Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, Jeju-do
Located on the southern coastal edge of Jeju Island in the Daepo district of Seogwipo is Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, one of Jeju’s most famous natural monuments. Jusangjeolli Cliff was first formed around 140,000-250,000 years ago when thick basalt lava from Hallasan Mountain erupted into the sea of Jungmun. As the molten lava rapidly cooled it contracted and split, forming the now iconic hexagonal-shaped black columns seen today. Along with its unique rock formations, the cliff is well known for its stunning waves which dramatically crash up against its pillars during high tide—in some cases reaching more than 20m high! Because of these natural phenomena, Jusangjeolli Cliff was designated by the Korean government as an official National Monument no. 443 in 2005 and has since become a must-see attraction for many visitors to Jeju Island.
This blog post will cover all you need to know about visiting Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, including how to get there, costs, nearby attractions, and more. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Getting There
Whether by public transportation or by car, getting to Jusangjeolli Cliff is easy regardless of where on the island you are.
Bus
If staying in Jeju City: From the Jeju International Airport, take Bus no. 600 to the Jeju International Convention Center (제주국제컨벤션센터 중문대포해안주상절리대[남]). From there, it is a short 6-minute walk from the convention center to the entrance of the cliffs. This route takes about 1 hour 10 minutes in total.
Alternatively, you could also take Bus no. 240 from the Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal to the Jeju International Convention Center (제주국제컨벤션센터[북]). Then, walk 10 minutes to the cliffs. This route takes about 1.5 hours. The bus comes every 50~170 minutes.
If staying in Seogwipo: There are several buses in Seogwipo which go to the cliffs. From the Jeju World Cup Stadium Bus Terminal (제주월드컵경기장 서귀포버스터미널), you can board Airport Bus no. 600 and get off at the Jeju International Convention Center (제주국제컨벤션센터[북]). From there, it’s an 8-minute walk to the entrance. This route takes about 30 minutes in total.
Another option is to take Bus no. 510 from the Jeju World Cup Stadium Bus Terminal (제주월드컵경기장 서귀포버스터미널[북]) to the Jeju International Convention Center (제주국제컨벤션센터 중문대포해안주상절리대[남]). From there, it’s a 6-minute walk to the entrance. This route takes about 40 minutes in total.
Car
By car, it takes about 1 hour from Jeju City to reach Jusangjeolli Cliff. Parking is 1,000 won for small cars, 2,000 won for medium-sized cars (sedan to 15-seater), and 3,000 won for large cars (15-seater and bigger).
Entrance and Fees
At the entrance of Jusangjeolli Cliff are storefronts where you can buy accessories such as hats and glasses, snacks like hot dogs, octopus skewers, shaved ice, and ice cream, and drinks including juice made from Jeju’s famous local hallabong citrus fruit. A popular item here is the Hallabong juice sold specifically in bottles shaped like Dol hareubang, large stone statues found on Jeju Island which are said to offer protection and grant fertility. The bottles are super cute! The juice inside these special cups is mixed with sweetener, so if you want pure, fresh-squeezed hallabong juice, I would recommend getting the juice served in the plain bottles.
Past the vendors is the ticket booth. Entrance for adults (25 and older) is 2,000 won; for children (7-12), youth (13-24), and for military ranked under Sargent it is 1,000 won. There are discounts for groups of more than 10 people.
Past the ticket gate is a small park leading towards a series of stairs which will take you down to the cliffs.
There are two primary viewing spots for looking at the cliffs and waves. It can get very crowded with visitors, especially during peak tourism season, so prepare to wait your turn if you want to get a good photo!
Regardless of the crowds, the view is spectacular. Watching the waves crash up against the rocks is very hypnotizing.
I spent in total about 1.5 hours at Jusangjeolli Cliff, but you could definitely spend less time if you don’t wait around for photos. I recommend giving yourself at least 1 hour to fully appreciate the area.
Nearby Attractions
After Jusangjeolli Cliff, check out one of Seogwipo’s many other nearby attractions. I recommend Jeongbang Falls, a stunning waterfall famous for being one of the few places where visitors can walk right down to the base of the waterfall which leads into the ocean! Another famous waterfall in the same area is Cheonjiyeon Falls, a large waterfall surrounded by a lush forest.
You can also check out the Segowipo Maeil Olle Market—the largest market in Seogwipo, stretching over 620 meters—and indulge in some local street foods including black pork abalone rolled katsu, tangerine mochi, and red-banded lobster breads!
Additional Information
Hours: 9:00-17:00 daily (times may change according to sunrise/sunset hours)
Address: 제주 서귀포시 이어도로 36-24