Jeju-do(Island) was formed by volcanic activities about 1.7 million years ago and the volcanic activities remained active until 1002 A.D. Most of the rocks exposed at the ground level of Jeju-do were formed after lava streamed out from the deep underground. They formed volcanic rocks characterized by small porous holes on the surface. Jeju-seok is the youngest rock from the eight provinces.

Story of Dolhareubang, the Guardian God of Jeju

The main symbol of Jeju-dp is the "Dolhareubang," which has protruded eyes, a blunt and long nose, a closed mouth, and a thick hand on a fat belly. It is carved from black volcanic rocks. The name "Dolhareubang" means a stone grandfather, and resembles the figure of grandfathers or fathers who have dealt with the tough situations of life and is considered a polite representation of them.

Dolhareubang was named after special stone statues located in the East, West and South Gates of three districts - Daejeonghyeon, Jeonguihyeon, and Jejumok in the Joseon Dynasty. It was designated as Folk Material No. 2 in 1971 by the Korean Department of Culture.

Originally Dolhareubang was called "Beoksumeori," "Useongmok," "Museongmok" by people, and it was once written as "Ongjungseok" in the literature. According to Mr. Yeongdon Kim, a folk tale scholar on Jeju-do, Dulhareubang a nickname from Jeju-do residents was started after the independence from Japan. It became well known and the name was registered as an official name for the cultural property in spite of hot disputes by many folk scholars.

Dolhareubang has different figures depending on the districts. Dolhareubang in Jejumok is the biggest warrior-like statue with manly, distant, and vivid features as it guards the capital of Jeju-do. Dulhareubangs that guard Jeongeuihyeon (now Sungeup-ri) and Daejeonghyeon (now Boseong-ri and Anseong-ri) have a different impression although the hat on its head and two hands on its belly are carved out of black volcanic rock like the Dolhareubang in Jejumok.

You can feel the simplicity and humor of the general public from the figure smaller than Jeju-mok and the body proportion where the head size is half of the body. Mr. Yeongdon Kim wrote that Dolhareubang in Jeongeuihyeon are sharp and neat from the geometric shaping while Dolhareubang in Daejeonghyeon is round with an easy and gentle impression.