Dol hareubang (Beoksu) Statues – Jejudo, South Korea

Dol hareubang (Beoksu) Statue - Jejudo, South Korea

One of the first things you see when you visit Jeju Island (Jeju-do) are statues carved from the soft volcanic rock.  The statues are to be found all around the island.  There is even a statue park near the island’s capital, Jeju.

The large mushroom-like statues are considered to be gods offering both protection and fertility and were placed outside of gates for protection against demons travelling between realities.

We found them at all the places we visited on the island.  At any tourist site you will find shops with replicas and goods packaged in plastic containers in the shape of one of the statues.