An important note on Jeju’s updated bus system and this blog post
From August 2017, Jeju Island implemented a new city and intercity bus system. It increased the number of buses in service, while simplifying the routes, fees and numbering system.
Consequently, the contents of this previously published blog post may have changed. We therefore would kindly request that you consult this page for new bus maps in English on VisitJeju.net, and this page on our blog for a chart of the old and new bus route numbers.
If you read Korean, then the province’s official bus system website is a useful and up-to-date resource. We hope you’ll enjoy your travels on Jeju Island!
Jeju Stone Park is an ecological park and museum that showcases the unique culture of Jeju.
One may think that stones and rocks are boring, but not at Jeju Stone Park! It is fascinating to learn about how Jeju is geologically formed and see these amazing sculptures.
But first, let me give you the basic information.
Address: 2023 Namjoro, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju (제주특별자치도 제주시 조천읍 남조로 2023) There are multiple parking lots at Stone Park.
Directions by bus: Go to the Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal and take bus #730. You can get off at Jeju Stone Park (돌문화공원).
Or you can also take Jeju City Tour Bus. It takes about 51 minutes from Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal to Jeju Stone Park. We will be writing more about the Jeju City Tour Bus soon.
You can also take the Jeju City Tour Bus at Jeju City Hall (Sicheong). It takes about 45 minutes too Stone Park from there.
After you get off at the Jeju Stone Park bus stop, cross the street and you will arrive at Stone Park. Bus #730 also stops here.
As you enter Stone Park, you can see a walking path, which leads to traditional Korean thatched-roof house before you actually see the Ticket Office.
General admission is 5,000Won for adults (4,000Won for group of 10+), and 3,500Won for youth and military personnel (2,800Won for group of 1+). If you reserve tickets at least one day in advance on the Jeju Stone Park website, you can get a discount.
If you go on the last Wednesday of the month, you can get free admission because it is a cultural appreciation day.
There are 3 courses that you can take to see the whole park. It’ll take about 2 hours and 40 minutes to see all three. If you take course 1, it’s about 1 hour. Let’s go see what it has in store for us!
As you walk along the path of course 1, you can see various stone structures.
One of the most special features of Jeju Stone Park is the Sky Pond. It represents two symbols of Grandmother Seomundae’s differing legends – one is the cauldron in which she threw herself to save her starving children, and the other is Muljangori pond, where she drowned from boasting of her 49,000-meters height.
Next to Sky Pond is the Jeju Stone Museum. It tells the story of how Jeju is formed through displays of geological formations and volcanic activities.
After your educational stop by the Stone Museum, you can continue exploring course 1. It’s a refreshing walk where you can stroll leisurely in the open air and enjoy the blue sky. Along the path are different exhibitions of stone sculptures.
You can see Jeju’s iconic grandfather stones, dolharubang, with various expressions.
Towards the end of course 1 is Obaek Jang-Goon Gallery, a multipurpose cultural space open to domestic and international artists.
On this trip, I was able to see Kim Yang Dong’s Discovering Korean Beauty exhibit.
Another unique exhibit in this gallery is the display of dead tree roots of a genus of subtropical evergreen trees (distylium racemosum) that naturally form very interesting shapes.
What do you think these look like?
This one looks like a howling wolf to me.
At the end of course 1 is a small stone building called Mother’s Room.
In here you can see a very heartwarming stone structure. When the light shines on it, doesn’t its shadow look like a mother holding her child?
Jeju Stone Park is surprisingly very big and offers educational as well as entertaining exhibits. Not only can I learn about the geological history of Jeju (and Korea), I can also see how nature creates such interesting shapes with rocks and tree roots. The park also makes for a pleasant stroll to enjoy some fresh air. If you have time, I hope you can explore courses 2 and 3 as well.
For more information on Jeju Stone Park, you can visit their website. It offers information in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.
