Encircled by a ring of 99 jagged rocks resembling a larger than life crown (fitting for what has come to be known as the crown jewel of Jeju), the Seongsan Sunrise Peak is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that doubles as one of the world’s most famous geographical features.
Known in Korean as Seongsan Ilchulbong, the peak gets its name from its two most prominent features: in Korean, Seongsan is used to refer to a hill resembling a castle, while an ilchulbong is any high point that offers picturesque sunrise views – thus, Seongsan Ilchulbong was born.
While any visit is sure to linger with you forever, the most special time to visit Seongsan is on New Year’s Day; large crowds gather on the peak to witness the first sunrise of the year together, as it is said that the first people to glimpse the sun are granted good luck for the coming year.
Regardless of when you make the journey, no visit to the island of Jeju is complete without a visit to this one-of-a-kind crater.