This week on Jeju: A to Z, Todd Thacker takes a brief look at one of Jeju’s must-shoot photographic zones in the southwest of the island. Hyeongjaeseom, in Andeok-myeon, is a small set of picturesque islets.
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Sagye-ri, Andeok-myeon

Within view of the magnificent Sanbangsan Mountain along Jeju's southwest coast is an uninhabited set of islets with a unique shape and backstory.

Hyeongjaeseom Island is actually made up of two main islets which are very close together. From shore, Jeju islanders imagined the islets as taking the form of a big brother and little brother, and named them accordingly.

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Bonseom is larger, Otseom is taller

The larger of the two is called Bonseom (본섬), while the smaller is Otseom (옷섬). This is gauged by area, though, as the actual larger peak of the two is Otseom, which from shore appears on the right.

Bonseom has a flat sandy area with some hearty natural vegetation, whereas the taller columnar joints of Otseom are magnificent as they rise out of the sea. It is possible to land on shore and fish, which many people chose to do.

With the rhythms of the tides, there are actually between three and eight exposed rocks, depending on the time of day and the angle of your view from shore.

Many photographers also take great pains to line up the “two brothers” with the sunset in the middle. This shot is without a doubt an iconic view of Jeju that is both unmistakeable and beautiful.

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Todd Thacker

The next time you are down in the area around Sanbangsan and Songaksan Mountains, be sure to remember to capture a panoramic ocean photo of these two rugged, inseparable brothers.

Todd Thacker KCTV