Dol Hareubang (Jeju)

돌하르방

A dol hareubang is a traditional statue carved from volcanic rock on Jeju Island, South Korea. The name means "stone grandfather". The statues were placed in front of gates as guardians against evil spirits, and today they are a symbol of Jeju.

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At a glance

Country: South Korea
Location: Jeju, South Korea
Built: 1754
Height: 2.5 m
Type: Statue

Quick answers

Where is Dol Hareubang (Jeju)?

Dol Hareubang (Jeju) is in Jeju, South Korea.

When was Dol Hareubang (Jeju) built?

Dol Hareubang (Jeju) was built in 1754.

Jeju's "stone grandfather" statues carved from volcanic basalt, once seen as guardians of villages.

No one knows exactly when people began making them. They may be at least 500 years old, from the early Joseon period. Only 47 or 48 original old statues are known, most of them on Jeju, so most of the ones you see today are newer copies. In 1971 Jeju's Cultural Property Committee decided that dol hareubang would be the official name.

What they look like

Every statue is a little different, but many share the same features: a round hat, big wide-open eyes, a closed mouth, and hands placed on the belly or behind the back, with one shoulder raised higher than the other. Their faces have been described as stern, dignified or even funny. The round hat is said to make the statue a symbol of fertility.

Names and guardians

Before the 1970s the statues went by many names, such as useongmok, museongmok, ongjungseok and dolyeonggam. Some of these names mean things like guardian or general. Dol hareubang were set in front of gates to protect the home or village, in a similar way to jangseung, the wooden totem poles found across Korea. The statues were also symbols and ritual objects for fertility.

Fun facts

"Hareubang" is the Jeju word for grandfather.
Only 47 or 48 original old statues are known to exist.
The official name "dol hareubang" was only decided in 1971, though it was once used mostly by children.