Jeng TengImagine stumbling upon a museum dedicated to glasses, or perhaps one showcasing the world’s largest collection of dolls. Welcome to the quirky wonderland of Jeju, where the unexpected awaits around every corner. Join us as we delve into the island’s 10 most unusual museums on Jeju Island, each offering a unique glimpse into the island’s culture, history, and a touch of the bizarre.
Also read: Jeju Island Restaurants: Where & What to Eat in Jeju, South Korea
Quirky museums on Jeju Island that deserve your attention
1. Chocolate Museum (Chocolate Land)
Jeju’s Chocolate Land is the second largest chocolate museum in the world, after the Chocolate Museum in Cologne, Germany. The museum is built in volcanic scoria that allows it to blend perfectly with the island’s natural landscape. If you’re a fan of chocolate, come here to find out about the history of cacao, how chocolate is made, and of course, get a taste of sweet goodness before you leave!
Address: 551-18 Ilgwa-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Admission fee: Adults 7,000 won; Children 5,000 won
Opening hours: 10.30am to 5.00pm (daily)
2. Gimnyeong Maze Park
Image credit: Whyyan | Flickr
Image credit: Mr Laser | Flickr
Located within walking distance of the Manjanggul Cave and Gimnyeongsagul Cave, Gimnyeong Maze Park will make you feel like a child again! If you’re afraid of getting lost, don’t worry because they have maps provided to help you navigate the maze. Apparently, you only need five minutes to complete it if you know your way. The park also features three skywalks that overlook the entire maze park, which are great photo spots. Needless to say, it’s a pretty unique experience at Gimnyeong Maze Park!
Address: 122, Manjanggul-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
Admission fee: Adults 4,400 won; Youths 3,300 won; Children 2,200 won
Opening hours: 9.00am to 5.50pm (daily)
3. Hello Kitty Island
Don’t be fooled by its name, because Hello Kitty Island is actually an exhibition building themed around the iconic Japanese character! Hello Kitty fans would be glad to know that there is a themed café and a gift shop with a wide offering. The variety of exhibits features Hello Kitty and her family (yes she has a family!) in different halls: Kitty History Hall, Art Education Hall, World Gallery Hall and more. Here’s a challenge: just TRY not to squeal at each exhibit you come across.
Address: 340, Hanchang-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
Admission fee: Adults 12,000 won; Youths 11,000 won; Children 9,000 won
Opening hours: 9.00am to 6.00pm (daily)
4. Jeju Glass Castle
Image credit: Korea Tourism Organization | Official Website
Image credit: Korea Tourism Organization | Official Website
It might seem out of the blue, but Jeju does have a glass castle in the form of a glass art theme park! The Jeju Glass Castle is home to the world’s first all-glass labyrinth, the world’s largest glass ball and glass diamond, as well as other models within the exhibition hall – all made out of glass! Prepare to be in awe as you explore this themed museum. You can even try creating your own glass art by picking up skills like glassblowing and glass painting!
Address: 462, Nokchabunjae-ro, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
Admission fee: Adult 11,500 won; Youths 9,500 won; Children 8,500 won (Seniors and people with disabilities get concession rates!)
Opening hours: 9.00am to 7.00pm (daily)
*Note: The museum is currently under renovation (as of 15 Oct 2024) until further notice.
5. Jeju Love Land
Image credit: Michael Sotnikov | Flickr
Image credit: Dave Miller | Flickr
Image credit: Simon Williams-Im | Flickr
Who said Asians were closeted and conservative with showing their passion? Jeju Love Land presents the exact opposite of that stereotype! Created by graduates of Korea’s top art school, Hongik University, the park features over 140 sculptures themed around sensuality and eroticism. This theme park may not be for everyone, but maybe some hilarious tourist photos will change your mind! You have to be at least 20 years old to visit the park.
Address: 2894-72, Cheonbaengi-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
Admission fee: Adults 15,000 won
Opening hours: 9.00am to 10.00pm (daily)
6. O’sulloc Museum
Image credit: Wilson Loo Kok Wee | Flickr
Image credit: Wilson Loo Kok Wee | Flickr
O’sulloc Museum, or the Jeju Tea Museum, chronicles the history of Korean tea tradition in hopes of spreading the practice. The history of tea might sound boring, but the Tea Museum is also well-known for its beautiful interior and exterior! In fact, it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island. That’s not surprising, considering how picturesque the place looks!
Address: 15, Sinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
Admission fee: FREE
Opening hours: 9.00am to 6.00pm
7. Psyche World
Image credit: Seongbin Im | Flickr
Image credit: Seongbin Im | Flickr
If you didn’t know, psyche means ‘butterfly’ in Greek, and that’s exactly what Psyche World is about! Featuring more than 10,000 butterflies over 3,000 species, Psyche World houses the world’s largest butterfly museum. Needless to say, the museum offers a spectacular display of colours. Moreover, the butterfly museum is but one of five sections in Psyche World. You can even see other creatures such as birds, snakes and guinea pigs here!
Address: 2157, Pyeonghwa-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
Admission fee: Adults 9,500 won; Teenagers 8,000 won; Children or Seniors 7,000 won
Opening hours: 8.30am to 8pm
8. Teddy Bear Museum
This would by far be my favourite museum of Jeju Island! Think Madame Tussauds, but instead of realistic wax figures, all characters are replaced with teddy bears in Jeju’s Teddy Bear Museum. Also featuring the history of teddy bears, the museum is filled with teddy bears dressed as famous personalities or celebrities, such as Charlie Chaplin, Mona Lisa, and even Van Gogh! The Teddy Bear Museum is a must-visit when in Jeju!
Address: 31, Jungmungwangwang-ro110beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
Admission fee: Adults 12,000 won; Teenagers 11,000 won; Children 10,000 won
Opening hours: 9.00am to 6.00pm (daily)
9. Arte Museum Jeju
Image credit: Arte Museum Jeju | Official Website
Arte Museum Jeju offers a unique and immersive experience that’s unlike anything else you’ll find on the island. The museum showcases stunning digital art installations, from serene forests to vibrant underwater scenes. My personal favourites were the Beach Cloud, with its breathtaking wave projection, and the Moon, where visitors can capture their silhouette against a giant glowing rabbit. Also, you should drop by their Live Sketchbook Bamboo Forest exhibit. Here, you can witness your drawings come to life on the back of a panda – hands down the most delightful section of the museum!
Address: 478 Eorimbi-ro, Aewol-eup, 특별자치도, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Admission fee: Adults 18,000 won
Opening hours: 10.00am to 8.00pm (daily)
10. Figure Museum Jeju
Image credit: Figure Museum Jeju | Official Instagram Page
You can’t talk about quirky museums in Jeju without mentioning Figure Museum Jeju! This place is a must-visit for fans of anime, comics, and movies, as you can find a vast collection of life-size figures from popular franchises like Marvel, DC, and anime series. Figurines of cartoon characters from Disney such as Anna and Elsa from Frozen can also be found in this archive. While here, you can pose with your favourite superheroes (or anime waifus) and try on cool costumes and pretend like you’re the main character of your own movie!
Address: 243 KR, Hanchang-ro, Andeok-myeon, 특별자치도, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
Admission fee: Adults 10,110.5 won; Youths 8,690 won; Child 7,175 won
Opening hours: 9.30am to 6.00pm (daily)
Also read: 22 Coolest Jeju Airbnb Homes to Bookmark for Your Next Trip
And that concludes my top picks of the most unique Jeju Island museums to add to your wishlist. So, next time you find yourself exploring this beautiful island, be sure to venture off the beaten path and discover the fascinating world of Jeju’s quirky archives!
