From Keuneong's Cliffs to the Wimi Camellia Grove: A Winter Walk in Namwon

Namwon lies south of Pyoseon on Seogwipo's eastern shore, a little over an hour from Seongsan on the 201 bus. On the sea side is Keuneong, a grass path along the top of 30 m cliffs; inland is the Wimi camellia grove, a wall of trees one woman planted more than a century ago to break the sea wind. The two are 3.7 km apart on Olle Route 5, which makes them an easy walk to link, and from December to February this is the reddest half-day on the east side of the island.

Keuneong scenic coast

"Eong" is the Jeju word for a rocky bluff. The path starts beside Namwon Port and runs about 2 km along a grassy shelf on top of basalt cliffs some 30 m high and 200 m long, with a viewpoint, toilets and two natural caves. It is free, always open, and dogs are welcome on a lead of 2 m or less (as of October 2026). About halfway along, the branches close over the path like a tunnel; this is the photograph everyone comes for. Face the sea from inside the tunnel and the gap in the branches takes the shape of the Korean peninsula. The tourism office also points out a rock it calls the Indian chief's face nearby. Rocks beyond the marker stone are dangerous, so stay on the marked path and do not climb down to the fishing ledges. Park at the Keuneong entrance.

The Wimi camellia grove

The camellia forest inside Wimi village belongs to the story of Hyeon Maeng-chun, born in 1858. She married into Wimi at seventeen, gathered seaweed and hired herself out until she had saved 35 nyang, bought a patch of wasteland and sowed camellia seeds from Mount Halla to break the sea wind. Villagers still call it "Grandmother Beodeuk's camellia wood". Today 564 trees 10 to 12 m tall stand like a rampart. It was Jeju Monument No. 39 from 1982 and was relisted in 2024 as a Jeju Special Self-Governing Province natural heritage site. There is no fee, but part of the grove is private, so stay outside the walls and leave the flowers. As native camellia it flowers from late autumn to early spring and peaks from mid-January to early February. The Jeju Camellia Arboretum next door is a separate paid garden of sasanqua (check the fee on site); do not mix them up. The cafe Warangwarang beside the grove is known for yuzu-like yeonggyul tea and grilled rice cake and closes on Wednesdays.

Camellia spots compared

• Wimi camellia grove — Free, native camellia, January to February. The quickest stop.
• Camellia Forest, Sillye-ri — Open daily from November to the end of February, 9:00 to 18:00 (last entry 17:00). Adults 7,000 won, teens and seniors 5,000 won, 30% off for Jeju residents, free parking, dogs under 15 kg allowed. Sasanqua peaks from late December through January, and the grounds are groomed for photographs (as of October 2026).
• Hueree Nature Park — Adults 13,000 won, teens 11,000 won, children 10,000 won. Last entry 16:30 in winter, open every day. Its camellia festival runs each December and January, but the 2026-27 dates had not been announced. Expensive if you only want camellias; right if you are spending a day with children and the animal feeding.

Linking it with Olle Route 5

Route 5 runs 13.4 km from Namwon Port to Soesokkak bridge, 4 to 5 hours, medium difficulty. It is sea-and-village walking with no volcanic cones, which makes it comfortable in winter. Keuneong's entrance is at 1.2 km, the fisheries institute at 4.2 km, the Wimi grove at 4.9 km, Mangjang Port at 11.5 km and Soesokkak bridge at 13.4 km. The official Jeju Olle information centre at Namwon Port sells passports and stamps them, open 8:30 to 17:00 with a lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00 and closed on Lunar New Year and Chuseok day. The finish, Soesokkak, is a lava gorge meeting the sea, with guides on duty from 10:00 to 17:00. Lunch on the route is around Wimi harbour or the raw-fish soup at Gongcheonpo. If you are not walking the whole route, the 4.9 km from Namwon Port to the Wimi grove, then the 201 back, is the best half-day.

Getting there from Seongsan

From the house it is about 30 km and 30 minutes by car. By bus, take the 201 towards Seogwipo and get off at the Namwon Sports Centre or Namwon Chwirakgujo stop, about 350 m from the Keuneong entrance. Allow a little over an hour from Seongsan and check times on Kakao Map. For the Wimi grove, stay on the same 201 to the Dongbaek Arboretum stop; on foot from Keuneong it is about an hour on the Olle path. Namwon call taxi is 064-764-9191 (as of October 2026). Coming from Pyoseon, you can stop at Seongeup Folk Village and Pyoseon Beach on the way.