“Tell my mom I love her,” she said, seconds before jumping off the cliff. I wish I could say those were her last words, but the smart alec in the group had to ruin the moment. “Don’t you mean ‘loved’?”

“Erm, yes. Tell me mother I loved her.” And then she ran at breakneck speed, or at least as fast as she could with the gear weighing her down, and lept off the cliff. Some would call it a leap of faith, other of skill. The more practical in the world would simply call it her first solo paragliding flight.

The more practical in the world might also call it ludicrous. After all, why give up perfectly good footing on the earth to jump off a cliff with nothing to keep you from plunging but a paper-thin canopy strapped to your back with thin strings? And why, if you’re going to do it at all, would you choose to do such a thing in Korea, where the English instruction is minimal?

The practical naysayers do have a point. The first solo-jump occurs within one’s first few days of lessons. Some ground training is provided, during which an English-only student generally has little clue what to do. After that, the student is asked to jump. A bit scary, but exciting.

What the naysayers don’t realize is that very little skill is needed to operate a canopy. All one has to do is be able to hold the brake cords in each hand and then adjust the hand to the appropriate position – ear-level, shoulder-level, chest-level – when instructed over the walkie-talkie. If the instructor thinks the weather conditions are too difficult or you’re simply not ready, then you just don’t go. At no point is your safety in questions.

The naysayers also don’t realize how gorgeous Jeju looks from the sky. They don’t know what it feels like to look down and see hills rolling out before them, fields blending in together. They don’t realize the rush that comes with doing such a “ludicrous” thing, or the relaxation that settles over you mid-air. Living abroad is a time for adventure. Why avoid it?

Essential Details:

The cost: the paragliding school offers an 8-week course for beginners to earn a level-1 license. Other courses for higher licences are also offered. The beginner course is 480,000won or 400,000won with a group discount (6 or more people). A tandem jump is 40,000.

The time: Eight weeks. One can go on every Saturday, Sunday and holiday. One can also skip as many times as desired. If you fail to do as many flights as needed in those eight weeks to earn the license, you can continue going until you earn it, at no extra charge.

Whom to call: Mr. Kim Jin-Ok, 017-691-2633, It would be best to ask a Korean coworker or friend to make the call for you.

Where to go: Take a bus or taxi to the Jeju-si bus terminal, also known as the Jeju Complex. It’s the office with a picture of a paraglider painted on it. They might meet you at the bus terminal on the first day if you ask with just the right hint of desperation.

What to bring/wear: Long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, hiking shoes (or sneakers that go up past the ankle), gripping gloves (which can easily be bought at the bus terminal for 300-800won), and 10,000won for lunch. If you go during an uncomfortably hot month, you might want to consider wearing flipflops/jandals and switching into the hiking shoes when necessary.

Hope to see you join our tiny paragliding club!

Disclaimer: One does not actually “jump off a cliff.” Rather, one runs down the side of a hill until the wind lifts one’s feet from the ground (usually 5-15 seconds).

Dawn Parks
ditzyklutz1@yahoo.com