Jeju Island: A Photography Guide to this Summer’s Hot New Trend
We’ve only seen one K-drama in our lifetime. It happened last week, when a short five minute clip suddenly popped up in our YouTube recommendations. Why this happened, we have no idea, but we watched it all the same. And we were shocked to find how much we enjoyed it, despite having absolutely no context whatsoever!
But then, it’s clear that a lot of people from around the world are enjoying K dramas in 2024. Known as the ‘K-drama wave’, millions of people globally tune into K-drama shows, citing their exceptional storytelling, high production quality, and cultural resonance as a main reason for their intrigue. And when we say these millions are fans, we mean they’re proper fans – to the point where they’re actively visiting some of the key places where K-dramas are shot.
One of these places is known as Jeju Island, which is just off the southern coast of South Korea. This has long been a popular spot for a Seoulite summer getaway, but over the last two years, it has become particularly popular with global tourists too – mainly due to the fact it’s a common location for a variety of K-dramas. With shows like Legend of the Blue Sea, Warm and Cozy, and Our Blues utilising the picturesque landscape, Jeju Island has become this summer's hot new vacation trend.
And the pictures that are emerging from these vacations demonstrate why. Whether you’re a K-drama fanatic or not, it’s clear to see why Jeju Island has become such a hotspot for cinematographers and tourists alike, with a number of scenic landscapes and photo opportunities that stand up against some of the most beautiful locations in the world. With this in mind, we wanted to take a closer look purely from a photography perspective, helping you to discern whether Jeju Island should be the next location on your list.
Capturing the Sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong
As a photo book creator, we often speak about the importance of showstopper photographs – photographs that hit on another level and grab the eye almost as soon as the book is opened. On Jeju Island, however, this might be a little difficult to find.
Not because there are no showstoppers, but because there are so many. With the total area amounting to around 714 square miles, Jeju Island is easily South Korea’s largest island, with a number of different natural landscapes that look beautiful on camera. One of these landscapes is the tuff cone crater, Seongsan Ilchulbong, which offers spectacular sunrise views over the East China Sea.
Experiencing the Diverse Ecosystem on Hallasan Mountain
Another beautiful location is Hallasan Mountain, which is often visited by photographers for shots of its crater lake, the misty mountain peaks, and the gorgeous flora and fauna. If you’re travelling during the fall, specifically, you can take some wonderful autumn foliage snaps here. There’s also a great deal of wildlife to spot, including the Formosan deer, gazelle, Roe deer, and around 364 species of birds.
Stepping into K-Dramas at Seopjikoji
While Hallasan Mountain and Seongsan Ilchulbong are popular locations for K-dramas, one of the most frequently used is Seopjikoji, which is a coastal area characterised by its rugged cliffs, quaint lighthouses, and fields of wildflowers. For those looking to emulate those romantic K-drama shows, you won’t find a better location than this. We’d recommend getting down for the sunrise, specifically. When the burning red sun is glistening on the waves and the sky is turning from dark to blue, there’s really no better opportunity to capture the majesty and romance of nature itself.
Explore the Traditions of Seongeup Folk Village
Another popular tourist spot on Jeju Island is Seongeup Folk Village. This is a traditional Korean village that showcases Jeju’s historical culture and gorgeous architecture. From a photography standpoint, there are plenty of intricate details to explore and capture, including the iconic volcanic rock statues, which are believed to be the guardians of the village itself. Coupled with quaint paved stone paths and traditionally thatched roofs, visiting this village is an experience you won’t long forget – especially if you take enough photographs!
Walking Up Camellia Hill
We wanted to finish off by mentioning Camellia Hill, a popular spot for Insta-photographers during the late winter and early spring seasons. This is a garden full of thousands of camellia trees – each of which have blooming pink flowers that change in color as the seasons merge. While, again, this is used as a popular filming location for K-dramas, it’s another reason why you should visit the island, whether you’re a K-drama fan or not. There are few places in the world which radiate such an intense sense of beauty, nature, seclusion, but also culture – and Jeju Island is not only one of them, it’s one of the best of them.
