From Mureung to Yongsu, Walk the Coastal Road Where Windmills Turn

If you've been walking Jeju's Olle routes one by one, you've probably heard the name Route 12 at some point. It's said to run from Mureung-ri in Daejeong-eup all the way to Yongsu-ri in Hangyeong-myeon. Judging by the name alone, it might sound like an ordinary stretch connecting one village to another, but it's often introduced as a route where the scenic west coast of Jeju meets a wind turbine landscape said to be especially notable in this area. What GYULI wants to share today is the story of this Mureung-Yongsu Olle, Route 12, and what kind of path it's said to be. Rather than pinning down the exact distance or how long it takes, I'll carefully walk through what kind of scenery this route is said to hold, focusing on the journey itself.

From Mureung-ri to Yongsu-ri, how does Route 12 unfold?

Olle Route 12 is said to begin somewhere near the entrance to a village in Mureung-ri. The starting point alone looks like an unremarkable, quiet farming village, but as you walk on, it's said that farm paths, forest trails, and coastal roads take turns. Some Jeju Olle routes are said to stay by the sea from start to finish, while others run mostly through oreum or forest, and Route 12 is often introduced as a course where the two are mixed in fair measure. Leaving Mureung-ri, there's said to be a stretch of narrow path running between stone field walls, and afterward, once you pass a few small coastal villages and harbors, the route is said to settle into a stretch that hugs the coastline in earnest. Once you enter this coastal section, many reviews mention the wide-open scenery unique to Jeju's west coast unfolding before you. There's also word that the order in which the scenery appears can differ depending on which direction you walk, so it doesn't seem to matter much whether you start from Mureung-ri or walk the route in reverse from Yongsu-ri.

Wind turbines lining the coastal stretch

One reason Route 12 is said to come up more often than other Olle sections is its wind turbine scenery. Walking the coastal stretch as it nears Yongsu-ri, you're said to be able to see several white wind turbines standing in a row against the sea. Wind turbines are said to be scattered across many parts of Jeju, but a spot like this one, where the sea, coastal cliffs, and wind turbines all come together in a single view, is said to be fairly rare. On clear days, there's said to be a view stretching all the way to the horizon beyond the turbines, and on windy days, the same stretch is said to take on a different mood altogether. The scenery is also said to feel different depending on the time of day you walk it, with word that quite a few people choose to walk this stretch around sunset in particular. That said, I'd rather not pin down exactly what hour looks best, since that's said to vary with the season and the day's weather — best to keep that in mind only as a general guide. Catching the sound of waves alongside the slow turn of the giant blades out of the corner of your eye is also said to be one of the impressions people mention most often about this course.

Good to know before walking the Mureung-Yongsu Olle

If you're planning to walk Route 12, there are a few things said to be worth knowing beforehand. Since it's a route with a large coastal share, shade is said to be limited, so it's worth packing a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water depending on the season. It's also said to be a windy stretch, so a light jacket to block the wind could come in handy. There are said to be small villages and harbors along the way where you can rest for a moment, but this isn't said to be a stretch lined with proper restaurants, so it's safer to bring a light snack of your own. I'd rather not state the exact course distance or how long it takes to finish here, since that's said to vary a lot depending on your pace and how often you stop to rest — it's worth setting off with plenty of time to spare. Yongsu-ri, at the endpoint, is said to be a quiet harbor village, and it's said to hold its own separate stories, which GYULI hopes to share in more detail another time. For today, I'd recommend focusing on the coastal scenery and wind turbine views that Route 12 itself has to offer.

🍊 Real Photos, via GYULI