Jeju Dol Hareubang (돌 하르방)

The statues are found all over Jeju Island, south of the Korean peninsula. The Hareubangs are carved from the Island’s volcanic and can range in size anywhere up to three meters talls. They have big pupil-less eyes, wear mushroom-shaped hats, and always have their hands on their stomachs.

The exact creation of the stones and how they were originally carved is still a mystery. Depending on the person, Dol Hareubangs hold different uses. Some say that they stand guard and protect the villages as they originally stood at the Jeju Fortress’ gates. Others believe they are used in rituals by local shamans as their hats look similar to hallucinogenic mushrooms that used to grow at Hallasan Mountain. Lastly as Jeju Island is known as the “honeymoon capital,” another part of people believe the Dol Hareubangs are connected to fertility.

However, for sure nowadays they are a staple of culture on Jeju Island. You can see many Dol Hareubangs across the island in various styles.

Other names :

돌 - dol  meaning “stone”

하르방 - hareubang - Jeju dialect for “grandfather”

돌 할아버지 - dol haroboji in standard Korean for “stone grandfather”