Published on: April 24, 2025, 2:43 PM (KST)
(Reporter Hong Yeon-gil)

On April 23, more than 200 students from Gyeonggi Academy of Foreign Languages visited the Ulleungdo and Dokdo National Geoparks, spending a meaningful day exploring the beautiful geological features of Ulleungdo.

The participants, all first-year students at GAFL, traveled to Ulleungdo as part of the school’s domestic experiential learning program, “Pride of Korea.” The program aims to help students develop a strong sense of Korean identity and instill pride by directly experiencing Korea’s unique culture and heritage.

This marks the school’s second visit following a meeting held on April 5, 2024, between Nam Han-kwon, Governor of Ulleung County, and Principal Yuk Kwang-hee of GAFL. During that meeting, both sides agreed on the importance of providing students with opportunities to visit Ulleungdo and Dokdo to deepen their understanding of national pride through various cultural and educational experiences.

At Bongnae Waterfall and Nari Basin—two of Ulleungdo’s representative geological sites—the students learned about the island’s unique geological features through explanations provided by professional geopark interpreters, gaining hands-on experience with Ulleungdo’s natural environment.

Designated as Korea’s first National Geopark, the Ulleungdo and Dokdo National Geopark encompasses 23 geological attractions, including Gwaneumdo Island, Bongnae Waterfall, Hwangto Cave, Samseon Rock, and the Jeodong–Dodong Coastal Trail. To date, 32 certified geopark interpreters have been trained to guide and educate more than 30,000 visitors each year through informative tours of these remarkable geological sites.

One GAFL student shared, “The geology lectures we had at school always felt a bit abstract, but visiting Ulleungdo and seeing the geological sites in person while listening to the explanations helped me understand them much better. In particular, learning about the volcanic traces of Nari Basin explained by the interpreter made it fascinating to understand how Ulleungdo was formed.”

Gyeonggi Academy of Foreign Languages plans to continue organizing annual visits to Ulleungdo and Dokdo for first-year students as part of its experiential learning program.

Nam Han-kwon, Governor of Ulleung County, remarked, “I hope this exploration gives students a precious opportunity to fully appreciate the geological heritage and natural beauty of Ulleungdo. We will continue our efforts to further develop Ulleungdo and Dokdo into the center of Korea’s geological and cultural heritage, offering meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences for both domestic and international visitors.”


Source: Sisats
https://www.sisats.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=303868