“Island barbarian” seems like a harsh historical name. Yet, Jeju Island has been called that. Today we are visiting \ubcf4\ub355\uc0ac. It is a Buddhist temple here on Jeju Island. This island has a rich history and unique culture. Let me share some of its story with you.
Jeju Island is South Korea’s largest island. It covers 1.83% of the country’s total area. The island sits in the Korea Strait. It is about 83 kilometers south of the Korean Peninsula. Jejuans are the island’s indigenous people. People have lived here since the early Neolithic period. The Jeju language is critically endangered. Shamanism is still practiced here.
The island is oval-shaped. It stretches 73 kilometers east to west and 31 kilometers north to south. Hallasan Mountain is at its center. The main road is 181 kilometers long. The coastline extends for 258 kilometers. Gimnyeong Beach is on the northern end. Songak Mountain marks the southern end. Suwol Peak is on the western end. Seongsan Ilchulbong is on the eastern end.
A submarine volcano formed Jeju Island about two million years ago. The island is a World Heritage Site. It features volcanic landscapes and lava tubes. Jeju has a subtropical climate. Even in winter, temperatures rarely drop below 0 degrees Celsius. Tourism drives much of Jeju’s economy.
Over time, Jeju Island has had many names. “Doi” meant Island barbarian. “Dongyeongju” meant Eastern paradise. “Juho” was another early name. “Tammora” and “Seomna” also appeared. Europeans once called it Quelpart. Before 1910, Europeans knew it as Quelpart. The name comes from the French language. It may relate to a Dutch ship that spotted the island around 1642. The Portuguese called it Ilha de Ladrones meaning Island of Thieves.
People have lived on Jeju Island since the Neolithic period. Legend says three divine founders emerged from holes in the ground in the 24th century BC. These founders were Go, Yang and Bu. The Samseonghyeol holes are still preserved in Jeju City. Until 938 AD, Jeju was the independent kingdom of Tamna. Then it became a vassal state of Korea under the Goryeo dynasty. In 1404, Taejong of Joseon brought Tamna under central control.
From 1948 to 1949, the Jeju uprising took place. Around 30000 people died. About 40000 fled to Japan. The Workers’ Party of South Korea launched an insurgency. The US-backed South Korean regime brutally repressed it. In 2003, a commission called it a genocide. It verified 14373 deaths. Security forces caused 86% of these. Rebels caused 14%. The commission estimated a total death toll of around 30000. Some estimate 80000 to 100000 deaths.
Hallasan is a 1947-meter-high volcano. It is the highest mountain in South Korea. The island has about 360 oreum. These are small extinct volcanoes. Geomunoreum and Yongnuni Oreum are popular tourist spots.
Volcanic eruptions formed the island two million years ago. Basalt and lava make up most of the island. About 12% of Jeju is gotjawal. This is a local term for forests. The ‘a’a lava base made it hard to cultivate. This forest has a unique ecology.
The forest is Jeju’s main water source. Rainwater penetrates the aquifer through cracks in the lava. Some researchers consider gotjawal forest an internationally important wetland. It is home to unique plants. It is the main water source for residents.
Jeju’s largest industry is tourism. Manufacturing is small. Major companies here include Kakao and Neople.
About 1.2 million years ago, a magma chamber formed. It began to erupt. About 700000 years ago, the island formed. Volcanic activity stopped for about 100000 years. About 300000 years ago, it restarted along the coastline. About 100000 years ago, Hallasan Mountain formed. About 25000 years ago, eruptions formed oreum. Weathering and erosion shaped the island.
Jeju Island has a humid subtropical climate. Winters are cool with moderate rain. Summers are hot and humid with high rainfall. Jeju City is colder in winter. Gosan-ri has the lowest annual average precipitation.
We finish our visit to \ubcf4\ub355\uc0ac. I hope you return to experience more of Jeju Island.