Jeju is called Samdado, which means that Jeju has three many things : stones, wind and women. Among these three bountiful things, 'stone' is the core of the island.
  There is a place where you can see the past, the present and the future of the stone culture of Jeju. That place is the Jeju Stone Park.
  Jeju Stone Park is being built on the theme of the myths of Seolmundae Halmang (Grandmother Seolmundae) and the five hundred generals. It is a place that  focuses on keeping Jeju's nature intact by minimizing artificial aspects of Jeju stone nature. A Seolmundae Museum is also being constructed inside the Park.
  Although Jeju Stone Park opened in 2006, the work is still in progress. Its final completion date is scheduled to be 2020.
  Those who are concerned about Jeju nature have been constructing Jeju Stone Park very carefully in order to preserve the nature of Jeju as much as possible. A few days ago, the Five Hundred Generals Gallery was opened. For Jeju Stone Park, this meant another step toward completion. The Islander visited the Five Hundred Generals Gallery at Jeju Stone Park.
 
  There is a well-known place called Yeoungsil on the southwestern slope of Mt. Halla. Yeoungsil has rocks called the Five Hundred Generals, and its name came from the tale about the generals. The following tale has been told to date.
  Once upon a time there was Seolmundae Halmang, the giant goddess credited with creating Jeju island, living with her five hundred sons. One year, they suffered a poor harvest. They had to endure the hardship of a devastating famine. One day, while all her five hundred sons were out searching for food, Seolmundae Halmang was boiling rice into gruel for her sons. Just then, she lost her footing and fell into the pot, and died. Her sons who did not know anything returned home and started eating the rice porridge their mother had made. However, the youngest son who came back later found a gigantic bone in the cauldron and realized that his mother had accidentally fallen into the soup pot and died. He was shocked, and decided not to live any longer with his brothers who had unknowingly eaten the porridge. He started to cry for his mother. Finally he left for Chagwido, Gosan-ri, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju, and became the rock of today. The remaining brothers turned into rocks  in Yeongsil as a result of their grief and torment. Afterwards, the five hundred generals became the patron saints of Jeju.
  The new Five Hundred Generals Gallery was named after them. We can see the memorial tower of Seolmundae Halmang and her five hundred sons on the way to Five Hundred Generals Gallery. A bit further ahead, there is a pond whose shape is similar to the cauldron into which Seolmundae Halmang fell and died. The sculptured group of five hundred generals stands at the front of the gallery.
  The gallery is a three-story building consisting of permanent and temporary exhibitions, an art performance hall and a cafeteria. The permanent exhibition on the 1st basement houses 20 roots and remnants of Jeju's jorok tree which was designated as the 25th Jeju Monument. They look like wolf, deer and many other animals.
  The five themes-stone, soil, tree, iron and water- of Jeju Stone Park are on display in a special exhibition to commemorate the opening of this gallery. This exhibition will run until next January.
  You can enjoy the works of five artists: Kim Hyung-su (media art), Lee Seung-soo (iron sculpture), Lee Eun-hee (Jumchi technique-traditional technique of treating hanji, traditional Korean Paper), Ko Won-jong (pottery), and Kang Tae-kil (picture). Their products contain indigenous as well as artistic nature.
  In Exhibition Halls #1, #2 and #3, there is Kim Hyung-su's media art with the theme of water. When you see continuously advancing waves through a screen installed with sound, you feel as if you are in the middle of an ocean.
  The Lee Seung-soo's sculptures embodying haenyeo and fish are displayed in Gallery #4.  Also, in Exhibition #4, Lee Eun-hee's handicraft made with hanji (Korean paper) is shown, displaying the Jeju's natural color in a tree. 
  There are Ko won-jong's pottery works inspired by Jeju wind and soil, displayed in the exhibition #6. Finally, Kang Tae-kil represents his photographs of stones and culture of Jeju in the exhibition #7.

  When you take a stroll in the Jeju Stone Park, you can feel the breath of Grandmother Seolmundae and her five hundred son-generals. Nature, myth and humans coexist together in the Five Hundred Generals Gallery. This remarkable place contains the indigenous identity of Jeju.
The Islander hopes that you can personally experience the mythical world of Jeju
at the Jeju Stone Park.

Opening Times
09:00 - 18:00(Final admission at 17:00)
Closed on the first Monday of every month
 
Admission Fee
Ticket TypeFeeRemarksAdultIndividualGroup(over10)19~64(age)3,500won2400wonYouth· Soldiers2500won1,700won13~18(age)
Soldiers under the rank of staff sergeant,
compulsory service policeman,
correctional institution guards,
public service staff

▷Free : under 12 years old, over 65 years old

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