Just like in Europe, and especially in Spain, we have the Camino de Santiago, the First European Cultural Itinerary, and just as in Japan there is the Kumano Kodo, in South Korea they also have their own pilgrimage route, the “Jeju Olle” on Jeju Island. A Korean pilgrim who traveled to Santiago de Compostela in 2006 was so captivated by the Camino experience that she decided to develop a similar route in her own country. Now, Koreans have their own hiking route, the “Jeju Olle Trail”.
About Jeju Island
South Korea is a continental country that also includes many islands. One of them, the farthest from the Korean Peninsula, is Jeju Island, located halfway between the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. It is a volcanic island with remarkable tropical beauty, and it is a highly sought-after tourist destination for couples, lovers, and newlyweds.
This island has its own distinct culture, different from mainland South Korea, including its own language, with notable differences from mainland languages and dialects. In fact, the name of the route includes a term from its language, “Olle”, which means “narrow path”. Let’s learn a bit more about the “Jeju Olle” route.
Jeju island
“Jeju Olle”, or the narrow path of Jeju Island
As mentioned earlier, a Camino pilgrim named Suh Myung-suk, a journalist in South Korea and a native of Seoul, was captivated by her Camino experience and, upon returning home, decided to develop a route in her own country. She explored the island with the goal of creating tourism and hiking routes, and then founded the Jeju Olle Foundation to carry out the development of her new project, the “Jeju Olle” trail. It was necessary to choose the right paths and connect them, as well as prepare the trails by widening them, removing obstacles, and marking them.
“The creation of the Jeju Olle Trail is inspired by the Camino de Santiago”
Once this was done, “Jeju Olle” was born, a network of long-distance trails along the island’s coastline. There are a total of 21 connected routes, 5 sub-routes, and one final route connecting to Jeju International Airport (this woman thought of everything!). The routes average around 16 kilometers and total 425 kilometers, although the paths can be modified or redirected.
Things to keep in mind
The difficulty of the stages ranges from easy to moderate. It can be done at any time of the year, although it is not recommended during July and August due to frequent extreme heat warnings. The best months are April, May, September, and October.
The “Jeju Olle” Foundation marked the route, and among the signs, the following stand out: the “ganse” indicates direction at junctions, blue and orange ribbons decorate the route, arrows indicate direction, and “S” and “F” markers indicate the start and end of wheelchair-accessible sections (as mentioned, they really thought of everything!). Hikers also have a kind of credential, and it is necessary to stamp it three times per stage to obtain the final certificate and medals.
Jeju Olle Foundation
More than 135 towns and over 130 paradise-like beaches, along with forests and mountains, make up the natural heritage offered by this route, along with the island’s unique culture and people. With the principle of altering the landscape as little as possible, this route respects ancient paths. It is also worth noting that along the route you will find the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Seongsan Ilchulbong” and the “Sanbangsan” Geopark.
A tropical getaway
The lifestyle of South Koreans is intense and often stressful, so this route offers a perfect escape, and it is also very close for them. As we know, it is a culture that loves hiking, and if you have walked any Camino de Santiago, you may have noticed the large number of South Koreans who pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. In 2019, there were more than 8,000 on the Camino routes, making South Korea the seventh largest source of pilgrims.
As Rachel Kim, spokesperson for the Foundation, states, Suh “wanted to introduce her hometown, Jeju Island, and the amazing nature and unique culture found here, through a long walking trail like the Camino de Santiago. She also wanted to share the emotions she experienced on the Camino”.
Jeju’s coast
An average of 600,000 hikers walk the “Jeju Olle” each year, surpassing the Camino de Santiago itself. Nine out of ten are Korean, while the rest are foreigners, mainly from nearby countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Australia.
The truth is that we are very drawn to this route, and we are already thinking about planning a trip to experience, feel, and enjoy it. And you, what are your plans for your holidays? South Korea may feel far away, but right here you have the inspiration behind the “Jeju Olle”: our Camino de Santiago.
Happy “Olle”!
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