1. The Mysterious Weeping at Yongduam

Among Jeju Island’s famous landmarks, Yongduam Rock (Dragon Head Rock) is a striking natural formation shaped like a dragon’s head rising from the sea. However, beyond its beauty lies a chilling legend that has haunted locals and travelers for centuries. On stormy nights, as waves crash violently against the rocks, eerie sounds can be heard—the sorrowful cries of a woman carried by the wind.

According to legend, a young woman once stood on the cliffs near Yongduam, waiting for her lover who had promised to return from the sea. Days turned into weeks, but he never came back. Overcome with despair, she threw herself into the ocean. Since then, people claim to hear a woman's mournful wailing, blending with the wind and waves.

2. Encounters with the Weeping Spirit

Many visitors to Yongduam at night claim to have seen a pale woman standing by the cliffs, her long hair flowing wildly in the wind. Some say she appears to be searching for someone, her sorrowful gaze fixed upon the endless ocean. But when they approach, she vanishes into thin air.

Fishermen have also shared unsettling stories. Some report hearing soft sobbing over the water, only to find no one there. Others have seen a shadowy figure floating on the waves, disappearing when they get closer. Some sailors even believe that seeing this ghostly apparition is a bad omen, foretelling storms or misfortune at sea.

3. Theories Behind the Haunting

There are several interpretations of the legend. Some believe the ghost is truly the spirit of the heartbroken woman, forever trapped between land and sea. Others think the wailing sounds are just the wind howling through the rock formations, playing tricks on the mind.

Another theory links the legend to Jeju’s tragic history. For centuries, Jeju’s haenyeo (female divers) risked their lives in the harsh sea. Many perished in the waves, and some believe the ghost of Yongduam represents these women, mourning the countless souls lost to the ocean.

Regardless of its origins, the legend of the Wailing Woman of Yongduam continues to unsettle visitors, reminding them that some sorrows never fade, even in death.

4. Rituals to Appease the Spirit of Yongduam

The legend of the Wailing Woman has unsettled locals for generations, leading to various rituals and spiritual practices to calm her restless soul.

In the past, Jeju shamans, known as Mudang (무당), performed gut (굿)—traditional shamanistic rituals to appease spirits. Offerings of food, alcohol, and paper charms were placed near the cliffs of Yongduam, accompanied by prayers to guide the lost soul to peace. Some older residents recall witnessing these ceremonies, where the sound of drums and chants echoed against the roaring waves.

Fishermen, fearing bad luck, also had their own practices. Some would pour makgeolli (Korean rice wine) into the sea before setting sail, believing it would prevent misfortune. Others avoided speaking of the legend while fishing, fearing that saying her name would summon her spirit.

Even today, some visitors offer silent prayers near Yongduam, hoping to finally lay the restless soul to peace.

Yongduam Rock is one of Jeju Island’s most famous landmarks, not just for its striking appearance but also for the legend tied to it. Whether one believes in ghosts or not, the stories of a sorrowful spirit wailing against the crashing waves continue to captivate and haunt visitors. The tale is a reminder of love lost, of tragedy sealed by the sea, and of emotions so deep they transcend death itself.

For those who visit Yongduam, perhaps the best way to honor the tale is not through fear, but through remembrance—acknowledging the echoes of sorrow and hoping that, one day, the restless soul may find peace.