By Ko Chang-hoon
The World Environment and Island Institute (WEI) at Jeju National University are inviting 400 students to enter its 27-day program on the “Peace Island of Jeju,” which has been nominated for the New7Wonders of Nature accolade.
The program is called ``Let’s Talk about the World Environment, Islands and Global Peace’’ and will run from July 25 to Aug. 20 on the beautiful triple-crowned protected island. Jeju was made a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve in 2002, followed by its inclusion as a place of World Natural Heritage in 2007 and most recently became a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2010.
Students will spend two weeks exploring this unique environment through encountering the 7 ``jewels’’’ of the New7Wonders of Nature. The jewels include the ascent of Mt. Halla and experiencing its breath-taking volcanic landscape, exemplified by the summit crater-lake Baeknokdam, which presides over 40 volcanic cones.
Another jewel is Seongsan Ilchulbong, or the ``Sunrise Peak,’’ an archetypal tuff cone formed by hydro-volcanic eruptions on the shallow seabed about 5,000 years ago.
Another distinctive sight is the descent into Manjang Cave, 7,416 meters deep, with the inner tube 23 meters in width and 30 meters in height. The splendid Cheonjiyeon Waterfall boasts a 20 meter-deep lake and volcanic rock formations, and was created through the cooling of hot lava resulting in vertical columnar joints at the coast of Daepodong on the south of the island. Sanbangsan is a gigantic lava dome, also located in the southwest, which rises 395 meters above sea level and its majesty is around 800,000 years old.
Finally there is the Suweolbong, a low-relief mount of pyroclastic deposits located at the western margins.
Students will also enjoy another two weeks to reflect on how Jeju islanders have contributed to creating the Jeju Island cultures of peace, typified by the ``sammu’’ spirit or sammu tradition. This roughly translates as the ``three lacking things,’’ meaning that Jeju has no beggars, no thieves, and no gates. The corresponding ``samyu,’’ or the ``three abundances’’ of Jeju are said to be wind, stone and women
Traditionally Jeju had a three or four-nexus family within one yard. As soon as the eldest son married, he would build his house. In it he would compose his family nexus and run his household independently from his father’s, despite both houses being within the same yard. In this case, we call the father’s house ``an-geo-rae,’’ or the main house, and the eldest son’s ``bat-geo-rae’’ or the second house.
This spirit of togetherness, yet autonomy, is something that lives on today on Jeju and students will hopefully bring this concept alive through the diverse and participative curricula.
Students can also campaign for global realization of marine environmental protection and preservation of the Jeju women divers’ culture through participation in the ocean swim between the beaches of Jeju. The school will also provide an academic plaza for university student teams to demonstrate their debating skills through discussions on democratic peace initiatives in the traditional ``bultuk’’ style on Udo Island.
“Bultuk” is a democratic and participative forum which has traditionally been central to the traditions of Jeju women divers. With numerous types of flora and fauna scattered around the island and also some 2,500 types of sea life, participants will also explore the environmental aspects of the island and hopefully realize the need of necessary protective laws for marine life.
Jeju has the proud tradition of another ``samyu,’’ or three merits _ economic independence, social autonomy, and regional (social) peace and this can become the new tradition of the “three splendors,” or ``samryeo,’’ being freedom, equality and peace.
Through this concept, Jeju is hoping to maintain its place as the world peace island in the Asian region. Participants will further experience these concepts and engage with how to achieve global peace beyond borders, gender, and race through the 27 days of cultural immersion on this unique island.
The tuition is $1,500 ($500 per course) plus dormitory fees. Those who apply by April 30 will receive a 20 percent discount. For more information visit www.peaceisland.asia.
The writer is a professor and director of the World Environment and Island Institute, Jeju National University