Susanbong, a low oreum in Aewol with a pond inside the crater

What kind of oreum it is

Susanbong is an oreum (volcanic cone) in Susan-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si. It has a round crater, and at the summit there is a small pond holding water. The address is Susan-ri San 1-1, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.

The same place is also called Mulme or Mulmi. Even if you see a different name on a map or a sign, it refers to the same oreum, so there is no reason to be confused.

The crater and the pond at the summit

A round crater and a small pond at the summit — these two make up the shape of the oreum. Because the water sits at the end of the climb, there is something left to see after you reach the top.

The pond is beside the pavilion. The resting spot and the water's edge are not far apart, so while you stay at the summit you end up moving between the two.

What is at the summit

At the summit there are a pavilion and exercise equipment. That means there is a place to sit and rest as soon as you arrive, which makes a short trip up a single oreum less of a burden.

Next to the pavilion is a small pond holding water. In this pond you can see frogs and small creatures. Quietly looking into the water can take up about half of the time you spend at the summit.

How long it takes

The climb takes about 20 minutes. If you do not just touch the summit and come back down but look around the area more widely, it takes about 40 minutes.

These two numbers serve as a guide when planning your walk. If it is a quick stop along the way, plan for the 20-minute side; if you will sit and rest at the summit and slowly take in the pond and the surroundings, plan for the 40-minute side.

So for the same oreum, the time needed differs by nearly double depending on the character of the walk. Which one to plan for can be decided by looking at what is left in the day's schedule.

What the path is like

The stairs and the path are well kept. It is not a path where you need to choose shoes expecting a rough climb, but there are stretches of continuous stairs, so shoes with non-slip soles are more comfortable.

There is more than one trail entrance. The starting point differs depending on which side you climb from, so checking the access road on a map before you set out will keep you from wandering.

Together with Jeju Olle Route 16

Susanbong is part of Jeju Olle Route 16. That means you can visit the oreum on its own, or pass through it as one point on the course while walking the Olle trail.

On a day when you walk the Olle for a long stretch, this oreum becomes one section of the whole route. Conversely, if the oreum itself is the purpose, the 20 minutes and 40 minutes noted above are exactly the time you need.

Whichever way you climb, what you meet at the summit is the same. A pavilion and exercise equipment, and a small pond holding water.

When you can go

It is open year-round. Since you do not have to account for closing days, it is easy to adjust the order of things even if your travel plans change suddenly.

That said, what is at the summit is a pavilion, exercise equipment, and the pond. It is more reassuring to bring water and a simple snack before you climb.

Fitting Susanbong into your schedule

Susanbong is open year-round and the climb is not long. These are conditions that let it find a place in your schedule both on a day set aside for a single oreum and on a day spent walking an Olle course.

The fact that the path is well kept and that there is a place to sit at the summit helps in judging how to divide your time. You can choose, according to that day's schedule, between a walk that goes only to the summit and rests at the pavilion before coming down, and a walk that also takes in the area around the pond and the surroundings.

If you are with children

The fact that the stairs and the path are well kept and that the climb takes about 20 minutes is also a useful measure for walking with children. The same goes for having a pavilion to rest at on the summit.

The frogs and small creatures in the pond are things children end up looking at for a long time. If you allow plenty of time, you can stay without hurrying. For Aewol plans with children in general, see Aewol family restaurants with children: 7 things to check before you sit down.

Within the same Aewol-eup

Susan-ri, where Susanbong is, and Gamundong-gil, Aewol-eup, where Mipojip Jeju Aewol is, are both within the same Aewol-eup. Aewol is an area where seaside villages, oreum and forest sit side by side within one eup, so it is easy to put places of different character into a single day's route.

If you want to see forest, Napeup Geumsan Park, and if you want to walk along the sea, From the Handam Coastal Walk to Gwakji Gwamul Beach can be looked at as well. The address of Mipojip Jeju Aewol is 80 Gamundong-gil, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (lot number 제주 제주시 애월읍 하귀2리 2812-1). Meal options are set out on the Menu page, and directions on the Visit page.