Dol Hareubang Stone Statues

These statues, known by various names such as useokmok, museokmok, and beoksu-meori, were originally erected at the gates of Jeju-mok, Jeongui-hyeon, and Daejeong-hyeon. Today they are scattered across the Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum, Jeju National University, Jeju City Hall, Jeju International Airport, Samseonghyeol, and Gwandeokjeong Pavilion, among other locations, with 21 statues in Jeju City, 12 in Seongeup, and 12 more in the Inseong, Anseong, and Boseong areas of Daejeong, making 45 in total. The statues generally take the form of a figure wearing a bungeoji-shaped hat (a traditional felt hat), with large bulging eyes, a prominent bulbous nose, tightly closed lips, and both hands placed solemnly below the stomach. The average height of the Dol Hareubang is 187 cm in Jeju, 141 cm in Seongeup, and 134 cm in Daejeong, and they are estimated to have been made around 1754, the 30th year of King Yeongjo. Erected in front of the castle gates, these statues are thought to have served guardian, shamanistic-religious, and boundary-marking functions, similar to those of jangseung guardian posts on the mainland. Today the Dol Hareubang are well known both in Korea and abroad as a symbol representing Jeju Island, and are a cherished piece of folk heritage admired by people around the world. The term "Dol Hareubang" is a relatively recent name; the original names were "useokmok", "museokmok", and "beoksu-meori".

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seogwipo, Jeju

Designation

Provincial Folklore Heritage · 시도민속문화유산