Walk along the volcanic ash layers of Suwolbong in Jeju... Geotrail opens on the 24th

【Financial News, Jeju = Jeong Yong-bok】 A walking tour exploring the volcanic ash layers along the Suwolbong coast and the geological heritage of Chagwido will be held on the 24th and 25th.
According to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province World Heritage Headquarters on the 21st, the 15th Suwolbong Geotrail will be held around Suwolbong and Chagwido in Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju City. The event links geological heritage with the history and culture of local villages, focusing on prominent sites in a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Suwolbong is part of a hydrovolcanic edifice formed when magma met seawater and erupted explosively. Volcaniclastic layers, including volcanic ash, are exposed in strata along the coastal cliffs, making it possible to observe volcanic eruptions and the process of sedimentation. Its high value for geological research has earned it the name “textbook of volcanology.”
The tour is divided into two routes: the Suwolbong coast and Chagwido. The Suwolbong route starts at the coast guard post and passes Nokgo's Tears, the tunnel fortifications, volcanic ash layers and volcanic bombs, and the summit of Suwolbong. On the return trip, visitors can see volcanic ash layers along the Eongal coast and a black sand beach.
Along the Chagwido route, visitors can observe Janggunbawi, the lighthouse, and the island's geology and vegetation. Visits to Chagwido are generally based on individual ferry reservations and self-guided tours, with explanations available from geopark interpreters stationed at key points.

Tours accompanied by Suwolbong Geopark interpreters will run four times a day, at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Each session is limited to 20 people.
Tours accompanied by ecology experts will take place once a day at 2:30 p.m., with up to 25 people per session. Ecology writer Lee Seong-gwon will lead the tour on the 24th, and Kim Wan-byeong, director of the Jeju Studies Research Center, will lead it on the 25th.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for 11 a.m. on the 24th, will feature a Mulheobeok performance by the Gosan-ri haenyeo performance troupe and a Hangyeong Harmony performance. During the event, there will also be activities such as making haenyeo tewak key rings and experiencing local geopark products, as well as a specialty-product market and food stalls featuring local residents.
Visitors can join the tour programs by making an advance reservation or registering on site. Ferry service and tour interpretation schedules for Chagwido may change depending on weather and sea conditions.
Kim Hyeong-eun, head of the Jeju Province World Heritage Headquarters, said, “Suwolbong is a volcanic geological site of high value to Earth science,” adding, “I hope visitors will directly observe the coast’s diverse strata and natural scenery.”


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