Before They Could Climb Hallasan's Summit, Governors Prayed to the Mountain God Right Here

When people think of Jeju, oreum, black pork, and turquoise water usually come to mind first. But surprisingly few visitors know about the people who once poured their hearts out toward Hallasan itself, from far below its peak. In the Joseon dynasty, when reaching the summit of Hallasan was no easy feat, the mokssa — the governor who ruled Jeju — is said to have held rites to the mountain god not at the peak, but right here. This is Sancheondan, located in Ara-dong, Jeju City. It's not the kind of place that jumps out at you like a flashy tourist spot, but standing beneath its centuries-old trees, you can quietly imagine the devotion of people long ago — and that's exactly why I wanted to share this story with you today. Today GYULI wants to walk you through Sancheondan, and the old gomsol pine trees that have stood watch over this place ever since.

Sancheondan, Where Rites Were Held for the Hallasan Mountain God

Sancheondan is said to sit at the foot of Hallasan, in Ara-dong, Jeju City. In the Joseon dynasty, climbing to the summit of Hallasan was reportedly no simple matter — the mountain trails were steep, the journey took a long time, and the risks were considerable. Holding a rite for the nation's peace and the people's wellbeing at the summit itself, every single time, likely wasn't realistic. So instead, the governor of Jeju is said to have held rites to the mountain god of Hallasan right here at Sancheondan. I'd rather not state the exact year this practice began — that's not something I want to pin down here. What does seem clear is that, throughout the Joseon dynasty, this site is said to have long served as the place where Jeju's governors held rites to the Hallasan mountain god.

🍊 More Photos, via GYULI

Why Here, at the Foot of the Mountain?

Sancheondan sits at a far lower elevation than Hallasan's summit, and is said to be not far at all from what is now downtown Jeju City. Even today, you can reportedly reach it easily enough by following Road 516, which suggests this accessible spot may have been chosen precisely because it could stand in for the difficult journey to the summit. Considering that the Hallasan mountain rite was an important state ceremony held to pray for the wellbeing of the entire nation, it makes sense that a spot within reach of the mountain's presence — yet still manageable to travel to — would have been the natural choice, rather than risking the climb to the peak every single time. That said, there's no document laying out precisely why this exact site was chosen, so I'd rather pass this along carefully as simply 'the story that's told.'

Centuries-Old Gomsol Pines, Still Standing Here

The first thing that catches your eye at Sancheondan is probably the large gomsol — old-growth pine trees — that surround the site. Gomsol, sometimes called black pine, are the trees standing at Sancheondan, and they're said to have stood watch over this place for centuries. I'd rather not state an exact figure for their age here — that's not something I want to pin down. But standing beneath trees that have quietly witnessed generations of people praying to the mountain god at this very spot, you can feel the weight of that time in your own body — and I've always loved that idea. Because these trees are so old, they're said to be under special protection and care, which makes Sancheondan feel like a place built up over time from trees, ritual, and human devotion, all layered together.

As a visitor to Jeju, it's only natural for your eyes to go first to the dramatic oreum and coastal views. But once you know that, tucked into that scenery, a quiet site remains where people once poured out their most urgent hopes because they couldn't reach the summit, Hallasan might start to look a little different to you. Standing for a moment in the shade of those great gomsol pines, take a second to imagine the hearts of the people who once prayed skyward right here. If you have the time, GYULI recommends stopping by Sancheondan in Ara-dong, Jeju City, and taking in that old story slowly.

🍊 Real Photos, via GYULI