8 November 2022
Although Sangumburi Crater is interesting as a relatively rare marr-type volcano crater, my main reason for visiting this place is for the silvery grass that flowers in autumn, specifically in the months of September and October. While such silvery grass could be found all over Jeju in autumn, Sangumburi Crater has an impressive large patch that attracts visitors and photographers.
Fields of silver grass at Sangumburi Crater.
The best time for photography is just before sunset when the warm rays of the setting sun cast an orange hue on the vast grassland.
Fields of silver grass turning into gold at sunset.
The opening hours for this place are 09:00 to 17:40 hour during November to February, with the last admission 40 min before closing. Sangumburi Crater was the last place in my itinerary while exploring the eastern part of Jeju.
We almost missed the last entry, having rushed over from Sunrise Peak. In fact, we arrived with barely 5 minutes to spare. The entrance fee was 6000 KWR per adult, which was kind of expensive. After purchasing our entry tickets, we had only 40 minutes to enjoy this place.
Layout of Sangumburi Crater. The observation platform to view the crater is at the top of the map while the grass patch is on the right.
I made a beeline to the patch of silvery grass. There were still many visitors on the pathway that cuts through the vast patch of silvery grass, all taking selfies and photos of the magnificent landscape.
There was not much time for photos as the sun was already quite low. We headed towards the crater, stopping for photos frequently along the way.
This place is also a popular location for filming of k-dramas and movies.
We finally reached the highest point where there is an observation platform overlooking the crater. Sangumburi Crater is a geological marvel in that it is a volcanic crater that is formed in the flatland. Unlike the Baengnokdam crater on Hallasan or the crater at Seongsan Ilchulbong, one can view the crater at Sangumburi without a steep hike. In fact, the crater is only a gentle 10 minutes walk from the entrance.
Sangumburi Crater is what geologist describe as a marr volcano, relatively rare compared to a tuff cone or tuff ring volcano like Seongsan Ilchulbong. A marr-typed crater is formed by gas or steam explosion without eruption of lava or volcanic ashes (hence the lack of the cone). The explosions are usually caused by the heating and boiling of groundwater when magma invades the groundwater table.
The crater is 650 meters wide, 100 meters deep, and 2,070 meters in circumference. It looks like a man-made circular stadium. Normally there would be a lake in the middle of a marr-type volcano crater but at this crater, there is a variety of plant-life in it instead.
The place became less crowded as the sun sets behind Hallasan.
Sun setting behind Hallasan.
There was still plenty of light for photos after sunset.
At the highest point, next to edge of the crater.
Stone marker at Sangumburi Crater. Can you see the moon rising behind?
I saw a young Korean man shooting photos of the rising moon with his telephoto lens. The full moon was particularly red having just risen minutes after sunset. I later found out that this is the Blood moon and there would be total lunar eclipse visible at Jeju later that night and the moon would become even more red.
View of the rising red moon at Sangumburi Crater. The view reminded me of the picture seen on the screen placed behind the throne of the Joseon kings, where there is a white sun and a red moon over 5 mountain peaks.
We requested the young man to help us take a group photo and he kindly agreed.
Group photo taken with the help of the young Korean photographer.
After taking the group photo, we rushed for the exit as it was 5 minutes to closing time at 5.40 PM. We do not want to spend the night at Sangumburi Crater.
Our group was probably amongst the last to leave.
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