Soesokkak: the blue pool at the end of Hyodoncheon Stream, and news of the 2026 Jeju Citrus Expo

Soesokkak lies at the very end of Hyodoncheon Stream, which carries water from Hallasan down to the south of Jeju. It is a deep pool formed where the fresh water of the stream meets seawater; strangely shaped rocks stand around both walls like a folding screen, and forest grows thickly above them.

In November the 2026 Jeju Citrus Expo takes place in Seogwipo. If you are planning a day on the Seogwipo side, look at a waterside walk and the expo news together.

The meaning of the name: the last end of a pond where a cow lies

'Soeso' means 'a pond shaped like a lying cow', and 'kkak' means 'the last end'. It is the name given to the pool where the stream lingers one last time just before it reaches the sea.

The fresh water reflected on the rocks is unusually blue and clear, and together with the dark grey rocks it makes a superb view. With the water collected beneath forest-covered walls, it feels like arriving in a mysterious valley.

In the past it was regarded as sacred ground where rain rituals were held to end droughts, so people did not throw stones or play in the water carelessly. The mouth of the valley was also blocked to make sea salt, and it was used as a small harbour too.

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

Along the walking path to a black-sand beach

This spot links Jeju Olle Trail Courses 5 and 6, so people walking the Olle trail pass through as well. Keep going down along the walking path and you reach Hahyo Soesokkak Beach, covered in black sand.

The path looking down on the pool from above and the path going down toward the sea have different views. Don't hurry; walk both. The rocks may be wet, so shoes with non-slip soles are more comfortable.

Where you can look down on the water, pause for a moment. The colour of the water looks slightly different depending on how much sunlight falls on it, so don't hurry; look down from a few different spots.

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

A story handed down at this waterside

A poignant legend is told at this waterside. About 350 years ago, the only daughter of a rich family in Hahyo village and a farmhand of the same age in that house fell in love, but because of the difference in their social standing their love could not be fulfilled.

Afterwards the villagers set up a shrine on Eungji-dongsan, east of the village, to console the souls of the two and enshrine their spirits. Today this shrine is called Halmang-dang, or Yeodeuret-dang because rites are held on the 8th day.

The 2026 Jeju Citrus Expo: dates and advance booking

The 2026 Jeju Citrus Expo runs for 5 days, from Thursday 19 November to Monday 23 November 2026. The venue is the agro-ecological garden area of the Seogwipo Agricultural Technology Center.

Advance booking is open until 18 November 2026 on the expo website, where you choose the date of your visit. Each account can book only once, and a booking is limited to a maximum of 20 people. Those who book in advance can buy tickets at the discounted rate after being checked on site at the expo, and must bring ID that confirms the booking.

Check admission fees and opening hours in the visitor guide on the website before you go. If you combine a walk at Soesokkak with the expo in one day, it also helps to look up the travel time between the two on a map in advance.

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

Other places nearby

Nearby are places such as Jejigi Oreum and the camellia grove in Wimi-ri, where camellias bloom beautifully. Adding one oreum or one village lane after your waterside walk makes a day in Seogwipo feel fuller.

The nearby places each have a different character, so on a day with a lot of walking pick just one, and on a day with time to spare link two together. If you visit the Seogwipo side during the expo, choose a place to walk when you decide on the date as well.

Once you know what the name means, looking down at the water you see it anew: water pausing for a moment among the rocks just before it heads out to sea. Forest, rock and water all come together in one place, so there is a lot to see even on a short walk.

If you booked the expo in advance, you can buy a ticket at the discounted rate after your booking is checked on site, so bring the account you booked with and your ID. If you are in a large group, check the booking limit in advance and decide who will make the booking.

After a day in Seogwipo, a meal in Aewol

If you head back toward Aewol after spending the day in Seogwipo, consider adding Mipojip Jeju Aewol to your list of places to eat. Check the travel time and traffic on a map before you set off.

If you want to satisfy the hunger of a long day by the water, take a look at the menu of Mipojip, which serves haemuljang (soy-cured seafood) and sotbap (pot rice). Talking about the blue water of Soesokkak during the meal would make for a nice time as well.