Gama Oreum
{{Short description|Small extinct volcano in Jeju City, South Korea}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Gama Oreum
| location = Cheongsu-ri, {{ill|Hangyeong-myeon|ko|한경면}}, Jeju City, Jeju Province, South Korea
| elevation_m = 140.5
| coordinates = {{Coord|33.3055|126.2468|display=inline,title}}
}}
Gama Oreum ({{Korean|hangul=가마오름|hanja=釜岳}}) is an oreum (small extinct volcano; parasitic cones) in Cheongsu-ri, {{Ill|Hangyeong-myeon|ko|한경면}}, Jeju City, Jeju Province, South Korea.{{Cite web |title=Gama Oreum Volcanic Cone |url=https://www.visitjeju.net/en/detail/view?contentsid=CONT_000000000500011 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=www.visitjeju.net |language=ko}}{{Cite news |last=Hyde |first=Colleen |date=2009-07-18 |title=Jeju oreum served as Japanese WWII base |url=https://jejuweekly.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=161 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=The Jeju Weekly}}
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Description
The oreum is named for and said to resemble gamasot, traditional Korean pots.{{Cite web |last=홍 |first=병두 |date=2016-12-03 |title=가마오름 |url=http://www.newsje.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=86909 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=제주환경일보 |language=ko}}{{Cite web |last=오 |first=창명 |title=가마 오름 - 디지털제주문화대전 |url=https://jeju.grandculture.net/jeju/toc/GC00710032 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture}} An alternate pronunciation for the name is Gamae Oreum ({{Korean|hangul=가메오름|labels=no}}), and the name's Hanja is read as "Buak".
The oreum is {{Convert|140.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, and {{Convert|51|m|ft|abbr=on}} higher than the surrounding area. It is considered fairly easy to hike up, and takes around 20 minutes to reach the top. It occupies an area of {{Convert|2059|m2|ft2|abbr=on}}. It has a horseshoe-shaped crater that opens to the northeast. It is surrounded by farmland and a rural community.
File:Gamaoreum underground Japanese Millitary base at WWII.jpg
During the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period, the Japanese military used the oreum as a base. During World War II, in anticipation of an eventual Allied invasion of Korea that never came to pass, {{Ill|Tunnel Fortifications of Imperial Japan on Gamaoreum Volcanic Cone, Jeju|lt=tunnels were dug into the oreum|ko|제주 가마오름 일제 동굴진지}}. These tunnels now remain, and total around {{Convert|1.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} in length.{{Cite web |last=이 |first=윤형 |title=제주 가마오름 일제 동굴진지 - 디지털제주문화대전 |url=https://jeju.grandculture.net/jeju/toc/GC00700026 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture |language=ko}} Jejuans were pressed into forced labor to create these tunnels, which were largely forgotten until the 21st century.{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Young-jin |date=2011-08-25 |title=[Viewpoint] Protecting peace, not just wishing for it |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2011/08/25/columns/Viewpoint-Protecting-peace-not-just-wishing-for-it-/2940699.html |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |language=en}}
At the base of the oreum and near the tunnels is the Jeju Peace Museum, which opened in 2004.{{Cite news |last=김 |first=호천 |date=2016-07-28 |title=태평양전쟁 유적 제주 '가마오름 동굴진지' 11월 재개방 |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20160728132800056 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=Yonhap News Agency |language=ko}} The tunnels were available for tourist entry until 2013, when they were deemed unsafe and closed. Efforts were made to renovate and stabilize them, but by 2018 did not result in their reopening.{{Cite news |last=김 |first=현종 |date=2018-12-16 |title=가마오름 일제동굴진지 내년 개방 추진 '주목' |url=https://www.samdailbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=110754 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=Samda Ilbo |language=ko}}