VISIT JEJU

Podo Museum, a multipurpose cultural space for sharing ideas, opened in April 2021.

The museum currently hosts the exhibition The World We Made, which is a collection of visual interpretations of hate that causes social strife, and the exhibition It is spring, My son by Käthe Schmidt Kollwitz, who aims to convey a message of empathy through her works. 

You may wonder why we picked Podo Museum out of all the art museums. Podo Museum is more than a place that holds art exhibitions—it is a multipurpose cultural and art space for people to share ideas on various social issues and future values.

Turn these exhibitions into an opportunity to appreciate the importance of everyday life that we may have been neglecting.

Address: 788, Sallongnam-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Hours: 10:00-18:00, Closed on Tuesdays

Admission: Adult 5,000 won/Student and soldier 3,000 won/ Child (12 or younger) Free

Website: www.podomuseum.com

When you walk around Osulloc Tea Museum, you come across a black square, inkstone-shaped building. This building was built in the shape of the inkstone of Chusa Kim Jeong-hee, and is a tea ceremony experiencing space where you can learn about tea culture.

At the premium tea class, you listen to the story of the volcanic island of Jeju and fermented tea and learn to brew tea. Wrap around the pottery cup holding the carefully brewed Volcanic Rock Tea with both hands, and enjoy the aroma and the flavor of the tea. A sip of tea will instantly calm you, and the warmth will spread all over your body.

Osulloc Tea Stone, which provides easier access to tea culture, is currently running three programs: Museum Tour + Green Tea Class, Premium Tea Class, and Tea Lounge. Participation in all programs at Tea Stone is by reservation only.

Address: 15, Sinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Programs

Museum tour + Green tea class (55 minutes): 30,000 won/person

Premium tea class (50 minutes): 30,000 won/person

Tea lounge (60 minutes): 35,000 won/person

Website: www.osulloc.com/kr/ko/museum/teastone

A simple piece of photography can capture the moment that will never come back and remind you over and over of the memory. How about taking one at Sagyeri Photo Studio?

Opened in May 2019, Sagyeri Photo Studio is run by a couple who moved down to Jeju. It’s a place where a lot of tourists come to make memories of their trip to Jeju.

The black-and-white photos are full of vitality even without colors, and some take a picture with a stone wall house in the background to keep the mood of Jeju alive. Sometimes, old locals come to get their ID picture taken. If you want to record the moment that will never come again, a visit to the Sagye-ri Photo Studio would be a good option.

Address: 4, Sagyenam-ro 84beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Pricing: Adult 10,000 won/person, child (12 or younger) 15,000 won/person, One-person photoshoot 20,000 won

Hours: 11:00-17:00 (Closed on Tuesdays)

Instagram: @sagyeri_photostudio

Independent bookstores handling books published by independent publishers started to open one by one in Jeju.

What makes an independent bookstore charming is a unique atmosphere and the curation of books created by the owner. The owner of Windy Books opened the bookstore by renovating a tiny old corner store in Sagye-ri. The ivy covering the wall of the bookstore building will naturally draw your attention to the place.

When you slide open the door, you will see stacks of books carefully curated by the owner. The store also carries small items such as postcards with the scenery of Jeju, bookmarks, and keychains.

The bookstore is also a café, so it would be nice to pick up a book and spend some time inside with a cup of coffee. 

Different cultural programs such as reading, drawing, book talks, and movie screening also take place at the bookstore. For more information, check out the official Instagram account (@jeju.windybooks).

Address: 374, Sanbang-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Hours: 12:00-18:00 (Closed on Sundays and Mondays) 

Instagram: @jeju.windybooks

The Retrieve is a café that opened inside a factory building that had been left abandoned for a long time. Since it used to be a factory, it’s quite spacious and the interior has a vintage mood, full of extraordinary charm.

Sit by the window and you'll see picturesque scenery out the frame-like window.

It is fun to watch the warm sunlight coming through the large grid-patterned windows and the densely-packed trees and fresh green plants outside the window. This peaceful place is the perfect place to spend some time relaxing.

With a couple of stores, Grunmind Vintage and Bouquiniste Books, nested inside the café, it’s fun to take a look around each corner. 

If you are a fan of vintage items, clothing, and accessories, browse through Grunmind Vintage. To score an art poster created in collaboration with various artists, check out Bouquiniste Books.

Address: 67, Hwasun-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Hours: 11:00-18:00

Instagram: @theretrieve.crew

This café has renovated a house that had been abandoned for over 10 years, located inside a thick forest in the quiet town of Seogwang-ri.

This place is inspired by the novel Grass Pillow by Natsume Soseki, and you can feel the unique atmosphere of the novel here.

In particular, it’s fun to look around the building exterior that retains the feel of an old house in Jeju Island. The main building and annex are located around the courtyard on a large site of about 1,700m2, and various plants surrounding the site including tangerine trees and camellias further add to the Jeju mood.

The signature menus are Sweet Pullbege, which is milk and condensed milk mix with a shot of espresso and Maeum, a cup of iced latté with thick sweetened condensed milk cream on top. 

The café also offers a variety of other beverages and baked goods. After 6 PM, it turns into a bar, serving alcoholic drinks including whiskey and wine.

Address: 492-4, Hwasunseoseo-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Hours: 10:00-22:00 

Instagram: @pullbege

A new place, café Muroi, recently opened in Donggwang-ri. Muroi means a thick layer of fog or long-lasting fog. 

Just like its name, when you enter inside, the overall interior is impressively dark even during the daytime. Subtle classic music playing in the background and the subdued color of the interior somehow bring comfort to your heart.

Muroi consists of three buildings and a large garden outside. The interior and exterior design mainly consisting of wood and stone and the landscape works here and there create a great atmosphere. 

Address: 21, Donggwangbondong-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Hours: 11:00-20:00

Instagram: @_muroi

* Read A walk in a Jeju Village <Autumn-Andeok-myeon> (Part 1)