Autumn in Jeju, Deeply Immersed in Books: A Travel Log of the 9th Jeju Book Festival (Jeju Dokseo Daejeon)

Autumn at Sarabong (Sarabong Peak), Colored with the Scent of Books

Instead of the distinct salty sea breeze I usually feel upon landing at Jeju Airport, today, a sense of excitement mixed with the smell of paper seemed to lead the way. My steps were headed toward Udang Library (Udang Doseogwan), located at the foot of Sarabong (Sarabong Peak) in Geonip-dong (Geonip-dong), Jeju City. Jeju in late October is the perfect season for walking, with a cool breeze that washes away the heat of summer. The 9th Jeju Book Festival (Jeju Dokseo Daejeon) I encountered here was filled with a calm yet passionate vitality, just like the deepening autumn of Jeju.

This year's festival theme was 'Boksak Ppajyeotsuda' (Deeply Immersed in Books - a Jeju dialect expression). The warm tone of the Jeju dialect felt like an invitation to fully immerse myself in books. As soon as I entered the library entrance, the static aura emitted by the books blended with the hushed conversations of people, turning into a pleasant murmur. It was heartwarming to see the local community communicating through books, going beyond the space of simply reading them.

Stories to Listen to, Lectures to Fill the Heart

The highlight of the Book Festival is, of course, meeting the authors. This year, lectures were prepared by Go Myeong-hwan, author of 'The Classics Answered: On the Life One Should Live' (Gojjeoni Daphaetda, Mattanghi Saraya Hal Salme Daehayeo), which was selected as Jeju City's Book of the Year, and Kim Seong-ra, the illustrator of the children's book 'Best Friends Starting Today!' (Oneulbuteo Baepu! Bepu!). The time spent facing the sincerity beyond the text through the author's voice gives a different kind of deep resonance than when just reading the text.

Walking around the lecture venue, you can hear laughter coming from the 'Chatting Room of Books' (Chaekdeului Sudabang). People sharing their hearts with the common denominator of books, transcending generations and classes. Some were closing their eyes and listening intently to the lecture, while others had serious expressions on their faces in front of the 'My Literacy Check, Check!' booth, where they were assessing their own literacy skills. In particular, experiential programs combined with the latest technology, such as 'Ask BookGPT My Heart', seemed to provide an interesting gateway even for those who are unfamiliar with books.

Returning to Daily Life, a Path Walked with Books

Sarabong (Sarabong Peak), where the Book Festival is held, is a wonderful promenade in itself. If you filled your head with book stories inside the venue, I recommend coming out and walking the Sarabong (Sarabong Peak) trail to cool your brain. The view of Jeju City looking down from the library and the sea in the distance is the perfect landscape for organizing the contents of your books.

When looking around, it is also good to explore the alleys of Geonip-dong (Geonip-dong) along the seaside road, which blends with the Sanji Lighthouse (Sanji Deungdae). It is a place where the old traces of Jeju are neatly piled up like stories from the past in a book. During the festival, the area around Udang Library (Udang Doseogwan) becomes a large plaza for sharing the value of books. Even if you are traveling alone, there is no time to be lonely here. Because a friend called a book is always by your side. I feel like I will visit Jeju again in October when the next Book Festival is held.

Travel Tips

• Location: 30, Sarabongdong-gil, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (Around Udang Library)
• Visit Tip: Jeju in autumn has a large daily temperature range, so be sure to bring a thin outer layer. There is a slope around the library, so comfortable shoes are essential.
• Recommended Itinerary: Listening to a lecture around 2-4 PM and walking along Sarabong (Sarabong Peak) at sunset to enjoy the evening glow makes for a perfect day.