Yongmeori Coast: What You Need To See On Jeju Island
There are stunning natural wonders to see all over Jeju Island which is why it’s one of my favorite places in all of Korea to visit. On a recent trip, we made it down to Yongmeori Coast (용머리해안), or Dragon’s Head Cliff, and enjoyed quite the afternoon exploring the cliffs, mountains and views that can be had there. Yongmeori Coast is a tourist site on the southwest coast of Jeju Island which is important to note because Jeju Island is large so you’ll want to explore it in quadrants to make the best use of your time.
Yongmeori Coast is definitely a must-see on Jeju Island and something you need to make time for. Here’s how to have the best time at Yongmeori Coast and the spots nearby too!
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How To Get There
Jeju Island is quite large so this is a spot that is ideal for a Jeju itinerary if you’re staying in the Seogwipo-si area. Here are the best places to stay on Jeju Island.
Address: 24-30 Sagyenam-ro 216 beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do (제주 서귀포시 안덕면 사계남고216번길 24-30)
Get To Jeju: First you’ll have to get to Jeju Island. Did you know you can get there by plane OR by ferry? Here are all of the different ways you can get to the Hawaii of Korea.
By Bus: If you’re traveling by local bus, there are a number of them that stop here. Look for buses: 202, 251, 752-1, or 752-2.
Rent A Car: Renting does not have to be a hassle. If you don’t want to go directly with a local shop, check out Klook which offers a great deal on rental cars and works really well for tourists. It’s fast and efficient and you’ll land and be on the road in no time. For more information and options, check out this guide to how to rent a car in Jeju.
Private Car & Tour: If you’d rather not drive but have someone drive you and your group around, then check out booking a driver to take you around. Klook has a great option that has three itinerary, OR customize your own. You can take the car around from 9:00am to 5:00pm and see so much. Check out this private car and tour option for Jeju Island on Klook.
Basic Info
While the island of Jeju was formed by volcanoes, Yongmeori Coast was formed by the oldest volcano in Jeju which erupted 1.2 million years ago. The unique topography was recognized by UNESCO and in 2010 the entire island of Jeju became a member of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network.
The scenery is really stunning and the size of the cliff walls are difficult to even capture in photos. The 30 to 50 meter high rock walls feature stratified rock that ebbs and curves along the coast and there are small enclaves to explore as you walk. Jeju’s geological trails allow visitors to learn about the unique history of the area, the culture, legends, and of course the geology so it’s really fun for many reasons.
Due to the high viscosity of the lave that erupted so long ago, it didn’t flow very far and congealed to become Sanbangsan Mountain and the volcanic ash settled and turned into Yongmeori Coast. There are so many mysteries and local legends throughout this area so you’ll want to visit both the mountain and coast to get the full story.
- Hours: 9:00am ~ 7:00pm* (This is technically the opening hours for the cliffs however, the actual opening hours are dependent on the tide. When we visited recently in October, the cliffs didn’t open until 2:30pm. As such is the case, I would recommend calling 1330, the tourist help line, to find up to date information.
- Admission: Adults: W2,000; Children: W1,000
The Experience
From start to finish and everything in between, there’s much to enjoy. Here’s what you can’t miss at Yongmeori Coast.
Entrance & Horse Rides
There are two entrances to the walk along the Yongmeori Coast. The one that most people enter through is where the Hendrick Hamel ship reproduction towers. If you’ve visited Yeosu, you may have heard of Hendrick Hamel there as well where you can even visit a museum devoted to the Dutch traveler who was shipwrecked in Korea in 1653. From the main road where buses and taxis drop off, the ship is easy to spot so this entrance is very easy to find.
If you’ve got kids, there’s also a guy with a couple of horses to ride around near the ship. We couldn’t pass by without partaking clearly as my daughter is the most enthusiastic animal lover. This is a fun activity to do before you head to the rocks where you’ll want to be a bit more eagle-eyed with your kids because there are absolutely no barriers, ropes, or fences on the cliffs.
Watch the kids closely out there and keep them closer to the inside away from the water because the rocks can be slippery. That said, my five year old had a marvelous time searching for sea creatures in the pools of water on the rocks and was jumping all around with delight. It’s absolutely doable, just keep your eyes peeled so they don’t wander too close to the edge.
Eat On The Cliffs
One of the experiences you can have on the coast is taking a seat and eating some fresh catch prepared by local ajjummas.
There were about 5 or 6 different groups of women who had set up little areas to sell fresh caught seafood if you want the unique experience of perching on some rocks for some raw fish and soju. I hadn’t realized this was a thing but if you have the time, take advantage. I wouldn’t sit with the first ones though because their spot is a little more crowded as people come and go but if you get to the more centrally located ones, they have more space for people to sit while the other visitors can easily pass by and you still get great views. The seafood is fresh so enjoy enjoy enjoy… but take cash.
Explore & Walk, Walk, Walk
Honestly, the cliff walk was longer than we expected. Based on pictures I’d seen online, I didn’t think it was a walk around the entire coast but more of a walk down and walk back up situation. Which you could do in a pinch, but actually from entrance to exit, it took us one hour to circle around the entire Yongmeori Coastal walk.
Don’t go down and just turn around unless you really have to. It’s a really beautiful walk. But, make sure to use the restrooms at the entrance because there’s nothing else down there besides you, rocks, water, and the ladies selling seafood.
What To See & Do Nearby
You could easily spend the day, or most of one anyway, in this area because there is quite a bit to see and do. Here is what you can’t miss and what will help you plan your day from where to eat to where to get ice cream.
Sanbangsan: Temples, Grotto, & A View
Many years back when I was staying in Jeju to teach at a summer camp, I got to take a trip out to Sanbangsan for the day and we had a lovely look at the temples and grotto that is just a short hike up the mountain. As legend has it, this mountain was the peak of Mt. Halla that was broken off and thrown to this spot. If you want to see more of what’s there, check out this post on Sanbangsan temples and grottos.
- Address: 184 Sagye-ri Andeok-myeon Seogwipo-si, Jeju (제주특별자치도 서귀포시 안덕면 사계리 184)
- Admission: W1,000 (Note that you can also get a combined ticket to see Sanbangsan Mountain and Yongmeori Coast. This is recommended for most travelers who are seeing both together generally. Combined Ticket prices: W2,500; Children: W1,500)
Mido Restaurant (미도식당)
When looking for restaurants for something to eat, we were trying to steer clear of spicy items since we had two children in our group which meant none of the local spots with spicy octopus stew. However, we did find this great option with fish and abalone porridge which is one of my favorites to enjoy every time I’m in Jeju. The abalone porridge was great and costs W12,000 while you can get the 옥돔한정식 which is basically a set with lots of side dishes, fish, and a pork stir fry and soup that feeds two people and costs W15,000 per person. It’s plenty of food and fed all of the adults and kids well.
- Address: 11 Sagyenam-ro 216 beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju (제주 서귀포시 안덕면 사계남로216번길 11)
- Hours: 8:00am ~ 4:00pm
One & Only Cafe (원앤온리)
Set on Hwanguchi Beach, a lovely black sand beach, just down the coast from Sanbangsan Mountain and the cliffs, this large cafe has gotten popular recently because it’s probably one of the nicest places in the area to lounge and just enjoy the views. There are palm trees and western style food options and drinks so it’s a bit pricier than some other things around, but it has some really chic vibes and is very comfortable for a chill time.
- Address: 141 Sanbang-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju (제주 서귀포시 안덕면 산방로 141)
- Hours: 9:00am ~ 8:00pm
Chi Chi Pong Ice Cream Shop (치치퐁)
If you begin your walk along the Yongmeori Coast at the Hamel ship reproduction, then when you end, you’ll come out near this cute little ice cream shop that does the most adorable cones and they have some very delicious ice cream too. After the walk along the cliffs, you may need a little refresher or a sweet pick-me-up like we did and this is a great spot to do just that.
My daughter had her chocolate bunny and I had one of their new ice creams. Cute and delicious and the perfect way to rest after the cliff walks.
- Address: (제주 서귀포시 안덕면 사계남로216번길 24-62)
- Hours: 10:30am ~ 5:30pm
Gapa Island (가파도)
If you want to pack the day and really have an adventure, then think about adding nearby Gapa Island (가파도) to your list of things to do. This little island is the second southernmost point of Korea and is 5.5 kilometers off the coast of Jeju Island. You can visit from Moseulpo Port and since the island isn’t as famous as Mara Island, the southernmost landmass of Korea, you can get a whole lot of alone time biking around the tiny island and getting some good views. Learn more about Gapa Island here.
- Address: Gapa-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do (제주 서귀포시 대정읍 가파리)
- Directions: From Moseulpo Port, ferries depart to Gapado at 9:00am, 11:00am, 2:00pm & 4:00pm.; Returning from Gapado to Moseulpo Port, ferries depart at 9:20am, 11:20am, 2:20pm & 4:20pm* (Call 1330 to get updated times.)
Jeju Island is an amazing place to explore with so much to see and some very special wellness destinations too. Make Yongmeori Coast one of the places on your itinerary for your next trip to Jeju.
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