This week on Jeju: A to Z, Todd Thacker takes a brief look at Seongsan Sunrise Peak and its upcoming New Year’s festival. As we’ll see now, this revered volcanic formation on the east of the island is the site of one of the nation’s most anticipated New Year’s parties.
Seongsan Sunrise Peak, as its name suggests, is the perfect place to watch the sun emerge from the sea to the east. The beautiful view makes it an especially auspicious place to ring in the New Year.

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Venue for annual year-end festivities Dec. 30 to Jan. 1

Beginning December 30th, the Seongsan Sunrise Festival will be held under the theme of “the Beginning of a New Era”. Along with local residents, visitors can sample local foods, watch a “Sunrise Parade” from 1 p.m. on the 31st, enjoy the “Seongsan Popstar” event at 2:30 and together marvel at the midnight fireworks that evening.

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www.sunrisefestival.kr

Other special New Year’s activities include having your fortune told, writing New Year’s wishes on special postcards, and watching the sun rise from atop Sunrise Peak or along the Geo-trail connecting Seongsan and Ojo-ri Village. You can find a complete list of activities for the three-day event at the festival’s website: sunrisefestival.kr.

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Named UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2007

Given its stature and domestic and international prestige, Seongsan Sunrise Peak is a popular destination year round for millions of visitors. It was designated a Natural Monument of Korea in the year 2000, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2007, and a site in the Global Geoparks Network in 2010.

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Todd Thacker

So if you’d like to get a good start on 2019 and celebrate the New Year in style ? Jeju style ? there’s no better way than heading east to the Seongsan Sunrise Festival.

Todd Thacker KCTV