Jeongbang Waterfall

{{Short description|Tidefall on Jeju Island, South Korea}}

{{Infobox waterfall

| name = Jeongbang Waterfall

| image = Jeongbang Waterfall.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = A long-exposure image of the waterfall (2007)

| map_image =

| map_size =

| coordinates = {{coord|33.244649|126.571662|type:waterbody_region:GB_source:enwiki|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref =

| location = Seogwipo, Jeju Province, South Korea

| elevation =

| height = {{cvt|23|m|ft}}

| height_longest =

| number_drops = 1

| width = {{cvt|8|m|ft}}

| average_width =

| run =

| watercourse =

| average_flow =

| world_rank =

| type =

}}

{{Infobox Korean name

|hangul=정방폭포

|hanja=正房瀑布

|rr=Jeongbang Pokpo

|mr=Chŏngbang Pokpo

}}

Jeongbang Waterfall ({{Korean|hangul=정방폭포}}) is a waterfall and popular tourist attraction located in Seogwipo, Jeju Province, South Korea.{{Cite web | title = Jeongbang Waterfall in Jeju, Jeongbang Waterfall of Jeju, Korea. | url = http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/south-korea/jeju/sightseeing-in-jeju/jeongbang-waterfall-in-jeju.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101219053119/http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/south-korea/jeju/sightseeing-in-jeju/jeongbang-waterfall-in-jeju.html | url-status = usurped | archive-date = December 19, 2010 | accessdate = 7 June 2011 }}{{Cite book | last1 = Lee | first1 = Cecilia Hae-Jin. | title = Frommer's South Korea | url = https://archive.org/details/frommerssouthkor00leec_779 | url-access = limited | year = 2008 | publisher = Wiley | location = Hoboken, NJ | isbn = 978-0-470-18191-1 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/frommerssouthkor00leec_779/page/n401 392]}} The waterfall is {{convert|23|m|ft|abbr=on}} high and is very close to the ocean.{{cite web|author=lifeinkorea.com |title=Jeongbang Waterfall |url=http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/cheju/91 |access-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612142748/http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/cheju/91 |archive-date=2011-06-12 |df= }} Depending on the level of recent rainfall, it can be up {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide.{{cite book|author=Simon Richmond|title=Korea|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h9-DOFiUI5oC&pg=PA297|accessdate=7 June 2011|date=1 May 2010|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-831-5|page=297}} The source of the waterfall is the stream Donghong-cheon.{{cite journal|last1=Oh|first1=Duck Chul|last2=Choi|first2=Young Chan|last3=Ko|first3=Yong Ku|year=1992|title=An Investigation of the Water Quality of the Streams in Sogwipo City|journal=Korean Journal of Limnology|volume=25|issue=1|pages=20–30}} It is considered to be one of Yeongjusipgeong, the ten greatest scenic wonders of Jeju Island.

Legend states that a holy dragon lived underneath it.{{cite book|author=Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee|title=Frommer's South Korea|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=95HEb92jABoC&pg=PA404|accessdate=7 June 2011|date=24 May 2010|publisher=Frommer's|isbn=978-0-470-59154-3|pages=404–}} It was said that the dragon's spirit is contained in the water which can cure diseases and bring rain during drought. Furthermore, a nearby small waterfall is said to resemble a servant waiting on a lord.

A legend states that Emperor Qin Shi Huang of China (259 BC – 210 BC) sent a servant, Seobul, to fetch the magical herbs of eternal youth from the island's mountain Hallasan.{{Cite web | title = Jeongbang Falls | url = http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264181 | accessdate = 7 June 2011 | archive-date = 11 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120311073911/http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264181 | url-status = live }} Though he failed to find the herb, he encountered Jeongbang Falls on the way and he left his autograph, Seobul Gwaji (which literally means "Seobul was here"{{Cite web | title = Jeju Weekly | url = http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=369 | accessdate = 7 June 2011 | archive-date = 15 December 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111215090250/http://jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=369 | url-status = live }}), on the cliff wall, where it no longer remains.{{Cite web | title = ::Jeju Tour Info:: | url = http://english.tour2jeju.net/main/view.php?idno=50304&menu_id=12 | accessdate = 7 June 2011 | archive-date = 3 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220253/http://english.tour2jeju.net/main/view.php?idno=50304&menu_id=12 | url-status = live }} An inscription on the wall of the waterfall saying "Seobulgwacha", refers to Seobul's journey. The waterfall is one of the three famous waterfalls of Jeju, along with Cheonjiyeon Waterfall and Cheonjeyeon Waterfall. A smaller waterfall, {{Interlanguage link|Sojeongbang Waterfall|ko|소정방폭포}} is 300 m to the east.

The waterfall is also known to be a location related to the 1948 Jeju uprising. Civilians caught up in the uprising were executed near the falls, and their bodies were disposed of over the waterfall.{{Cite web |last=박 |first=미라 |date=2023-05-29 |title=제주 유명관광지 ‘정방폭포’에 숨어있는 슬픈 4·3 이야기 |url=https://www.khan.co.kr/local/Jeju/article/202305291530001 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Kyunghyang Shinmun |language=ko}}