Top 10 Korea #3 — Jeju Island: Volcanic Coast, Sunrise Crater, and a 1-Hour Flight from Gimpo

Jeju is the destination most foreign visitors put on their second Korea trip — but it's only a 65-minute flight from Gimpo, with departures every 15 minutes during the day, making it accessible even on a long weekend. The island has three UNESCO natural-heritage sites, the country's tallest mountain, and a coastal road that takes 6 hours to circle. Three highlights anchor most itineraries. Seongsan Ilchulbong (성산일출봉) is the volcanic tuff cone on the east coast where most visitors hike up for sunrise — the name literally means 'sunrise peak' and the 30-minute climb is gentle. Hallasan (한라산) is the central volcano that defines the island; the Seongpanak trail to the summit and back takes 8 hours and requires a same-day descent reservation. And Udo Island (우도) is the small bicycle-only island off the east coast, reached by 15-minute ferry — peanut-flavored ice cream, white-sand beaches, and no cars allowed. Getting there: domestic flights from Gimpo Airport on Korean Air, Asiana, Jeju Air, T'way, and Air Busan run every 10–15 minutes; round trip from ₩80,000. Once on Jeju, rent a car — public transit covers the coast but is slow. Practical tips: Seongsan reservations not needed; Hallasan summit trails require a free online reservation 1–2 days ahead. Black pork BBQ (흑돼지) is the Jeju specialty — Donsadon and Heuk Donga in Jeju City are the chain everyone agrees on. Up next on #4: KTX 1h50 to Jeonju, where bibimbap was invented and 800 wooden houses still stand.