[Weekender] Celebrities flock to Jejudo in search of peace, inspiration

Nearly three decades ago, Choi Sung-won of South Korea’s legendary rock group Deulgukhwa described the beauty of Jejudo Island in his signature song “The Blue Night on Jeju Island.”

Choi suggested in his song that those who feel lonely or bored leave for Jejudo Island to see the blue sky and hear the sea whispering.

Today, a growing number of Koreans are settling on the resort island of Jejudo, off the southern coast of South Korea. By July, more than 6,000 Koreans will have moved to the island this year, up 34 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to government statistics.

Korean celebrities are no exception to the craze. Jejudo Island has become a haven for stars seeking peace, rest and inspiration away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. 

K-pop icon Lee Hyori is one of them. Lee, who used to live in the affluent Gangnam District of Seoul, moved to the nation’s largest island with singer-songwriter Lee Sang-soon after they tied the knot in September 2013. “I am famous and don’t want to be forgotten, but I still want a quiet life,” Lee wrote on her blog in June.

The newlyweds built a wooden house to live in, took up farming and began cooking meals with their fresh farm produce. Walking the dogs in nearby forests has become a big part of their rural life. Above all, the musicians find inspiration for music from the peaceful surroundings.

Jejudo Island, home to some 600,000 Koreans, has long been regarded as the No. 1 getaway for city dwellers in search of tranquility and breathtaking natural beauty ― crystal clear waters, picturesque coastline and exotic palm trees, to name just a few. The untouched, unique natural scenery has earned the island UNESCO designations in the categories of Global Geoparks Network, World Natural Heritage and Biosphere Reverse.

Yet the island’s panoramic scenery is not the only reason celebrities turn their eyes to Jejudo.

South Korean veteran singer Lee Jeong, whose real name is Lee Jung-hee, moved to the exotic island last year. For him, accessibility mattered. “I chose Jejudo Island over Hawaii because I thought I could (easily) travel between Seoul and Jejudo Island to work,” he said on the cable TV talk show “Taxi.”

In fact, flights from Seoul to Jejudo Island only take an hour or so, and the airfare has gradually decreased as low-cost airlines have expanded their services in Korea.

Other celebrities opt to have a second home on the island rather than settle there. Two famous actor and actress couples ― Choi Soo-jong and Ha Hee-ra; and Kim Seung-woo and Kim Nam-joo ― have bought a luxurious house in a European-style residential complex located along a white sand beach. The house, equipped with an indoor pool, spa, golf course and gym, reportedly costs a whopping 1.6 billion won ($1.5 million).

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)