Sometimes, a trail doesn’t need to be long to leave a mark. Route 14-1 is a short connector course, often overlooked by those chasing coastal views or dramatic oreum climbs. But for us, it was a soulful pause—a quiet tribute to Jeju’s deeper layers.
We picked up Route 14-1 from Andeok-myeon, where the main Route 14 wrapped up. From the start, this course felt different. It turned away from the usual coastal charm and guided us into the solemn grounds of Jeju’s past.
The heart of this trail is the Jeju April 3rd Peace Park (4.3 평화공원)—a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Jeju April 3 Uprising, one of the island’s darkest and most painful chapters. The peaceful path leading to the park was lined with low stone walls and shaded by whispering trees. Even the birds seemed quieter here.
As we entered the memorial grounds, the atmosphere changed. There was no music, no chatter—just the sound of wind brushing the trees and the distant echo of our own footsteps. We walked slowly, reading the names, the dates, the etched lines of grief and remembrance.
The Peace Park isn’t just a museum—it’s a landscape of memory. Rolling hills dotted with monuments, a museum underground like a scar in the earth, and an eternal flame burning near a solemn black stone listing over 14,000 names. It was humbling. Heavy. Necessary.
We paused for a long time at the reflection pond. It mirrored the sky so clearly it felt like walking on memory itself.
Route 14-1 continues beyond the memorial, winding past forest trails and farmland, eventually linking back to the main Olle routes. But the park stays with you. We left changed—not in a loud way, but like someone had quietly placed something important in our hands and asked us to carry it forward.
For hikers chasing views, Route 14-1 might feel skippable. But for those walking with their hearts open, it’s a must. A sacred trail. A reminder that every beautiful place holds a deeper story—and some of them need to be walked slowly, with respect.