Page 194 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Jeju: South Korea’s Premier Island Geotourism Destination 171

Figure 11.2 Digital elevation model of Jeju Island, showing the overall shield morphology of the island with a central
peak (Mt Hallasan) and numerous volcanic cones
Source: Courtesy of Dr K. H. Park

(trachytic) lavas occur extensively on the island Tourism on Jeju
together with diverse volcanic landforms, including Though the records left by those living on Jeju
Mt Hallasan which rises 1950m above sea level at centuries ago praise the spectacular natural
the centre of the island. Numerous tuff rings and landscapes, tourism did not develop on the island
tuff cones are scattered around the island and were until after Japanese colonization (from 1910 to
produced by repetitive explosive hydrovolcanic 1945) and the Korean War (1950–1953) (Suh and
activity and intervening volcaniclastic sedimentary Hunter, 2006). Foreigners began to visit Korea as
deposits as it rose above the waters of the tourists in 1958 and over the past several decades
continental shelf of the Yellow Sea some two the Jeju tourism industry has flourished. Roughly
million years ago and continued to historic times 5.8 million visitors came to the island in 2008
(Sohn and Park, 2004; Sohn et al, 2008). After the (Joongang Daily, 2009) with the overwhelming
last glacial maximum 18,000 years ago explosive majority of visitors being domestic travelers (Suh
hydrovolcanic eruptions occurred at several places and Hunter, 2006). The Jeju Island government has
along the present shoreline. These eruptions wisely diversified its tourism products to include
resulted in several tuff rings and tuff cones with such niche markets as business and conference
fresh morphology, including Songaksand, tourism, sports tourism, cultural tourism, ecotourism
Seongsan, Ilchulbong and Udo tuff rings/cones and experiential tourism with the overwhelming
(Sohn and Chough, 1989, 1992, 1993; Chough majority of visitors being domestic tourists (Suh
and Sohn, 1990). There are also historical records and Hunter, 2006). Nevertheless, the fact that
of minor eruptions at about one thousand years tourists cannot visit Jeju Island without taking time
ago, although it is uncertain where these eruptions to visit several ‘must-see’ geotourism destinations is
occurred. Today, these volcanic features create in no small part due to the recent and widely
splendid natural landscapes enjoyed by the millions publicized UNESCO World Heritage listing of
of visitors to Jeju Island every year. several prominent volcanic-related features.

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