Dodubong: a low volcanic cone right next to Jeju Airport where you can watch planes and the sea together

On the day you arrive in Jeju or the day you leave, if you are looking for somewhere near the airport to walk for a little while, think of Dodubong. It is a low oreum (volcanic cone) in Jeju City, right next to Jeju Airport. Its gentle slope makes it easy to climb, and from the path up and the summit you can watch planes taking off and landing.

Since it doesn't call for planning a long hike, it slips easily into the beginning or end of a trip. Each oreum differs in how you get in and where you can park, though, so check the way there once before you set out.

Right next to Jeju Airport, a low volcanic cone with two peaks

This oreum has two peaks, and the eastern one is the higher. It isn't high and the slope is gentle, so even someone climbing an oreum for the first time can walk up without strain.

Don't hurry on the way up; look around you. You can see planes taking off and landing even as you climb, so part of the fun is glancing up at the sky now and then before you reach the top. If it is the first or last day of a trip with lots of luggage, it is easier to leave the big bags behind and go up lightly dressed.

Photo: Grapesurgeon / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Grassland to the south, forest to the north

The southern slope of the oreum is grassland, with black pines standing here and there. The northern slope is a forest where Japanese cedar and deciduous trees grow together. Even on the same oreum, the mood of the path changes depending on which slope you pass.

Around the oreum grow trees such as Stephanandra incisa, Sorbus alnifolia, Viburnum erosum and Mallotus japonicus, along with wild plants such as several kinds of Calanthe orchids and anemones. Please don't pick the grasses and flowers along the path; just enjoy them with your eyes as you pass. Knowing the names of the trees and flowers makes even a short climb feel more relaxed.

Planes and the sea from the summit

From Dodubong, you can watch planes taking off from and landing at Jeju International Airport, both on the way up and at the summit. Add the view of the sea, and it makes quite a spectacular sight. If you want to watch the planes coming and going, stay at the summit for a while and keep an eye on the sky.

If you want to capture a plane in a photo, rather than zooming in too far, try framing it together with the sea and the airport side of the view. While you enjoy the view, step aside so that people coming up behind you can pass. On windy days, it's a good idea to bring a light jacket.

Photo: Grapesurgeon / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The photo spot at the top: the Kisses Zone

At the summit of Dodubong there is a photo spot known as the "Kisses Zone." It is on the opposite side from the direction in which the airport is seen from the observation deck, and it is so well known that people line up to take photos there. Step inside the trees and look out, and you will see the sea through a triangle-shaped opening; stand in the middle of that view and take your photo.

It is hard to take a photo there alone, so it's better to go with companions and take pictures of each other. If the line is long, take just a few shots and give your place to the next person, and while you wait your turn, look around at the airport view on the other side as well.

What to check before you go: the way there, dogs, and the Rainbow Coastal Road

Many oreum addresses are listed as mountain land lots, so a navigation search may not show the exact location, and many have no parking lot of their own. Some oreum are on private land, and access may be restricted. Before you set out, check accurate information with an information desk such as the Jeju Tourist Information Center.

You can climb with your dog. Small, medium and large dogs are all allowed; keep the leash or harness within 2m and bring poop bags.

Nearby is the Dodu-dong Rainbow Coastal Road. It is a good place to stroll along a rainbow-colored path that runs by the sea, and a good place to take photos with the sea in the background. Meet up close, from the coastal road, the sea you looked down on from the oreum.

If you are traveling between Aewol and the airport

If you are having a meal in Aewol and then heading to the airport, add Dodubong as a quick stop. As a place to eat on the Aewol side, consider Mipojip Jeju Aewol. Before you leave, check the travel time between the airport and Aewol on a map, along with traffic conditions.

If you want a hearty first or last meal in Jeju, take a look at the menu of Mipojip, which serves haemuljang (soy-cured seafood) and sotbap (pot rice). Talking over the planes and the sea you saw from the summit during your meal would make for a nice time as well.