History of Cheju Island

Archeological evidence now indicates that the isalnd has been inhabited at least since the Paleolithic period when the inhabitants lived in caves or under overhangs that provided shelter. Stone and bone tools have been found to back up this theory. The bronze age on the island is evidenced by dolmens as well as earthen jar burials.

In ancient times, Cheju Island was also know as To-i, Yongju, Sopna, T´ammora and T´akna. All these names, except Yongju, mean island.

The founding legend of the island holds that the three demi-gods, Yang-ulla, Ko-ulla and Pu-ulla, emerged from the ground at Samsunghyol. The gods made their living by hunting and gathering. One day while on the slopes of Mt. Halla, the gods saw a wooden box floating off the eastern shore. Inside the box, they found the three daughters of the king of Pyoknang who had learned of the three demi-gods´ desire to develop a new nation and had sent his daughters to be their brides and assist them in their work.

The three daughters were carrying the seeds of five different grains, cattle and horses. This symbolizes the islanders´ recognition that they must develop new ways of living through cultural borrowing. Historical records from the Silla dynasty (B.C. 57 - A.D. 935) indicate that the 15th generation of descendants of Ko-ulla were received at the Silla court at which time the island of Cheju was named ´Tamna´ and probably was a tributary of the Silla.

There is little doubt that by the beginning of the Christian era, Cheju was already an organized state and was seeking relation with its neighbors, but exactly what these relations were is as yet unknown, although some trade was carried out between the islanders and traders from the mainland states of Koguryo (B.C. 37 - A.D. 668) and Paekche (B.C. 18 - A.D. 660) as well as Silla. Chinese records also indicate that Cheju islanders traded with the Han dynasty in China (B.C. 206 - A.D. 220).

In 1105, the island came under the rule of the Koryo kingdom (918-1392) and the isalnd was referred to as ´Tamna-gun,´ or ´Tamna County,´ rather than as a distinct state. Nevertheless, the administration of local affairs was left to the islanders.

When the Koryo kingdom was invaded by the Mongols and forced to accept a humiliating peace, the Sampyolcho resisters fought both the Koryo court and the Mongols, finally fleeing to Cheju Island where they were annihilated by a combined force of Koryo and Mongol armies. Cheju came under the control of the Mongols who used the island for horse breeding. Mongol domination lasted for 100 years until complete control was restored once more to the court of Koryo.

Cheju became a province in 1946, and today is divided administratively into two cities, two counties, seven townships, and five districts or sub-counties.