This week on Jeju: A to Z, Todd Thacker takes a brief look at Hallim Park, a very popular tourist destination on the island’s northwest coast which, as we’ll see now, has a fascinating origin story.

As the days grow longer and Jeju is bathed in warm sunlight, the first blossoms are now beginning to appear around the island.

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Hyeopjae-ri, Hallim-eup

One such oasis is Hallim Park, about a 40-minute drive from Jeju City. Located along the northwest coast at Hyeopjae village, it is on the “to see” list of many of Jeju’s visitors.

In fact, it attracts upwards of a million people every year ? and for a very good reason.

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Includes botanic and bonsai gardens, lava caves, folk village

This 32-hectare privately-owned park has nine different attractions. These include a subtropical botanic garden, a bonsai garden, two lava and limestone caves, a folk village, and more.

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Song Bong-gyu cultivated the sandy soil from the 1970s

Interestingly, when Hallim Park was first imagined in the 1970s as a potential source of revenue for the region by its founder Mr.Song Bong-gyu, this part of the island was very sandy and covered in thorn bushes.

Mr. Song’s family and friends all tried to dissuade him from sinking his life’s savings into the desert-like region. But his first 15 years of hardscrabble effort and “frontier spirit” paid off handsomely, first opening to the public in 1987.

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www.hallimpark.co.kr

Today it is much larger than its first iteration. Visitors need at least a couple of hours to appreciate the entire park. For hours and ticket prices, please consult the park’s website.

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Todd Thacker

Mr. Song, who is now in his late eighties, has parlayed his success into many philanthropic ventures. It’s heartwarming to know that his altruistic dream for Hallim Park to become a popular, and profitable, Jeju destination has become a reality.

Todd Thacker KCTV