Summer Night Glow: The Secret Place of Fireflies in Sanyang Keuneonggot, Jeju Island
In June, there is a kind of light in Jeju Island that cannot be captured by the camera. It does not belong to the daytime, nor to the fireworks of the world. It only blooms quietly in the quiet forest of Sanyang Keuneonggot after nightfall.
During the day, I took a few photos on the forest road. The sun shines obliquely on the green path, and the leaves glow with warm light. At that moment, no one would have thought that when night falls, this seemingly ordinary forest will turn into a secret place of light and shadow.
At dusk, the sky is dyed with soft golden orange, and we wait quietly. In the afterglow of the sunset, a sense of ritual inexplicably arises in my heart - as if I am about to enter a fairy tale world. Twenty minutes before the event starts, we gathered early. There is no noise, no urging, only quiet expectation, like waiting for a miracle that belongs only to the night.
Entering the forest, everyone turned off the lights, put down their mobile phones and words, and only used their eyes and hearts to feel the miracle that is about to happen in this darkness. It was so quiet that I could only hear my own breathing and footsteps. The forest was so dark that I could hardly see the road. Just as we gradually adapted to the darkness, the first glow suddenly lit up, like a tiny star, followed by more points of light, floating slowly in the forest and dancing lightly.
They are the messengers of the night, the poetry of nature quietly blooming. Thousands of fireflies flickered and jumped around you. It was such a weak light, but it was dazzling, as if the whole forest was on fire. It was not artificial light, not a beautiful scenery that could be captured. It must be seen in person and in silence. It only belongs to those who are willing to slow down and keep silent.
That night, I didn't leave any photos of the night, but I took away the most real and shocking picture: in the deepest darkness, a group of tiny lives are trying their best to shine, illuminating each other and people's hearts.
The fireflies in Sanyang Keuneonggot only appear briefly once a year in June, arriving as promised and leaving quietly. Like a dream, like an illusion, like some precious moments in life, fleeting but never faded.
📍Address: Sanyang Keuneonggot
956-6 Cheongsu-ri, Hangyeong-myeon, Cheju, Jeju-do
956-6, Cheongsu-ri, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
💰Admission: 10,000KRW per person
🕰️Participation time and date: 2025.06.05-2025.06.30
The first show is at 08:00pm, the last show is at 9:20pm, there are 9 shows per night