Oedolgae, Rock formation on the coast of Seogwipo, Jeju, South Korea
Oedolgae is a freestanding basalt sea stack on the coast of Seogwipo, on Jeju Island, South Korea. It rises about 20 meters (65 ft) out of the sea, and a small cluster of pine trees grows on its flat top.
The rock formed through volcanic activity around 1.5 million years ago and has been shaped ever since by wave erosion. A legend from the Goryeo period says that General Choe Yeong dressed the rock to look like a soldier in order to mislead Mongolian forces on the island.
The name Oedolgae means "lonely rock" in Korean, which matches exactly what you see when you arrive. The rock marks the start of Jeju Olle Trail Route 7, and many walkers stop here before continuing along the coast.
The rock is easy to see and reach on foot from a coastal path. Mornings tend to be quieter, while the area gets busier around sunset when the light on the rock is most dramatic.
The rock has a second local name, Halmeoni Bawi, meaning grandmother rock, from a story about a woman who waited on the shore for her husband who never returned from the sea. This name and the general legend exist side by side, giving the same stone two completely different identities.
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