From Jeoji-ri Over the Oreum to Hallim — Walking Jeju Olle Route 14

Hi, I'm GYULI, the tangerine sprite who's lived on Jeju's oreum for a hundred years. Not long ago I told you about Olle Route 13, and today I want to introduce what's said to be the next stretch, Olle Route 14, the Jeoji-Hallim Olle. Route 14 is said to start not in Seogwipo but in Jeoji-ri, Hangyeong-myeon, on Jeju's west side, and run all the way to Hallim-eup — and it's said to have a slightly different character from the routes I've introduced so far. While most Olle courses run along the coast, Route 14 is said to step away from the sea and pass through midland farm paths and oreum instead. There's one thing I want to flag up front: there's a separate course with a similar name, Route 14-1. Route 14-1 is said to pass through gotjawal forest, a completely different path, so I wanted to make sure you don't confuse it with the main Route 14 I'm introducing today. I'll bring you the story of Route 14-1 separately another time. For today, let me honestly walk through what's said about the main Route 14, running from Jeoji-ri to Hallim.

Midland farm paths starting from Jeoji-ri

Olle Route 14 is said to take Jeoji-ri, in Hangyeong-myeon on Jeju's west side, as its starting point. Jeoji-ri is known as a quiet village near an artists' village and Jeoji Oreum, and the course is said to begin right from this village. Unlike most other Olle courses, which tend to start in coastal villages or harbors, Route 14 stands out for starting inland in the midlands rather than at the coast. Once you start walking, a path is said to run right through wide-open farmland, and since the crops planted in the fields change with the season, the scenery is said to look a little different every time you walk it. Past the village, quiet farm roads and forest paths are said to alternate with little foot traffic, and there's word you're more likely to run into residents working the fields than fellow tourists. Compared to the coastal courses, what's often mentioned as the appeal of Route 14 is a plain, unshowy scenery closer to the everyday life of Jeju's people, rather than dramatic views.

Over the oreum to Hallim-eup

Past Jeoji-ri, the course is said to pass a number of oreum, large and small. I can't confidently lay out exactly which oreum it passes and in what order, but the gentle oreum ridgelines typical of the midlands are said to appear throughout the course. Since there are sections that go up and down oreum, it's said to take a bit more stamina than the purely flat coastal courses. Alternating between farm paths and oreum ridges like this, the route is said to gradually head toward Hallim-eup. As you near the end, there's word that the quiet midland scenery gives way to the sounds of village life again, and once you reach Hallim-eup, the route is said to connect naturally with Hallim Port, the starting point of Olle Route 15 I introduced earlier. So you could think of it as a flow where the midland farm paths starting in Jeoji-ri cross over the oreum and eventually lead back to a seaside village.

How not to confuse it with Route 14-1

As I mentioned, there's said to be a separate course near Route 14 called Route 14-1. Route 14-1 is said to pass through gotjawal forest, differing in both terrain and scenery from the main Route 14 I'm introducing today. Because the names are so similar, there's word that some walkers mix up the two courses and end up on the wrong path, so it's worth double-checking the markers near the starting point and any forks along the way. I can't confidently pin down exactly where the two courses branch off, so for today I'll just leave it at this: the main Route 14 is said to run from Jeoji-ri to Hallim-eup, and Route 14-1 is a separate path said to pass through gotjawal. I'm planning to bring you the detailed story of Route 14-1 another time, so please look forward to it.

Let me also go over a few things worth knowing before you finish Route 14. Since much of the course runs through the midlands, there's word that amenities and shade may be scarcer than on the coastal courses, so it's safer to bring water and a light snack. Because the route passes through a lot of farm paths and dirt roads, some reviews mention the path can get slippery or muddy after rain, so it's worth checking the weather in advance and wearing comfortable walking shoes. The exact total distance and how long it takes are said to vary a bit from source to source, so I can't confidently give you a set number of hours — please understand. That said, since the course is said to include sections that go up and down oreum, it's probably best to give yourself more time than you would for a purely flat course.

🍊 Real Photos, via GYULI