Located on Jeju Island's southern coast, this port city has black lava beaches, citrus farms, and the Cheonjiyeon Waterfall. Local markets sell fresh seafood and tangerines year-round.
Seogwipo-si, the second-largest city on Jeju Island, sits along South Korea's southern coast. Black volcanic cliffs frame the shoreline, while citrus farms and stone walls line the streets inland. In the city center, you'll find the Olle Market's food stalls and fresh produce, while natural wonders like the 22-meter Cheonjiyeon Waterfall and geometric Jusangjeolli cliffs draw visitors to the outskirts.
Natural Landmarks
The Jusangjeolli cliffs stretch 2 kilometers along the coast, where cooling lava formed hexagonal basalt columns that now rise from the ocean. You can walk to three major waterfalls: Cheonjiyeon drops 22 meters into a freshwater pool, Jeongbang falls 23 meters directly into the sea, and Sojeongbang creates a 8-meter cascade over volcanic rock. Paved paths connect these sites, with signs explaining the geological history of each formation.
Markets and Local Food
Over 200 vendors fill the Olle Market's downtown blocks from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. You'll find fresh seafood, locally grown produce, and Jeju specialties like hallabong citrus and dried fish. On Chilsimni Food Street, family-run restaurants serve raw fish dishes and grilled seafood. For specific local dishes, head to Lee Joong-seop Street for grilled fish, Myeongdong Road for noodles, or Arang Joeul Street for black pork barbecue.
Getting Around
You can walk between central Seogwipo's main sites within 20 minutes. For longer trips, buses 600 and 601 connect the city center to Jungmun Tourism Complex every 15 minutes. Buy a transportation card at any convenience store to pay for bus rides - it works across all of Jeju Island's bus routes.
Museums and Gardens
At the O'Sulloc Tea Museum, you can watch tea processing demonstrations and taste local green teas in the sampling room. The Citrus Museum explains how farmers grow Jeju's tangerines, with special exhibits during harvest season from November to January. Yeomiji Botanical Garden contains four indoor garden zones and a 2-hectare outdoor area where you can see subtropical plants native to Jeju Island. The indoor gardens maintain different climate conditions to support plants from various regions.
