Seopjikoji

A striking coastal spot where the land juts sharply out to sea — this is Seopjikoji.

"Koji" is Jeju dialect for a cape, and the name comes from the way the coastline at Sinyang-ri, Seongsan-eup, in Seogwipo juts out like the tip of a nose. Atop the wide, flat hill stands Hyeopja Yeondae, an old stone beacon mound once used to light signal fires, preserved in relatively original form — a piece of history you can see alongside the scenery.

The peak rising northeast of the beacon mound is called Bureun Oreum ("Red Hill"), made of reddish volcanic ash known locally as songi, with a white lighthouse standing at its summit. The combination of yellow canola fields, the red-tinted hill, the white lighthouse, and the blue sky and sea is what gives Seopjikoji its distinctly exotic charm.

Steel steps make the climb to the lighthouse easy, and standing at its railing opens up the full coastal panorama of Seopjikoji before you.

Honestly, though, the location can be a bit confusing for first-time visitors to find, so it's worth entering the exact destination into your navigation app before heading out.

Canola flowers peak in March and April, so visiting then rewards you with a far more vivid landscape; it's open at all times and free.