Ep 11: Where to Stay in Jeju | DIY Jeju

Plan Your Jeju Trip With This Free Planner!

Ed and Sora announce a free trip planner app they built to help DIY travelers organize Jeju itineraries. The app features 50+ activities, from popular Instagram spots to slow traveler experiences, with KakaoMap links for each destination. Ed confesses the real reason he built it: his entire family is going to Jeju for Christmas and he needed a way to get everyone on the same page. Sora tries to get Ed to build one for New York too. He declines. KEY TAKEAWAYS * What the Trip Planner does: * 50+ activities to browse and add to a wishlist * Organize activities across 1-5 day itineraries with time slots * Warns you if activities are in opposite regions (east vs. west) to avoid wasting time driving around Hallasan * Flags seasonal activities (cherry blossoms in April, tangerine picking Nov-Jan) if they don't match your travel month * Sends your completed itinerary to your email with KakaoMap links and additional info for each activity * Helps visualize where activities are clustered so you can decide where to book hotels * What the Trip Planner does NOT do: * Not a booking service * Not based on crowd-sourced reviews; activities are curated based on Ed and Sora's personal experience * Does not include every possible option in a category (e.g., not every green tea farm in Jeju, just the ones they've been to) * Who it's for: * DIY travelers who need to research and plan independently * Tour participants who want to compare what tour companies offer against what they actually want to do * Access: vamosajeju.com/trip [http://vamosajeju.com/trip] NEXT STEPS * Try the Trip Planner at vamosajeju.com/trip [http://vamosajeju.com/trip] * Subscribe to our YouTube channel @vamosajeju

Ep 16: Local 5 Day Markets | Hidden Jeju

Ed champions the five-day markets (오일장) as the antidote to touristy Dongmun and Olle markets — fresh produce, fair prices, no crowds, and an authentic window into local Jeju life. Sora explains how these rotating markets date back to the Goryeo dynasty, with vendors traveling between villages on a 5-day cycle (dates ending in 2 and 7, or 3 and 8, etc.). Their favorites: * Sehwa (near Haenyeo Museum, statue commemorating anti-Japanese resistance) * Seongsan (shooting location for Our Blues) * Hallim (famous gimbap lady with a waiting list) * Seogwipo (lots of food options). Check dates before you go — they're only open one day then gone for four. TAKEAWAYS * Five-day markets (오일장): Rotate on fixed dates (e.g., 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, 27th of each month) * Much more authentic than touristy Dongmun/Olle markets — fresh produce, local vendors, fair prices * Vendors are mostly grandmas/grandpas; arrive early (6-7am), leave by 3-4pm regardless of official hours * Sehwa Market: Near Haenyeo Museum, statue commemorating anti-Japanese resistance — combine with museum visit * Hallim Market: Sora's favorite; famous gimbap lady (book first, stroll for an hour, then pick up) * Seogwipo Market: Watch grandmas bargaining in Jeju dialect; sit and eat while observing local life * Goseong Market: Near Seongsan, small, K-drama "Our Blues" filming location Must-try foods: * 빈떡 (bintteok, Jeju-only buckwheat crepes) * 꽈배기 (kkwabaegi, twisted donuts) * 호떡 (hotteok) * 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) * 순대 (sundae, blood sausage — not ice cream!) * 뻥튀기 (ppong-twigi, puffed rice discs) * 짜장면 (jajangmyeon)  HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) Review of previous phrases for market use: * 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?) — How much is this? * 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) — Please give me this * 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) — Thank you * 맛있어요 (mashisseoyo) — It's delicious * 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) — Goodbye (to someone staying) Sora's tip: Get straight to the point, but always say 감사합니다, 안녕히 계세요 when leaving. NEXT STEPS 1. Five-day market guide: vamosajeju.com/market [http://vamosajeju.com/market] 2. 14-part DIY Jeju email series: vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 3. Follow: @vamosajeju on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

Ep 15: Cherry Blossoms and More! | Hidden Jeju

Ed and Sora cover cherry blossom season in Jeju, a great alternative to fighting crowds in Japan. Jeju has its own endemic species — the King Cherry Blossom (왕벚꽃) — discovered in the early 1900s and native only to Jeju. They share five spots: * Jeonnongro Street (tunnel effect, murals as consolation prize) * Noksan-ro (canola flowers + windmills + cherry blossoms triple threat) * Jeju National University campus (local picnic vibe, cheap restaurants nearby) * Samseong-hyeol (traditional architecture, paid entry ~4,000 won) * Cheonjiyeon Waterfall (open until 10pm for night viewing). Cherry blossoms bloom late March to mid-April but can end abruptly with rain. TAKEAWAYS * Jeju's King Cherry Blossom (왕벚꽃) is endemic to Jeju — different species from Japan and mainland Korea * Season: Late March to early-April; can end abruptly with rain/wind * Canola flowers (yellow): February to April/May — longer season, good consolation prize * Jeonnongro Street: Near Jeju City, cherry blossom tunnel effect, 100+ murals, cafes — 3-4 hour visit * Gasiri Noksan-ro: Southeast, 1 hour from city, triple combo of cherry blossoms + canola flowers + windmills; need rental car; nearby: Folk Village, Snoopy Garden * Jeju National University: Local picnic spot, cheap restaurants nearby; consolation: Gwaneumsa Temple (Attorney Woo filming location), Crash Landing on You forest scene * Samseong-hyeol: Downtown Jeju near City Hall, traditional architecture, ~4,000 won entry; nearby: Noodle Street (국수거리) for gogi guksu * Cheonjiyeon Waterfall: Seogwipo, open until 10pm for night cherry blossom viewing, ~2,000 won entry HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) 벚꽃 (beotkkot) = cherry blossom Describing beauty: * 예쁘다 (yeppeuda) — pretty (for flowers, women, things) * 잘생겼다 (jalsaenggyeotta) — handsome (for men only) * 멋있다 (meositta) — cool/impressive (for mountains, scenery, men) NEXT STEPS 1. Sign up for the 14-part email series at vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 2. Follow: @vamosajeju on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook 3. Visit vamosajeju.com [http://vamosajeju.com] for articles, videos, and resources

Ep 14: Green Tea on the Green Island | Hidden Jeju

Ed and Sora kick off the "Hidden Jeju" series with green tea. Despite being coffee people (Sora quotes the Korean phrase 얼죽아 — "I'd freeze to death before giving up iced Americano"), they've grown to appreciate Jeju's tea culture. Jeju's volcanic soil, clean filtered water, and humid climate make it ideal for tea cultivation, now rivaling Japan's famous Uji region. They discuss the difference between green tea (brewed leaves) and matcha (ground whole leaf), and recommend several tea plantations: * Osulloc (biggest, but crowded — go early) * Seogwi Dawon (small, 80-year-old grandma serves tea, no tour groups) * Orteas (reservation-only tea ceremony) * Onulun (lava cave underneath, green tea foot bath). TAKEAWAYS * Jeju tea rivals Japan's Uji region; volcanic soil, filtered water, and humid climate are ideal for cultivation * 말차 (malcha) = matcha in Korean; 녹차 (nokcha) = green tea * Matcha = ground whole leaf (more caffeine, more nutrients); green tea = brewed extract * Harvest season: April-June; early harvest (April) is smoother and more expensive; June harvest is stronger * Osulloc Tea Museum: Biggest, free entry, beautiful fields — but crowded (tour buses, food court vibe); go early morning * Seogwi Dawon: Small, tranquil, 80-year-old grandma owner, 5,000 won entry includes 2 teas, views of Hallasan peak, no large tour groups * Orteas: Reservation-only, Airbnb experience, 4-tea ceremony (green, black, hojicha, matcha) — no random tourists * Onulun Green Tea House: Lava cave underneath tea fields, green tea foot bath (~$10) * Aewol area: Matcha bingsu, matcha ice cream, croiffle   HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) 마실래요 (mashillaeyo) = Would you like to drink? / I would like to drink * 뭐 마실래요? (mwo mashillaeyo?) — What would you like to drink? * 말차 마실래요 (malcha mashillaeyo) — I'd like to drink matcha * 녹차 마실래요 (nokcha mashillaeyo) — I'd like to drink green tea Tea vocabulary: * 녹차 (nokcha) — green tea * 말차 (malcha) — matcha * 홍차 (hongcha) — black tea * 생강차 (saenggang-cha) — ginger tea * 유자차 (yuja-cha) — citron tea * 한라봉차 (hallabong-cha) — Hallabong tangerine tea NEXT STEPS 1. Green tea blog post: vamosajeju.com/tea [http://vamosajeju.com/tea] 2. 14-part DIY Jeju email series: vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 3. Follow: @vamosajeju on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

Ep 13: Should You Rent a Car on Jeju? | DIY Jeju

Ed opens with his "criminal history" — killing a rental car in Japan by putting diesel in a gasoline engine. Lesson learned: green pump = diesel, yellow pump = gasoline (same in Korea). This leads into a nuanced discussion of whether DIY travelers should rent a car. The verdict: rent if you have 3-5 days and want flexibility or off-the-beaten-path destinations (west coast, tangerine farms, green tea fields); skip if you're a novice driver, staying only in Jeju City, or have just 2 days. They cover the rental process, GPS language settings, self-service gas stations, parking, and the dreaded 30 km/h school zone speed traps that can rack up 120,000 won ($90) fines. TAKEAWAYS * Green pump = diesel, yellow pump = gasoline (same across Korea and Japan) * Rent a car if: 3-5 days, want flexibility, visiting off-the-beaten-path places (west coast, tangerine farms, green tea fields, Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road) * Skip the car if: novice driver, staying only in Jeju City, just 2 days, uncomfortable with night driving (no lights on mid-mountain roads, hairpin turns) * Need international driver's license; not all companies rent to foreigners — check for English website * Lotte Rent-a-Car and SK Rent-a-Car work with foreigners; price includes collision damage waiver and roadside assistance * At airport: follow signs to rental car shuttle bus → office → complete paperwork → get car * Ask staff to change GPS language to English before leaving the lot * Self-service gas stations (셀프) are slightly cheaper; kiosks often have English * Parking free outside Jeju City and Seogwipo; paid parking auto-calculated via transponder and billed to rental company * Speed traps everywhere near schools: 30 km/h zones for children, 50 km/h for elderly areas * Speeding ticket = 120,000 won (~$90) per violation — can rack up multiple fines in one drive * Tickets billed to your credit card through rental company even after you leave Korea * No freeways on Jeju; Hallasan blocks direct routes — trips take longer than expected HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) Gas station phrases — attendant is called 사장님 (sajangnim) * 가득요 (gadeugyo) — Fill it up (or just say "full") * 5만원요 (oman-won-yo) — 50,000 won worth * 카드 (kadeu) — Card * 현금 (hyeongeum) — Cash Note: 카드 (card) and 가득 (full) sound similar — pronunciation matters! NEXT STEPS 1. Sign up for the 14-part email series at vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 2. Follow: @vamosajeju on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook 3. Visit vamosajeju.com [http://vamosajeju.com] for articles, videos, and resources