Oreum(Volcanic Site) in Jeju - Abu-Oreum (아부 오름)

Set amongst many other oreums (parasitic volcanoes), Abu Oreum is located in the eastern part of Jeju just south of Songdang village. The oreum is 301 meters above sea level but only 51 meters high, making it a short climb. With this low height and wide bottom from below it really does not look like much of a volcanic oreum or much of a hike. But there is a huge surprise awaiting just a 10-minute hike up.

Trail is rough but rewarding

The hike to the top is short but steep and the trail is not well maintained. But this is all a part of the adventure and builds the excitement of getting to the top. The rough trail makes the hike a more personal experience since hikers need to think about the path and their footing.

The path is rather like several branching suggestions of how to best scramble up the oreum and erosion has made it slippery in parts. Also, there are several sections of barbed wire fences to go over and under. Be careful and take the time to enjoy the surrounding countryside and neighboring oreums. Once at the top it is a whole different world and well worth any inconvience from the upward trail.

Hikers toil up the trail to be met by proof of Jeju's volcanic past. Abu Oreum has a simply incredible, huge and well-proportioned crater. There is a striking dark ring of Japanese Cedars at the base of the crater creating a natural focal point. The crater itself is 84 meters deep and there is a visible trail that goes down into the crater but this is off-limits due to restoration.

The hike along the crater is much longer than the hike up the oreum. Follow the gentle trail along the top of the crater for a full circle of 1400 meters. A small portion of this hike is forest but for most of the walk there are 360 degree views both into the crater and to the surrounding landscape.

Origins of name uncertain

Abu Oreum’s name has two local stories associated with it. The first story relates to the shape of the oreum. Locals believe that its round shape and an oval shaped crater makes it look like an adult chair. And in the Jeju dialect the word "Abu" means father or mentor. So Abu Oreum is Father Oreum.

The second story is actually about an alternate name for the oreum. Abu Oreum is sometimes also called Ap Oreum. The word "Ap" means "front" and for the Sondang villages Abu Oreum is the first oreum to their south. So the oreum is in front of the other oreums in their view from the village.

Oreum featured in Korean movie

In addition to its natural beauty, the oreum is something of a star. Abu Oreum is well known as a film location of the 1999 Korean movie "Lee Jae Su's Rebellion.” This drama is about an historic Jeju uprising over 100 years ago. Key scenes in the movie include Abu Oreum, so many people come to visit and the hike is included on some tours of the island. Abu Oreum even appears on Jeju's official tourist maps as the filming location of the movie.

Allow at least an hour to enjoy the hike. Be aware that the oreum is also used as grazing land for cattle.
To find Abu Oreum follow the signs from Sondang village. The turn is on 1136 road to the east of Sondang Elementary school. The oreum is about 2 km south of the village on the west side of the road. The entrance is marked with a stone sign in Korean. There is no parking lot but you can park along the shoulder of the road.

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