Jeju Eoseungsaengak Japanese Cave Fortification, Registered cultural property in Nohyeong, Jeju, South Korea
The Jeju Eoseungsaengak Japanese Cave Fortification is a registered cultural property of the Republic of Korea located in Nohyeong, on the island of Jeju. It consists of a network of tunnels dug into the slopes of Eoseungsaengak, a small volcanic cone also known as Eoseungsaeng Oreum, which rises to around 350 meters (1,150 ft).
The tunnels were built during the Japanese colonial period in the first half of the 20th century as military shelters intended to protect soldiers in the event of an Allied invasion. No attack on Jeju ever took place, so the fortifications were never used in combat.
The site on Eoseungsaengak is a place where visitors can walk through tunnels and feel how Jeju was once prepared for a war that never came. The mountain is sometimes called "Little Hallasan" by locals because of its views toward the larger peak nearby.
Sturdy shoes are a good idea, as the ground inside the tunnels can be uneven, and a flashlight may help since lighting is limited in some sections. The walk up to the summit takes around 30 minutes on a trail that is short but fairly steep.
Although the tunnels were carved into the rock by hand, the tool marks on the walls are still visible today, offering a direct trace of how the work was done. A small crater lake forms at the top of the mountain during rainy seasons and hides among the trees, easy to miss if you are not looking for it.
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