart and collapsed.

It is striking that one rock carries two completely different stories: one about the waiting of Jeju people who made their living from the sea, the other about memories of war around the island.

What to see

• Viewpoint: From the viewpoint on the path you can fit the pillar, the cliffs behind it and the islands offshore into a single frame.
• Olle Route 7: Starting at Oedolgae, Route 7 follows the cliffs westward. Even walking a short section gives you a good sense of the Seogwipo coast.
• Hwangwooji coast: A round-trip walk from Oedolgae to the nearby Hwangwooji coast takes less than an hour, an easy add-on for a short coastal walk.
• Filming location: The site is also known as a filming location for the TV drama Dae Jang Geum.

Tripto tips

• Visitor info: Open at all times, every day, with no admission fee. The car park is free, and a nearby paid car park charges KRW 2,000. There are toilets, a rest area and a shop.
• Best time: Visit before sunset. In the late afternoon, low light falls across the pillar and cliffs and brings out their shapes.
• Time needed: 30 minutes to an hour to walk to the viewpoint and back.
• Be careful: The cliff edges are dangerous, so stay on the path and behind the railings.
• Combine with: Cheonjiyeon Falls is about 1.2 km away, and the nearby Hwangwooji coast and Sammaebong hill make a good walk as well.
• Address and contact: 791 Seoheung-dong, Seogwipo. Phone +82 64-760-3192.
• Photo tip: From the viewpoint, framing Oedolgae between pine branches brings out the difference in height between the cliffs and the pillar. On windy days with high waves you can watch spray breaking against the rock.