Tasting Jeju: A Foodie’s Adventure and Scenic Escapes on Korea’s Paradise Island

When you come to study abroad in Korea, there are a few things that every student has to do. Some of the things on this extensive list include going to Busan, going to a K-pop concert, spending a day at Lotte World, and of course visiting Jeju Island. Recently I was fortunate enough to plan a weekend trip to Jeju. There is so much to see and do on Jeju but there are a few things I will recommend that you go and see. From food to excursions, I will take you through the best parts of my Jeju Adventure. 

EXCURSIONS: 

I spent four full days in Jeju and we were able to see so many things around the whole island. Some of my trip highlights include the Snoopy Garden, Heopjae Beach, and Jusangjeollidae. The Snoopy Garden is a garden dedicated to Snoopy and the Peanut Gallery. All of the Peanuts characters live in this garden and you get the chance to step into the drawn world. You get to take a look into Snoopy’s doghouse, go camping with Charlie Brown, go up Woodstock’s nest, Wait for the great pumpkin and so much more! The Snoopy Garden is the perfect place to revisit childhood friends with new friends. There are so many Instagram-worthy photo spots and you get an inside look at the creation of the popular comic strips! 

  When you are visiting an island you have to visit the beach, Jeju has so many beaches that are worth a visit, but my favorite was Hyeopjae Beach. It is located on the North-west side of the island and there is a cute town to walk around and find some Jeju souvenirs. It is also just a nice beach to walk along, or to just sit at a cafe and enjoy the view with friends. There are a ton of photo spots and it is a very peaceful beach with beautiful views. Next to the beach, there is a popular cafe that has some amazing photo spots. At Comma Cafe, they have a swing set up for photos as well as some beach-type cabanas to take the perfect sunset photo. 

The last highlight of our trip was Jusangjeollide, this is a rugged cliff face that was formed from angular volcanic pillars of rock and it is even listed as a national monument. You have to pay 1,000 won to enter but after seeing the amazing views it is worth way more than the 70 cents. Seeing and visiting the cliffs was breathtaking, it is a sight to see, the natural beauty of the island and nature creating such beauty is something that can not be properly captured on camera. 

FOOD: 

When you are on vacation something you have to do to survive is eat. Just like the rest of Korea, Jeju has food that will make you leave wanting more. From sweets to Jeju specialties to food that tastes like home, Jeju has it all. Some of the best food I had in Jeju included soft serve ice cream and salt bread from Dongmun Traditional Market, The walnut bread that tasted like fall from Jeju Bakery (제주빵집) in the center of the island. To even have the best french toast and fresh fruit at a small cafe on the hillside of Jeju. The cafe was called Josik and it was on the bottom floor of the owner’s house, there was a couple who owned the shop and the food was homemade. It was a very homey vibe with the fresh food and the two doggy companions that were walking around. We got to taste our way around Jeju Island. All of the food in Jeju exceeded all of my expectations and I would go back to eat it all again. 

If you need a sign to plan your next trip to Jeju, let this be it! Jeju is a beautiful Island that has more to offer than its amazing citrus cafes and black pork (but still get both of those ;). On Jeju, you will find specialty citrus souvenirs and specialty miffy stuffed animals. You will have to show great restraint in not buying every souvenir you see. But vacation is for making memories and my favorite saying is that money can always come back, but your experiences can not!