Jeju Island is one of the most visited places in South Korea for its nature-based tourism, drawing 13 million visitors every year.
Manila Bulletin and other foreign media outlets visited Jeju Island as part of the tour of the World Journalists Conference (WJC) 2025, hosted by the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) under president Park Jong Hyun.
The week-long conference allowed 62 journalists from 52 countries to visit different places in South Korea, including Jeju Island.
A "Hello Jeju" sign in Jeju Island, South Korea (Jonathan Hicap)
“When Life Gives You Tangerines”
Jeju Island took the spotlight recently because of Netflix’s Korean series “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” starring pop star IU and actor Park Bo-gum.
The title is a play on the phrase “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Jeju is known for growing tangerines.
“When Life Gives You Tangerines” garnered the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s weekly Global Top 10 chart of the most watched shows and films on the platform.
“When Life Gives You Tangerines” (Netflix)
For the period March 31 to April 6, “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is No. 1 with 5.4 million views, placing in the top 10 on Netflix in 40 countries and territories, including No. 1 in Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The setting of the drama is Jeju and it was filmed in the island in Gimnyeong Beach, Biyangdo, Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak), Sosaek Chebon, Oradong green barley buckwheat field and Jejumok Gwana Government Office.
The drama was also filmed in other places in South Korea.
Jeju Stone Park
The WCJ participants visited the Jeju Stone Park in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, which “was inspired by Jeju's culture and applications of stones.”
The guide told the journalists that “When Life Gives You Tangerines” was also filmed in Jeju Stone Park in the Jeju Traditional Village with thatch-roofed houses.
The village showcases a recreation of traditional Jeju homes and heritage items that trace the province’s old residential styles that are no longer in use.
Thatch-roofed houses in Jeju Stone Park in Jeju Island (Photos from Jeju Stone Park website)
The park was “based on the myth of Seolmundae Halmang (Grandmother Seolmundae), who created Jeju Island and the stones of Obaek Janggun (Five Hundred Generals). The park serves as a historical and cultural space where collected stones represent Jeju's foundation and culture,” according to the Korea Tourism Organization website.
Jeju Stone Park has an area of 932,538 sq. m. and features different stones and trails. Its facilities include the Stone Museum, 500 General Statue.
Jeju Stone Park in Jeju Island (Jonathan Hicap)
Handam Coastal Trail
The journalists also walked the 1.2 km. Handam Coastal Trail, a scenic walking path from Aewol Port to Gwakji Gwamul Beach.
Located on the western coast of Jeju, it was chosen as one of the hidden gems of Jeju City in 2009. The trail features “uniquely-shaped rocks made by cooled and hardened lava.”
Handam Coastal Trail (Jonathan Hicap)
Cherry blossom
The participants’ visit to Jeju Island coincided with the famous cherry blossom attraction. Several roads in Jeju Island had trees blooming with flowers, which are perfect Instagrammable spots.
In the city, the journalists stayed at the Maison Glad Jeju hotel, which was adjacent to many shops and restaurants.
The foreign journalists who visited Jeju Island came from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, US, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.
The World Journalists Conference 2025 was supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Korea Press Foundation (KPF).
Cherry blossom in Jeju Island, South Korea (Jonathan Hicap)