Waterfalls, Saeseom Island and Alleys on the 8.9 km Hayoung Olle Route 1 through Seogwipo’s Old Downtown

The longest of the three old downtown trails opened in 2021, at 8.9 km

Hayoung Olle is a walking trail through Seogwipo's old downtown area, developed and operated jointly by the Jeju Tourism Organization, Seogwipo City, and Jeju Olle. “Hayoung” means “a lot” in the Jeju language. The trail is 22.8 km long in total and consists of three courses. Course 1 is the longest at 8.9 km and is a loop that starts and ends at Seogwipo City Hall's First Office.

Course 1 opened on April 29, 2021. The route is signposted in the following order: Seogwipo City Hall's First Office → Beopjangsa Alleyway → Geolmae Ecological Park → Chilseolli Poetry Park → Saeyeongyo Bridge → Saeseom Island → Cheonjiyeon Gijeong-gil → Jeju Olle Traveler Center → Arangjoeul Street → Seogwipo City Hall's First Office. For official inquiries, contact the Seogwipo City Tourism Promotion Division at 064-760-2651.

How to organize your departure from 105 Jungang-ro, Seogwipo City Hall's First Office

The starting point is Seogwipo City Hall's First Office at 105 Jungang-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. The user-provided address, 8070 Jungsangan-dong-ro, may refer to another location rather than the official start and finish point for the entire course. Therefore, when looking for the first trail marker and electronic information board, it is more accurate to set “Seogwipo City Hall's First Office” as your destination.

City Hall is close to the bus terminal and the old downtown commercial district, making it convenient to bring together departures by public transportation, taxi, or rental car. It is safest to check the availability and congestion of the City Hall parking lot on the Seogwipo parking portal on the day of departure. Nearby public parking facilities include Jungang, Cheonji, Jeongbang, and Arangjoeul Street public parking lots.

• Start and finish: Seogwipo City Hall's First Office
• Street address: 105 Jungang-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
• Management inquiries: 064-760-2651
• Recommended items: Water, hat, non-slip walking shoes, rainwear

From Beopjangsa Alleyway to Geolmae Ecological Park, an urban walking section comes first

The first part passes through the residential area behind City Hall and Beopjangsa Alleyway before continuing to Geolmae Ecological Park. This section is about taking in alleys, residential areas, and parks rather than coastal scenery, so it may not suit those expecting a route with no shelter from the wind, like a Jeju coastal trek.

Geolmae Ecological Park is within approximately 0.6 km of City Hall's First Office, and the adjoining Chilseolli Poetry Park is approximately 1.0 km away. If you plan to walk all 8.9 km at once, it is best to use the restrooms and replenish your water in the early park section, then recheck your shoelaces and rain preparations before descending toward the coast.

Why the route descends toward the sea through Chilseolli Poetry Park and the Seogwipo Formation shell fossil site

Course 1 passes through Chilseolli Poetry Park and descends toward Saeyeongyo Bridge. The area includes the Seogwipo Formation shell fossil site, so the route takes in Seogwipo's geological landscape as well as a simple coastal walking path. The reason for choosing the old downtown area as the starting point is to connect waterfalls, parks, the coast, and commercial districts into one loop rather than treating them separately.

The key feature of this section is the change in elevation through the city. Starting at City Hall and the alleys, the route passes through the park, descends to the coast, and then climbs back up through Cheonjiyeon Gijeong-gil and the urban area. Rather than calculating it as a flat 8.9 km walk, allow 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. If you include photography, cafés, and waterfall viewing, it is more realistic to allow at least 3 hours 30 minutes.

• Official distance: 8.9 km
• Travel time stated at opening: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
• Recent walking guide estimate: Approximately 3 hours
• Some sections of the nighttime “Light of Hayoung” route: 6.3 km from City Hall to Saeyeongyo Bridge

After Saeyeongyo Bridge and Saeseom Island, free walking and paid sightseeing separate at Cheonjiyeon Gijeong-gil

Saeyeongyo Bridge and Saeseom Island are central coastal points on Course 1. After crossing Saeyeongyo Bridge and passing Saeseom Island, the route continues to Cheonjiyeon Gijeong-gil. Rather than crossing the bridge and immediately turning back, follow the signs onward so that the loop flows naturally into the next section.

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is a representative attraction near Course 1, but Hayoung Olle itself is a free walking trail, while admission to the waterfall is charged separately. If you plan to visit inside the waterfall area, allow additional time for ticketing and sightseeing. Hayoung Olle is not a facility-based tourist attraction with separately designated operating hours or closing days, so after sunset you should first check on-site restrictions and lighting conditions along Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, Saeseom Island, and the coastal walking section.

The final 2 km back through the Jeju Olle Traveler Center and Arangjoeul Street

After the coastal section, the route returns to City Hall via the Jeju Olle Traveler Center and Arangjoeul Street. Since the Jeju Olle Traveler Center is included in the official course guide, travelers walking longer Jeju Olle routes can easily combine Course 1 of Hayoung Olle with a half-day itinerary during a stay in the old downtown area.

Arangjoeul Street is one of the three specialized streets connected by Hayoung Olle; the others are Lee Jung-seop Street and Chilseolli Food Specialized Street. If you want to continue on to a meal or market visit after finishing Course 1, it is better to start walking in the morning. Conversely, if you depart late in the afternoon, it may be difficult to finish the entire alley, park, and coastal sections while it is still light.

• Hayoung Olle's specialized streets: Lee Jung-seop Street, Chilseolli Food Specialized Street, and Arangjoeul Street
• Total urban parks along Hayoung Olle: 6
• Course 1 start and finish: Seogwipo City Hall's First Office
• Reservations: No reservation required for ordinary walking visits

Why wheelchair and stroller users should divide the City Hall and coastal sections instead of attempting the full 8.9 km

The entire course is 8.9 km and combines alleyways, park paths, coastal walkways, and sloped sections. No official information confirming wheelchair and stroller accessibility throughout the route could be found. Therefore, wheelchair and stroller users should not assume they can complete the entire course. It is safer to divide the route into sections, such as around Seogwipo City Hall and Saeyeongyo Bridge, and check the on-site slopes, sidewalk widths, and construction conditions.

The public restroom in the annex of City Hall's First Office is listed as open from 09:00 to 18:00, with accessible toilets and a diaper-changing table registered. However, this information applies to the City Hall restroom and does not indicate facilities throughout the course. For information in foreign languages, consult both Seogwipo City Hall and the Jeju Tourism Organization tourism information pages. It is also advisable to check the trail signs together with the “Hayoung Olle” route in a map app.

• City Hall restroom hours: 09:00–18:00
• Accessible toilets in the City Hall annex: 6 registered for each men's and women's restroom
• Diaper-changing table: Registered in the women's restroom
• At night or in rainy weather: Recheck whether the coastal section is restricted before departure

Timetables for those walking the full 8.9 km and those walking only as far as Saeyeongyo Bridge

If completing the entire route is your goal, it is suitable to depart from City Hall between 9 and 10 a.m. and allow approximately 3 hours of walking time plus 30 to 60 minutes for breaks. In summer, pass through the parks and alleys before the midday heat. On days with rain in the forecast, take into account the wind around Saeseom Island and the coast as well as slippery surfaces.

If the full distance feels demanding, you can choose only part of the route by referring to information on the 6.3 km nighttime walking section centered on City Hall–Saeyeongyo Bridge. In 2023, “Light of Hayoung,” a route connecting parts of the existing Courses 1 and 2, was opened separately as a nighttime walking course of less than an hour. However, event and regular operating status may vary by season. As of August 2026, the most accurate way to obtain detailed information is to contact 064-760-2651 or the Tourism Promotion Division at 064-760-2653.

• Recommended time for the full route: Allow 3–4 hours
• If the distance is demanding: Choose a partial section centered on Saeyeongyo Bridge
• Admission: Hayoung Olle walking trail is free
• Regular closing days: No separate information available