Cheonggulmul Spring
The village where Cheonggulmul is located is called Cheongsu-dong, but its original name was Cheonggul-dong.
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Cheonggulmul is a natural spring that emerges from underground beneath a lava plateau.
Below the volcanic terrain lies a layer of clay that doesn’t allow water to seep through easily. Because of this, rainwater that falls on the surface cannot penetrate deeply and instead reappears near the coastline as spring water.
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Along the Gimnyeong Coast of Jeju, there are several such freshwater springs, but Cheonggulmul is especially famous for its cold, refreshing water. In the past, during the summer, people used to stay for two or three days here, believing the water had healing properties.
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When you visit Gimnyeong Village in Jeju, you’ll find many natural springs.
Among them, the one with the largest flow was surrounded by stone walls and used as an open-air bath.
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The area was once called Cheonggul-dong, which is why this spring is named Cheonggulmul.
Since the name was already well known, there was probably no need to change it—but perhaps there was a reason known only to the locals.
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Cheonggulmul is incredibly clear and beautiful, but seeing a discarded Cass beer can resting at the bottom made me a little sad.
It had sunk too deep for me to reach and remove it.
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I was curious whether it was truly freshwater, so I took a tiny sip—indeed, it was!
If you visit in summer, it’s a great spot to dip your feet and cool off for a moment.
Long ago, I can imagine Jeju’s haenyeo (female divers) stopping by here after finishing their work at sea, relaxing their tired bodies in the cool spring water.
The spring is divided into two pools—one for men and the other for women.
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Cheonggulmul isn’t visible all the time.
Since tourists usually can’t control the tide schedule, it might be hard to time your visit perfectly—but if you want to actually see and taste the spring water, you should visit during low tide.
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If you go during high tide, you’ll only see the wide blue ocean instead.
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This area is part of a community-managed fishing ground, licensed and operated under the Fisheries Act by the Gimnyeong Fishing Village Cooperative.
Entering the area and collecting sea products such as abalone or turban shells without permission is prohibited and can lead to penalties under local laws.
— From the Gimnyeong Fishing Village Cooperative
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The village is peaceful, with nothing but the wind passing through.
Even though the wind blows strong, the stone walls stand firm and unmoved.
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I wandered through the narrow alleys, admired the walls, and even found myself turning back from a few dead-end paths marked with “No Road” signs.
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Bongji-dong in Gimnyeong Village felt quiet, clean, charming, and full of that distinct Jeju atmosphere.
It’s the kind of place that remains perfect—as long as tourists like us don’t cause trouble.
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There’s another hidden attraction in Bongji-dong:
You can walk along a sea path that appears only during low tide.
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When I visited during ebb tide, I was able to walk all the way out along this temporary seaside path.
I thought something special might appear at the end, but it simply led me to the middle of the sea.
From there, I could look back and see the land—a view that felt truly unique.
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It’s a magical place where you can literally walk into the clear blue sea of Jeju, so be sure to check the tide schedule before you go.
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From afar, I could see the wind turbines of Gimnyeong Beach turning slowly in the breeze.
Along the village roads, flowers were blooming, and next to the colorful spring blossoms stood cacti, thriving in the volcanic soil.
Some tropical plants even bore strange fruit-like flowers that looked almost like small potatoes.
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I feel grateful that our country has such a beautiful island—Jeju.
Even if I can’t come often, every visit brings a deep sense of peace.
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And truly, what a fitting name it is—
Jeju Island.