Sanbangsan MountainClaimed by the owner

Sanbangsan is a trachytic lava dome on the southwest coast of Jeju Island, in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo. It stands 395 meters tall and is counted alongside Hallasan and Seongsan Ilchulbong as one of Jeju's three major peaks. The mountain is part of the Jeju Island UNESCO Global Geopark and is visible from much of southern Jeju.

Shape and geology

Sanbangsan is roughly circular, with a circumference of about 3,780 meters and a diameter of about 1,200 meters. Unlike most other oreum (volcanic cones) on Jeju, it has no crater at its summit. Its rock is largely light gray trachyte, and the southwestern slope shows columnar jointing that gives the surface a honeycomb-like appearance. Plants, including trees, grow across the mountain, even on some of its sheer cliff faces; in 1993 about 247,935 square meters of cliff wall bearing this vegetation was designated a Natural Monument of Jeju Province. Korean folklore holds that the mountain formed when the deity Seolmundae Halmang plucked the peak from Hallasan and set it down in its current form.

Sanbanggul cave and access

On the mountain's south side, about 145 to 150 meters up, is a cave called Sanbanggul, roughly 10 by 5 by 5 meters, thought to be either a former sea cave from a time when the volcano stood lower or a cavity formed by other geological processes. The cave has been used as a Buddhist temple, Sanbanggulsa, since at least the Goryeo period (918 to 1392), and the names of Joseon-era officials are carved into its rock walls. A Goryeo-era stone Buddha statue has been kept in the cave since 1985; it was reportedly taken during the Japanese colonial period (1910 to 1945) and returned in 1960. From the cave there are views of Yongmeori Coast below. Visitors reach Sanbanggul by a staircase. Since January 1, 2022, and until December 31, 2031, access to much of the mountain's upper reaches is restricted for environmental protection, and summiting is not currently permitted; a path to the summit previously existed on the northern side. Canola fields around the base bloom each spring, and the theme park Sanbangsan Land, with a pirate ship ride, carousel, 4D theater, and carnival games, lies to the south.