The first time I visited Jeju Island in early July 2024, I was acquainted to the peculiar Jekyll-and-Hyde weather in the north and south created by Hallasan, which rises about 2,000 meters in the central. It was sunny in the north, with clouds wafting over the azure sky; nevertheless, murky fogs obscured the sky past the midpoint of South Korea’s highest peak.
That was an intriguing introduction to the UNESCO World Heritage Site near the point of the Korean peninsula. Aside from the changing weather, the big mountain influences a variety of factors. It also has stunning views, scenic trails that hikers fly in for, and volcanic black basalt, a hard lava rock with cheese-like holes that is often used as a construction material on the island. In 2025, it will also become an art destination when the first museum dedicated to the late South Korean contemporary artist, Park Seo-bo, is completed. The hotel mooted the idea for the museum but sadly, the artist passed away from cancer in October 2023, several months after he graced the groundbreaking ceremony.