Everyone's just snapping photos at the filming spot? I'm climbing up to the lighthouse first

On the eastern coast of Jeju's Seongsan-eup sits a hill called Seopjikoji. 'Koji' is said to be a Jeju dialect word for a headland — a piece of land jutting out toward the sea — and true to its name, Seopjikoji is known as a hill that slopes gently down toward the waters off Seongsan. Unlike many of Jeju's volcanic oreum, it doesn't rise into a sharp peak; instead, it's said to take the shape of a wide green field that gradually lowers toward the sea before dropping off into a cliff. A big part of why this place became known nationwide is reportedly tied to its reputation as a filming location for numerous dramas and movies, though exactly which productions were shot here and when tends to be described differently depending on the source, so this piece won't single out any specific title. What does come up again and again in reviews, though, is how many visitors say the scenery feels oddly familiar, as if they'd already seen it on screen. Today, GYULI is taking a slow look at the hill, the lighthouse, and the fields behind that fame.

A Hill Where Canola Fields and Green Grass Meet the Sea

Many say Seopjikoji's biggest draw is the wide field that covers the entire hill. Come spring, canola flowers are said to bloom yellow across the field, creating a three-way contrast between yellow blossoms, green grass, and blue sea. The peak bloom period reportedly shifts a little each year depending on the weather, so if you're curious about the exact timing, it's worth checking the latest updates before you visit. Even after the canola flowers fade, the open, sweeping feel of the green field itself is said to keep drawing visitors year-round. Walking the trail that runs through the field, Seongsan Ilchulbong comes into view on one side and the open sea on the other, according to many accounts — and because of the hill's shape, the view is said to shift slightly with every step, which is one reason people end up walking Seopjikoji longer than they planned.

Whether this field looked this way before people ever set foot here, or whether it was shaped over the years as pastureland or farmland, is a point where sources tend to differ a bit. What does seem certain, though, is that many say it's precisely because this isn't some elaborately landscaped garden, but a field that grew up facing Jeju's wind and sun as they are, that makes the place feel special. On especially windy days, the grass across the field is said to lie down and rise back up like waves, and more than a few visitors mention that the sight echoes the actual waves in the sea right beside it.

The Red Lighthouse Atop the Hill: Hyeopja-yeondae

At the highest point of the Seopjikoji hill stands a reddish, lighthouse-shaped structure, according to what's known. Also referred to as Hyeopja-yeondae, this spot is said to have originally been the site of a yeondae — an old signal station once used to watch for invaders and relay urgent news by beacon fire. The red lighthouse-shaped structure standing there today is said to have been built on top of that historic site, though exactly when it was built or how large the original yeondae was tends to be described a little differently across sources, so this piece won't state it definitively. Still, with its bright red set against the green field and blue sea, it's easy to see why many describe it as the first image that comes to mind when they think of Seopjikoji.

Climb up to where the lighthouse stands and you're met with a sweeping, open view in every direction, they say. On one side, sheer coastal cliffs with waves breaking below; on the other, the rounded silhouette of Seongsan Ilchulbong — both are frequently mentioned in accounts of the view. On clear days, some say you can even make out Udo in the distance, though how far you can see depends on visibility and weather that day, so take that as a rough guide. Around sunrise or sunset, the lighthouse and sky are said to turn red together, drawing a steady stream of visitors at both ends of the day.

How It Became a Famous Filming Spot, and Its Distance from Sinyang-Seopji Beach

One story that comes up again and again in explaining how Seopjikoji became known nationwide is its reputation as a filming location for numerous dramas and movies. It's easy to guess why: a frame that fits the hill, the lighthouse, and the open sea together in one shot makes for compelling footage. But exactly which production featured it and how isn't something this piece is going to spell out. What's worth noting instead is that whether people came specifically because they'd heard it was a filming spot, or stumbled onto it with no idea beforehand, they tend to leave saying the scenery itself is what won them over.

Just below Seopjikoji, along the coast, sits Sinyang-Seopji Beach, according to what's known. It's a beach often recommended for beginner surfers and families thanks to its calm water, a story already covered elsewhere on this site, so today's piece won't go into it in detail. What's worth mentioning here, though, is that many visitors reportedly take their time on the hill with the lighthouse and fields first, then walk or drive the short distance down to the beach afterward. Listening to the waves break below the hill, then dipping your feet into that same water down at the beach, is said to be one way people fill out a day around Seopjikoji.

In the end, many describe Seopjikoji as a place remembered less for having appeared on screen and more for the terrain itself — the hill, the lighthouse, the fields, and the sea coming together as one. Rather than snapping a few photos and rushing off, GYULI would recommend taking a slow walk along the trail through the fields and letting the wind and the view settle in.

🍊 Real Photos, via GYULI