Yongmeorihaean Coast

Yongmeori Coast is a famous coastal-rock formation on Jeju Island's southern coast at Sanbangsan, where eroded volcanic-rock cliffs and shore platforms have been carved by long-term sea action into a curving sequence that resembles a dragon's head and back diving into the ocean — "Yongmeori" literally meaning "dragon head." The walking route along the cliff base threads tide-pool platforms, wind-carved rock walls, narrow stone passages, and overhanging cliff sections, with the open South Sea on one side and the steeply rising Sanbangsan slope on the other. Tides matter — at high tide the lower path is closed for safety, so timing matters for full access. Check the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency tide table (khoa.go.kr) for the visit date; low-tide windows during daylight hours are typically 4-6 hours per day. Wind and rough sea conditions can also close the path even at low tide. Modest entrance fee. Allow about 60-90 minutes for the full circuit at a photograph-friendly pace. Pairs strongly with Sanbangsan (the volcanic dome directly above), the Olle Trail Course 10 (which threads the coast in both directions from Yongmeori), and Songaksan headland for a coherent southern-Jeju coastal day. The Sanbangsan Yaksucheon Buddhist site nearby is worth a short detour.