Jeju Expands Educational Platform to Deepen Visitor Understanding of Local History and Culture
According to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Jeju Tourism Organization, the local government has expanded its online education platform, J-Academy, by releasing five new instructional videos focused on Jeju’s distinct natural environment, everyday culture, and historical background. Released on August 13, 2026, the updated curriculum addresses common questions visitors encounter across the island, ranging from the emerald hue of Gimnyeong Ocean to the historical context of the Jeju 4·3 tragedy.
Curriculum Structure and Core Questions Addressed in New Videos
According to the Jeju Tourism Organization, the newly published series consists of five distinct segments, each running between seven and nine minutes. The content relies on a question-and-answer format designed to connect everyday travel curiosities with regional heritage. Travel influencer Jaemin Ahn poses questions from the perspective of an incoming visitor, while author Jinsook Go, who wrote Mysterious Island Jeju Heritage, explains the underlying geographical and historical contexts.
The five video topics released in August 2026 include:
- The geological and environmental factors behind the bright emerald color of Gimnyeong Ocean.
- The cultural origin and significance of the stone grandfather statues known as Dolharbang.
- The historical background of the traditional proverb advising people to send horses to Jeju and humans to Seoul.
- The geographical distinction between standard mountains and volcanic cones, known locally as oreum.
- The historical timeline and roots of the Jeju 4·3 incident.
Broader Scope of the J-Academy Tourism Education Initiative
According to the Jeju Tourism Organization, this latest release builds upon an initial batch of six educational videos launched in January. The earlier curriculum covered traditional Black pork, local waterfalls, Ramsar wetlands, the Haenyeo women divers, buckwheat, and the Jeju language. With the addition of the five new segments, the J-Academy platform now offers 11 comprehensive thematic modules.
The initiative aims to transition standard sightseeing into an informed exploration of the island’s heritage. Jeju Tourism Organization President Seung-chul Ko noted that the videos were developed to give tourism industry workers immediate, accurate answers to common visitor inquiries while elevating overall service quality across the region.
Access and Public Availability for Residents and Visitors
According to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the educational content is not restricted to professional tour guides and hospitality workers. Any registered user can access the J-Academy online platform to watch the videos free of charge. By making these resources available to the general public and incoming travelers, regional authorities intend to foster a deeper, more respectful appreciation of Jeju’s historical and natural landscape.
Worth a look