Jeju Province, Special self-governing province in South Korea
Jeju Province encompasses the main island and 62 smaller islets scattered across the Korea Strait, with the volcanic peak of Hallasan reaching 1,950 meters (6,398 feet) above sea level. The region functions as an autonomous administrative unit comprising two cities, Jeju-si in the north and Seogwipo in the south, surrounded by coastal zones, lava caves and forested slopes.
The Tamna Kingdom arose here several millennia ago and later became a tributary state to mainland Korean dynasties before evolving into the current administrative unit. In 2006 the region received special autonomous status granting it extended powers separate from central government control.
Female sea divers known as haenyeo harvest seafood without breathing equipment, carrying forward a centuries-old tradition rooted in the island's matriarchal heritage. Their work and distinctive whistling sound when surfacing remain part of everyday coastal life and belong to intangible cultural heritage.
The two city centers in the north and south serve as starting points for trips to coastal sections, volcanic formations and waterfalls scattered across the interior. Many sites lie outside town centers and require rental cars or local buses to reach them.
The island holds over 300 parasitic cones formed by past eruptions that now appear as grass-covered hillocks along coasts and inland areas. Some of these craters have been flooded by the sea and form small sheltered coves.
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