A Low Hill Beside Hamdeok Beach — Walking the Seoubong Coastal Trail
a low hill trail right beside Hamdeok
Have you ever visited Hamdeok Beach and noticed a low hill rising just beside the sea? That hill is said to be Seoubong. It's described as an oreum located right next to Hamdeok Beach in Hamdeok-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, and travel reviews often mention a trail that circles the hill from end to end. Since it's not a particularly tall oreum, many say it's easy to climb without much strain, and the biggest reason people seek out this trail is said to be that it offers ocean and oreum views together the whole way around. When people think of Hamdeok, they usually picture just the white sand beach and the emerald sea, and quite a few visitors are said to pass right by without realizing there's a trail like this right next door. Today GYULI will walk through what kind of place Seoubong Coastal Trail is said to be, and why it's worth a stop while you're already in Hamdeok. I can't confidently pin down the exact course length, how long it takes to finish, or exactly when the spring flowers bloom, so I'll stick to passing along what's said about it as honestly as I can.
Where exactly is Seoubong Coastal Trail?
Seoubong is said to be an oreum located right next to Hamdeok Beach in Hamdeok-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City. It's often noted as an oreum that meets the sea directly, and the trail is said to be laid out along the hill's slope, circling all the way around. It's said to have several entrances — one leading up directly from the Hamdeok Beach side, and another starting from the village on the opposite side — and which one you use is said to change the scenery you meet first. Compared to other oreum, it's often described as one of the shorter, lower ones, so many reviews say it feels more like a walk than a climb. Because of that, it's often introduced as a course that first-timers to oreum trekking or families with kids can walk without much strain. That said, descriptions of the course layout and entrances vary a bit by source, so rather than pinning it down to one version, it seems right to pass along the range of what's said.
Walking with the ocean and the oreum in view the whole way
The biggest draw of Seoubong Coastal Trail is, unsurprisingly, the view. Walking along the hill's slope, you get the Hamdeok sea opening up wide on one side, and turning your head slightly brings the oreum ridge and green grassland into view on the other, according to many accounts. On clear days, the emerald color of the sea is said to look especially vivid, and reviews mentioning this come up often. In spring, it's sometimes introduced alongside canola flowers or barley fields, but exactly when they bloom and fade is said to shift from year to year depending on the weather and temperature, so I'll be careful not to pin down a specific season. It's probably safer to check the latest information for that time of year before you go. Several spots along the trail are said to be introduced as good photo points, where the ocean and the oreum can be framed together, and it's said that visitors with cameras often stop there. The hill is said to be a fairly windy spot, so it's worth bringing a light jacket for the walk.
Turn your head from the sea and there's the oreum; turn again from the oreum and the sea is there once more, it's said.
— 🍊 GYULIWhy it's a good easy walk while you're already in Hamdeok
Seoubong Coastal Trail is said to be known as an easy walk mainly because, for an oreum, the slope is described as gentle and continuous. Rather than a steep hiking path, many reviews describe it as closer to a stroll where you can glance at the ocean at a relaxed pace. The exact total course length or how long it takes to finish is said to vary a bit by source, so I can't confidently claim that a given amount of time will be enough. Some are said to walk just the scenic stretch and head back down, while others go all the way around the hill, so it's best to choose your course based on how you're feeling that day and your schedule. Because Hamdeok Beach is right next door, it's often introduced as a course where you can enjoy swimming and walking in one trip. Restrooms and convenience stores are said to be clustered on the beach side, so it's worth taking care of what you need before heading up into the hill. Walking early in the morning or around sunset rather than in the heat of midday is often said to be far more pleasant, and at sunset you can reportedly also catch the sea turning red. That said, the slope path is said to get slippery on windy or rainy days, so it's safer to check the weather before you go.
GYULI's Tip · Course length, walking time, and even the timing of the spring flowers on Seoubong Coastal Trail are said to vary a bit by source, so check the latest information before you go and give yourself plenty of time. It's a windy hill, so bring a light jacket, and the slope path can get slippery when wet, so wear comfortable shoes.