From Siheung to Gwangchigi — Give Jeju Olle Route 1 a Walk

A lot of people visiting Jeju want to walk at least one section of the Olle Trail, and among all the routes, Route 1 is said to carry a bit of special meaning. As the name suggests, it's said to be the very first course ever created among all the Jeju Olle routes. If Route 7, which GYULI introduced earlier, followed the southern Seogwipo coast past Oedolgae and Beophwan Port, Route 1 heads in a completely different direction. It's said to start in Siheung-ri, Seongsan-eup, on Jeju's eastern side, and run all the way to Gwangchigi Beach, and it's often said that this eastern village was where Jeju Olle first began. Today GYULI will go through what kind of route Olle Route 1 is said to be, and why it's considered the starting point of Jeju Olle. That said, I'll be careful not to confidently pin down the exact total distance or how long it takes to finish, so I'll stick to passing along what's said about it as honestly as I can.

From Siheung-ri to Gwangchigi — what the route looks like

Olle Route 1 is said to begin inside the village of Siheung-ri, Seongsan-eup. Many reviews mention how striking it is that the route starts in a quiet farming village, and once you leave the village, the path is said to run through scenery typical of eastern Jeju — low oreum and stone-walled fields (batdam) one after another. As you walk along, Seongsan Ilchulbong is said to gradually draw closer, and the biggest feature of this course is often described as keeping Seongsan Ilchulbong in view for a long stretch. The endpoint is usually described as Gwangchigi Beach, though sources sometimes describe the detailed path or midpoint slightly differently, so I'll be careful not to settle on just one version. What does come up consistently, though, is that it's a course that starts amid eastern Jeju village scenery, walks with Seongsan Ilchulbong in sight, and finishes at the beach — and that it carries the symbolic number 1 among all the Jeju Olle routes.

A path that keeps Seongsan Ilchulbong close

The biggest draw of Olle Route 1 is, unsurprisingly, walking with Seongsan Ilchulbong in view. If Route 7, introduced earlier, was a path that kept the sound of waves close along the Seogwipo coast, Route 1 is said to be a course that winds through the gentle oreum and stone-walled fields typical of eastern Jeju while Seongsan Ilchulbong gradually grows larger in view. The sea, oreum, and village scenery are said to appear in turn, and reviews often mention that this variety feels richer than a route with just one kind of view. That said, the exact total distance and how long it takes to finish are said to vary depending on your pace and where you stop to rest, so I can't confidently claim that a given amount of time will be enough. Some people are said to walk just part of the route and turn back, while others clear out a whole day to walk it start to finish, so it's best to pick your section based on your own stamina and that day's schedule. Since the route mixes village and oreum sections, shaded and unshaded stretches are said to alternate, so bringing plenty of water and a hat is worth doing in summer.

🍊 More Photos, via GYULI

Why it's known as the first course of Jeju Olle

One reason Olle Route 1 came to be the first course of Jeju Olle is said to be that it captures a good cross-section of eastern Jeju scenery in a single route. Village paths, stone-walled fields, oreum, and coastline all connect within one course, and that variety is often said to give even first-time Olle walkers a real sense of what Jeju is like. If Route 7, introduced earlier, ran along the southern Seogwipo coast, Route 1 is worth noting as a completely different course in both direction and region — the Seongsan area on Jeju's eastern side. The difficulty is also said to vary depending on the section and your condition that day, so it's safer to treat it as a reference rather than assuming it's an easy course. Restrooms and other facilities are said to be available around Siheung-ri village and near Gwangchigi Beach, but facilities are said to be sparse in the middle stretch, so it's worth preparing ahead. Many reviews say the Olle Trail's ribbon and arrow markers make it unlikely to lose your way, but for the exact route or any recent detours, checking the latest official guide before you go is said to be the surest bet. Whether walking alone, with family, or with friends, it's described as a course each person can walk at their own pace, so if you're just starting out on Jeju Olle, starting with this Route 1 is said to be a good way to begin.

🍊 Real Photos, via GYULI