Moving closer to the ocean along Sanbangsan Mountain, a rugged cliff resembling a dragon plunging into the sea comes into view.

Yongmeorihaean Coast is the oldest hydro volcanic formations in Jeju. Volcanic ashes erupted from craters, forming different colors and slopes. Layers of sandstone were stacked for tens of millions of years, forming the peculiar undulating cliffs. They were born after the numberless times of the waves bumping against and wearing off the cooled lava.

Legend has it that Yongmeorihaean Coast symbolized the spirit of an emperor destined to rule the world. Upon learning this, the Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang dispatched a man named Hojongdan to sever the dragon’s head. Arriving at the coast, Hojongdan cut off the tail of the dragon, and then attempted to strike its head. As he moved forward, red blood rose, and the mountain began to weep, the tears flowing for days afterward.

These magnificent stretch of cliffs have also served as the backdrop for commercials and movies. It takes only about 30 minutes to take a walk around, but exploring in darkness or a bad weather might be dangerous, so it is advisable to check conditions beforehand.