After spending much of Trail 5 in Jeju’s quiet countryside, we were more than ready to be reunited with the coast. Trail 6 didn’t just bring us back to the sea—it embraced us with wide ocean views, charming neighborhoods, and the easy, breezy rhythm of Seogwipo’s southern shores. It felt like walking through a travel postcard, but without the crowds or the pressure to rush. Just slow steps, soft waves, and the occasional temptation to stop for coffee every fifteen minutes.
We started our walk from Namwon Port, where Route 5 had dropped us off the day before. The air smelled of seaweed and salt, and small fishing boats bobbed in the calm water as if waving us on. From the start, Trail 6 felt different—less wild, more gentle. It led us along the coast, hugging the shoreline, offering glimpses of the horizon between trees and rooftops.
As we walked, we passed local homes and gardens, seaside cafés tucked into corners, and small harbors like Hwasun Port and Soesokkak Estuary, where the ocean and freshwater meet in a quiet blend of jade-green calm. Soesokkak was particularly striking, with its canoes floating lazily across the water and twisted pine trees arching above like watchful spirits.
This trail was all about the little moments. The pop of orange tangerines hanging over stone walls. The scent of freshly baked bread wafting from a hidden bakery. The sight of locals sipping coffee at tiny seaside cafes with names like they came from dream journals. We wandered past murals, fishing nets drying on fences, and small shops selling roasted sweet potatoes and hot squid jerky.
One of the best parts? Oedolgae Rock. This towering sea stack, standing solo off the shore, looked like something pulled straight from folklore. It felt sacred and cinematic all at once. According to local legend, the rock is a grieving grandmother turned to stone, waiting forever for her husband lost at sea. Standing there, looking out, it was hard not to feel that weight—of longing, of time, of the sea’s eternal pull.
From there, the trail gently guided us toward Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market, the heart of Seogwipo’s food scene. But we weren’t done walking yet. The final leg of Trail 6 meandered through more seaside paths, through neighborhoods softened by time, and finally into the bustle of Lee Jung-seop Street, named after the beloved Korean painter. His presence lingered in the atmosphere—in galleries, street art, and the quiet charm of the area.
We ended the day in Seogwipo City, feet sore but smiles wide. This wasn’t the most difficult trail. There were no steep climbs or wild weather. But it was beautiful in a way that felt human—full of life, full of color, and rich with the slow pulse of Jeju’s southern coast.
If Trail 5 reminded us of Jeju’s deep roots and rural past, Trail 6 brought us into her vibrant present—a mix of culture, nature, and simple pleasures. We walked slower here, took more breaks, talked more, and noticed everything.
We came into this journey for mountains and milestones, but routes like this remind us that sometimes it’s the easy trails—the ones filled with sea breeze and quiet joy—that stay with you the longest.
What’s next? A trail with cliffs? Forests? More camping misadventures? We’ll find out soon enough. But for now, Route 6 gave us exactly what we didn’t know we needed: a soft place to land, and a quiet place to breathe.