A dream I had carried with me all my life has finally come true, Halmang Stay 제주 할망스테이

“평생 꿈으로만 간직했던 일이, 이제 진짜가 되었어요.”

무더운 여름에도 할망스테이는
올레꾼을 맞이하기 위해 차근차근 준비되고 있습니다.

오늘 찾아간 곳은 제주올레 20코스에 있는 김순자 삼촌의 할망스테이입니다. 🏡

집에 들어서는 순간, ‘이곳이야말로 진짜 할망숙소구나’ 싶었어요.

어릴 적 방학마다 찾아가던 할머니 댁처럼 포근하고,
오래된 집이지만 순자 삼촌의 손길이 곳곳에 닿아 무척 깔끔하고 쾌적했습니다.

이날은 도배와 장판 작업이 한창이라 집 안팎이 조금 분주했는데요.
비어 있는 이 방들이 어떤 모습으로 따뜻하게 채워질지 벌써 기대가 됐습니다. ✨

이 집은 순자 삼촌이 태어난 친정집입니다.

평생 해녀로 일하며 한 푼 두 푼 돈을 모아
오래된 집을 직접 고쳐 지금의 모습을 만들었다고 해요.

그리고 순자 삼촌에게는 오랫동안 품어온 꿈이 하나 있었습니다.
제주를 찾아오는 사람들에게 방을 내어주고, 자신이 살아온 제주와 바다 이야기를 들려주는 것.

하지만 집을 손보는 비용이 부담돼 그동안 마음속 꿈으로만 간직하고 있었는데요.

에어비앤비와 제주올레가 함께하는 '시니어 여성 민박 창업 지원'의 도움으로 마침내 그 꿈을 이루게 되었습니다.

인터뷰 도중 “꿈을 이루게 됐다”며 눈물을 보이던 순자 삼촌.

그 모습을 보며 알게 됐습니다.
할망스테이는 단순히 하룻밤 머무는 곳이 아니라, 한 사람의 삶과 꿈, 그리고 제주가 이어지는 공간이라는 것을요. 💛

순자 삼촌의 할망스테이가 문을 열면 따뜻한 집에 머물며 해녀 이야기와 제주 이야기를 듣고, 관광지만 둘러보는 여행과는 다른 진짜 제주를 만나보고 싶습니다.

여러분은 순자 삼촌에게 어떤 제주 이야기를 가장 먼저 듣고 싶으신가요? 🌊

+에어비앤비가 후원하고 제주올레가 만드는 할망스테이는 제주가 가장 아름다운 계절 가을, 오픈 할 예정입니다.

+ 다른 3곳의 할망스테이는 어디고, 호스트들은 어떤 분들일지도 기대해주세요. 곧 공개합니다!

“A dream I had carried with me all my life has finally come true.”

It’s been a while since we last shared an update about Halmang Stay.
You must have been wondering how things were going! 😊

Even in the middle of the hot summer, preparations are moving forward step by step to welcome hikers.

Today, we visited the future Halmang Stay of Kim Sun-ja, located along Jeju Olle Route 20. 🏡

The moment we stepped inside, we thought,
“This truly feels like a grandmother’s home.”

It felt warm and familiar, like visiting your grandmother’s house during a childhood vacation.
Although the house is old, every corner has been carefully maintained by Sun-ja, making it exceptionally clean and comfortable.

On the day of our visit, wallpapering and flooring work was underway, so the house was a little busy.
Still, we could already imagine how these empty rooms would soon be transformed into warm and welcoming spaces. ✨

This is the house where Sun-ja was born and raised.

After working as a haenyeo, or Jeju woman diver, throughout her life, she saved money little by little and renovated the old house herself, gradually shaping it into what it is today.

Sun-ja had also held onto one dream for many years:

To open her home to visitors to Jeju and share stories about the island, the sea, and the life she has lived.

However, the cost of renovating the house was too great, so the dream remained in her heart for a long time.

With support from the **Senior Women’s Homestay Business Program**, sponsored by Airbnb and operated in partnership with Jeju Olle, that dream is finally becoming a reality.

During the interview, Sun-ja became emotional as she said that her dream had finally come true.

At that moment, we realized that Halmang Stay is much more than simply a place to spend the night.

It is a space where one woman’s life, her lifelong dream, and the stories of Jeju come together. 💛

When Sun-ja’s homestay opens, we hope visitors will stay in her warm and welcoming home, listen to her stories about life as a haenyeo and growing up in Jeju, and experience a side of the island that cannot be found at ordinary tourist attractions.

What story about Jeju would you most like to hear from Sun-ja? 🌊

Sponsored by Airbnb and created by Jeju Olle, **Olle Grandma’s Homestay** is scheduled to open this autumn, when Jeju is at its most beautiful.

Three more Olle Grandma’s Homestays will also be introduced soon.

Where will they be, and who are the women preparing to welcome you?

Stay tuned to meet the other hosts!