This week on Jeju: A to Z, Todd Thacker takes a brief look at Mazeland, a theme park in Gujwa-eup featuring many natural and cultural Jeju themes ? all in the form of a fun, explorable maze.
Jeju’s volcanic landscape is spectacular and has permeated all areas of island culture, folklore, even its agriculture and architecture. In Bijarim Forest, the island’s porous, basalt volcanic rock and plant life comprise a unique, 5.3-km-long structure for you to explore.

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5.3 km of themed mazes opened in 2011

Mazeland, a theme park east of Jeju City which opened in 2011, has been lovingly put together by its owner over the course of decades.

There is a carefully planned landscape which brings together a pleasant mix of Jeju’s strengths. These include its lush vegetation, volcanic structures, water features, and of course its formidable maze, for the enjoyment of visitors and locals alike.

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Samda: Jeju’s 3 plenties of stones, wind, women

As you walk through the theme park, you’ll find it is built on the concept of Jeju’s traditional three plenties, or samda in Korean, which are stones, wind, and women.

From above you can see the park’s extensive maze modeled after these ideas ? including a gigantic stone grandfather statue, or dolhareubang, a protective figure which you can find all over the island.

The circular maze of cypress trees represents the wind, while Jeju’s women are represented in cypress and camellias by a maze in the shape of a haenyeo, or Jeju diving woman.

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Museum on site offers a fun ‘knowledge maze’

There is also a maze museum in which to learn more about the history of mazes. Visitors can try their hand at the “knowledge maze” in which your ability to answer six riddles will guide you through to the end of this indoor maze.

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Todd Thacker

And of course, after a fun days of exploration, there is the Maze Cafe and observation deck at the top of the museum building from which to rest and gaze out over this beautiful region of eastern Jeju ? Bijarim Forest, Dot (돛) volcanic cone, and much more.

Todd Thacker KCTV