Jeju Geo Festival ‘thinks globally, acts locally’

This year’s Geo Festival slogan is “Know Jeju, Know Geo!”

Jeju is the first region of Korea to have been designated a Geopark by the Global Geoparks Network. It was designated in 2010 with nine sites, later to have three more added in 2014.

One of the principles behind the network is to encourage conservation and education at sites recognized for their geological, cultural and local heritages. (The Yongmeori Coast is currently under threat by rising sea levels stemming from global warming.)

This year’s Jeju Geo Festival is being held Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 at two Geo Sites on opposite sides of the island — Yongmeori Coast in the south and Gimnyeong in the north.

On Saturday the festival kicked off along the south coast at Sanbangsan Mountain. The weather was cool and perfect for the many outdoor activities scheduled for festivalgoers.

After the opening ceremony at 10 a.m., the events started with hiking sessions along the area’s “Geo Trail”, which corresponds at one point with Jeju Olle Walking Trail No. 10.

Some 120 students from Joongang Girls High School were divided into groups and given a guided tour of the walk along the Geo Trail. Local volunteers knowledgeable in the region’s culture, geology and mythology gave interesting lectures as they walked the two-hour course. This a main element of this year’s festival, according to one organizer I spoke with.

The tour got started after 11 a.m. from the Yongmeori Coast parking lot.

Hyeongjaeseom Islet is the backdrop for this part of the guided tour.

One of the Geo Trail markers along this part of the coast

The volcanic geology of the region is varied and of significant scientific value.

A local food “tasting session” was also available from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This part of the south coast features “momguk” (gulfweed soup; ‘mom’ is Jeju dialect for this kind of seaweed used in the dish) which was not only very tasty and a perfect meal after our long hike, but also free of charge!

Gulfweed soup, a local dish served at the festival

Did you know?

The Geo Brand logo is derived by combining a geological structure (the hexagon shape of volcanic formations you can see around the coast, particularly along on the south side at Jungmun and Daepo) and the letter “g” for “Geo.”

Bonus answer: Geo Branding publicizes tourism-related products unique to a particular region of the island. It helps market and sell them, thereby boosting the local job market and economy.

Also on offer at the main festival venue were booths set up for experience programs such as cooking local foods, making planters using turban shells, doll making, games, and more.

One of the more eye-opening locals products being showcased at the Geo Festival was garlic jam! I tried a sample and the garlic wasn’t at all overpowering, surprisingly. It’s certainly healthy (and will keep the vampires at bay.)