VISIT JEJU

Amid farmers’ fields in the Songaksan area are some rather odd structures. The area’s large plateau is perfect for farmland and pastures. In fact, Altteureu means “wide garden below”. However, it was also seen by the Japanese military as a strategic place to build an airfield for its military objectives in the region.

And so this farmland, which would otherwise be life-giving, was turned into an instrument of war and death. From the 1920s, the residents of nearby Moseulpo were ordered by the Japanese military to begin construction on an airfield there. Reinforced concrete aircraft hangars, too, were strategically placed around the 660,000 square meter airfield. This was then expanded during the Pacific War to 3 million square meters. From here, Japanese forces launched attacks on China and sent off squadrons of Kamikaze pilots to defend southern Japan.

Today, just 19 of these hangars remain to serve as a reminder and education tool for future generations of this terrible time in the history of mankind.

The place is otherwise idyllic, with its gorgeous views of  Hyeongjaeseom Islets, Sanbangsan Mountain, and Hallasan Mountain to the north. It is a typical Jeju scene… peaceful and calm. And yet built underneath was one of the Japanese occupations largest military encampments and cave systems in Jeju. It is made up of a 1.2-kilometer-long network of tunnels with six entrances, all engineered to hide crucial military facilities underground and protect them from air raids by Allied Forces during the Pacific War.

These facilities included a command HQ, soldiers' barracks, fuel storage, aircraft repair facilities, communication rooms, and more. This site is of significant historical importance in demonstrating the realities of war. In terms of its educational value, this site is designated Cultural Property No. 310.

Carved into an otherwise pristine coastal cliff at Songaksan Mountain are Japanese military caves built in 1945 — the tail end of their Pacific War campaign. It was part of their final attempt to defend against approaching Allied troops, a so-called “Operation No. 7” to hide and protect its military equipment, including small submarines and anti-aircraft guns.

There are 15 man-made caves carved into the rock in a variety of shapes. The longest is 57.3 meters. These are now designated Cultural Property No. 313 and serve as a sad reminder of the damage and death which war inflicts on current — and future — generations.

This museum has an exhibition hall with real items and documents from the Japanese occupation and war effort. On site is also the Gama Oreum Japanese Underground Fortress (registered Cultural Property No. 308 in December 2006.) The total length of this man-made cafe is more than 2 kilometers with a three-floor structure. There is also a theater which seats 1,200 people and shows video testimony of individuals involved in the war and occupation, a poignant reminder of the the misery of war and indisputable evidence that there are no winners or losers, only victims.

Jeju Hangil Memorial Hall was built to commemorate the March First Anti-Japanese Movement, which began in the Jocheon region, starting on March 21, 1919. Jeju Hangil Memorial Hall houses the March First Independence Movement Monument, the March First Independence Movement Memorial Hall, the Pillar of Peace, and an outdoor stage. The memorial hall honors the anti-Japanese movement of Jeju every Samiljeol (March 1st Movement Day), and events that recreate the independence demonstrations of the times, as well as a marathon that reflects on the anti-Japanese movement, are held there. The memorial hall collects, preserves, and displays historical material regarding Jeju’s anti-Japanese independence movement. It has successfully commemorated the noble self-sacrificing spirit and the independent spirit of those who gave up their lives in Jeju for the anti-Japanese movement. It serves as an educational space to cultivate a sense of patriotism in future generations and ensure that they are aware of their history.

The anti-Japanese movement as carried out by the women divers of Jeju Island began when on Jan. 7, 1932, the local fishing union started giving Japanese merchants unfair price advantages, to the detriment of the livelihoods of the haenyeo. They organized peaceful protests all around the island and prompted the then Jeju governor to promise to address the matter. However, Japanese officials saw fit to investigate and arrest these women in large numbers. The demonstrations continued for a few more weeks until on Jan. 27, when the movement was completely halted in its tracks.