This week on Jeju: A to Z, Todd Thacker takes a brief look at the eoksae (억새), or pampas grass, which turns a golden brown and can be found all around the island in the fall. But keep in mind, there are a number of particularly famous places to visit if you’d like to see more.



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At this time of year, Jeju is especially beautiful with its fields of light brown pampas grass, or 억새, which sway in the autumn wind.

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Pampas grass is a large perennial grass

Pampas grass is a large perennial grass native to South America. It grows all over the world, but each region has a slightly different shape, size, and color.

On Jeju, mature plants can grow several meters tall, and the tops of the plants have silvery-white or light brown plumes which move delicately yet boldly in the island’s windy landscape.

Images of this grass appear in all sorts of artistic works related to Jeju, from films, TV dramas, and paintings by famous artists, like Jeju-born painter Byun Shi-ji (변시지).

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Appears in Jeju-related films, TV programs, art

Jeju’s many photographers, too, have strived to capture scenes of pampas grass, including the panoramic long-exposures of renowned nature photographer Kim Young-gap (김영갑).

If you’d like to find some particularly picturesque areas to enjoy fields and vistas of the undulating brown grass, keep these three stunning Jeju locations in mind.

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Sangumburi is a famous viewing location

First and foremost is Sangumburi (산굼부리), a remarkably symmetrical extinct volcano to the southeast of Jeju City along the 1112 Road. The site is famous for its large fields of pampas grass which frame its beautiful vista of Mt. Halla and surrounding oreum.

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Saebyeol Oreum is easy to get to from Jeju City

Another location is just off the 1135 Highway southwest of Jeju City. Saebyeol (새별) Oreum is a volcanic cone with a vast expanse of pampas grass growing on its slopes and in the immediate vicinity.

And finally, there is even a road known as the pampas grass volcanic cone road. It is on the 1119 Road in Susan-ri (수산리), Seongsan-eup (성산읍).

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Todd Thacker

All in all, we are guaranteed to spot the beauty of this perennial grass wherever we find ourselves on the island in the coming months.

Todd Thacker KCTV