Officials from Jeju Island and the autonomous Spanish community of Galicia on July 12 take a commemorative photo at the unveiling ceremony for dol hareubang, or a large rock statue common in Jeju, and ganse, a pony-shaped blue sculpture that is the symbol of Jeju Olle Trail, at Monte do Gozo in the Arca section of the famous pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago. (Jeju Special Self-governing Province)

By Anais Faure

Two symbols of Jeju Island and its walking path Jeju Olle Trail, dol hareubang and ganse, have been installed on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), Spain's leading pilgrimage route.

The Jeju provincial government on July 13 said a commemorative event was held the day before with authorities from the autonomous Spanish community of Galicia at Monte do Gozo in the Arca section of the route to mark the installation of both cultural pieces.

Dol hareubang is a guardian statue that is called the island's "stone grandfather." Ganse is a pony-shaped blue sculpture and used as the emblem of Jeju Olle Trail. Meaning "lazy" or "idle" in Jeju dialect, ganse serves as an invitation to walk slowly on the trail. 

A commemorative stone with a seashell design, the emblem of the Santiago route, will be installed in Jeju. 

As part of cooperation to boost tourism both in Korea and Spain, Jeju and Galicia set up mutually symbolic sections on the Olle trail and Santiago route. The sections are located on the Spanish path's Arca section and Route 1 of the Jeju trail.

The commemorative event also featured programs like a dance performance under the theme of the haenyeo, the famed female divers of Jeju, and a digital photo exhibition with 10 shots of the island's natural landscapes and 10 of the Olle trail.

A dance performance featuring the haenyeo, or the famed female divers of Jeju Island, is held on July 12 at the Arca section of Spain's leading pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago to mark the installation of the Jeju symbols dol hareubang and ganse. (Jeju Special Self-governing Province)

In addition to the event, Jeju and Galicia on July 12 also concluded a convention to promote exchanges in a number of fields.

afaure@korea.kr