Cheonjiyeon Falls

A waterfall pouring from 22m against a screen of dense subtropical forest — this is Cheonjiyeon Falls in Seogwipo.

True to its name, "the pond where sky and earth meet," the water falling from the cliff gathers into a deep, dark-blue pool with a mysterious beauty. The valley leading to the falls is thick with warm-temperate evergreens such as Elaeocarpus, and the whole forest is protected as a natural monument.

The pool is also known as a habitat for the giant mottled eel, itself a natural monument, so it's not only the falls but the entire surrounding ecosystem that is recognized as worth preserving.

For Koreans, Cheonjiyeon is a signature Seogwipo attraction and, of Jeju's three great waterfalls (Cheonjiyeon, Cheonjeyeon, Jeongbang), the most accessible — the one tourists visit first.

Honestly, though, you can't get right up to the falls; you view them from a deck, and the flow is at its fullest after rain (it can be thin in dry spells).

The flat path from the entrance to the falls takes only 20-30 minutes round trip, and visiting during the lit-up evening hours offers a mood entirely different from daytime.

Hours are 09:00-22:00 (last entry 21:20), open year-round, and there is an admission fee (please confirm before visiting).