VISIT JEJU

Gotjawal

A Forest Known as 'The Lungs of Jeju'

Hwansang Forest Gotjawal Park

A Beautiful Walk Along a Treasured Forest Path

Cheongsu Gotjawal Forest

The largest firefly habitat on Jeju Island

Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park

An ecotourism site that offers visitors the chance to experience Jeju’s Gotjawal forest first-hand

Yang Brothers Burger

A handmade burger restaurant remodeled from a neglected town hall

Jeju Aerospace Hotel

Vistas of Green Tea Fields and Gotjawal Forest

Jeju Teraphy Lodging

Boasting a Large Garden, We Are Conveniently Near Attractions and Restaurants

Somerset Jeju Shinhwa World

Family-friendly premium resort providing comfortable accommodation

The Lungs of Jeju (Exploring Gotjawal Forest)

For much of the year, the most popular hiking spots on Jeju are the Olle Trails that line the island’s coast, and the paths that lead to the 1,950-meter-high summit of Hallasan Mountain. However, in the summer—when the heat becomes too much—the island’s hikers take to the shade of Gotjawal forests. This shade makes a big difference to the temperature of the area. Research by the National Institute of Forest Science found that in summer, the Physiological Equivalent Temperature of Gotjawal can be 12 degrees lower than that of residential or commercial areas. What all this means is that if you’re looking for a place to stay cool on a hot summer day while still enjoying the outdoors, then visiting Jeju’s Gotjawal is a must.

A forest of life, the life of a forest: Gotjawal journeys

The Gotjawal is a forest of hearty trees, brush and moss growing in the island’s volcanic terrain. Much of this land is untouched by human development and thus a unique ecosystem has evolved there. Let’s take a closer look at this aspect of Jeju’s wilderness.

From Muobeopjeongsa Temple to Donnaeko Valley, (Walking along Dongbaek-gil Trail)

On Hallasan Mountain, a mountain that represents Jeju, there is the Halla Trail, a fantastical forest path where you can meet nature. The Halla Trail, which surrounds the national forest that sits 600 to 800m above sea level, is an 80km-long forest path that connects Muobeopjeongsa, Sioreum Parasitic Cone, Suakgyo Valley, and Iseungak (Iseungi Volcanic Cone) by using a logistics road and forest trail built during the Japanese occupation of Korea and a transport road for shiitake mushroom farms. For some, Halla Trail is a place to experience the history, ecology, and forest culture of Jeju, whereas, for others, it is a place to heal the difficulties of everyday life. Among the various Halla Trails, we introduce Dongbaek-gil Trail where you can heal with nature and view the history and ecology of Jeju from a diverse perspective.

10 Travel Hotspots for September: Explore the interior mountain areas of Jeju

The emerald blue sea might be the first thing that attracts people to Jeju, but with a little time and effort there’s a whole mid-mountain area of the island to discover. Here we’re introducing 10 charming spots around Hallasan Mountain and its mid-range forests which are easily accessible by public transportation now that the new bus system (from end-August) is in place.

Gotjawal Forest Concert

A night of music in the Gotjawal forest during the autumn