▲ Photo by Able Team

[This article is written by a JDC Junior Journalist. The JDC Junior Journalist program is an educational project sponsored by Jeju Free International City Development Corporation (JDC). JDC Junior Journalist articles are only briefly edited by mentors before publishing.]

Saryeoni Forest is well known as one of the greatest trekking paths in Jeju. Saryeoni Forest is located on the slopes of Mt. Halla and the word Saryeoni means ‘sacred place’ in Jeju’s dialect. Saryeoni Forest is indeed a sacred place for its easy walking paths and fresh air. Because of these, many people from young to old, male and female come here to enjoy nature and heal their tired minds and bodies.

On September 21th, our team and other reporters from JDC Junior Journalists visited the Saryeoni Forest. Our purpose was to learn how to interview people. As we walked in the forest, we met many people from several different places. We interviewed four of them.

First, we interviewed Kang Young Sim’s family. They said they came to Saryeoni Forest to celebrate their grandmother, Kang Young Sim, and her 70th birthday. Everyone in her family came from around the country. Even though they visited Jeju before, this was their first time in Saryeoni Forest. They decided to come here because they wanted to enjoy the nature. After visiting, they thought the nature was beautiful but not so different from other roads.

Next, we met Heo So Ra and her husband, both from Seoul. It was their first time to visit Saryeoni Forest. “The air here is fresh, and it is a good place to walk in the morning. But there is no guidance at the entrance and there are parking problems, ” they said.

As we continued walking, we met Lee Eun Hee, from Busan. She siad except for the lack of a cement road, everything was fine.

And finally, we met Yang Dong Hun, his wife and daughter, from Jeju. They come to Saryeoni Forest often and said it is great to walk.

While Saryeoni Forest is great to walk, there are also problems.It is no different from other places and its has unsatisfactory guidance and resting places. Lack of parking lots is also a problem. Excluding these problems, Saryeoni Forest is truly one of the best roads to walk.