Humans of Jeju

Studio 126 is an exhibition space that supports everything from the first solo exhibitions of emerging artists to the new ventures of mid-career artists, operated by independent curator Kwon Joo-hee. She keeps the space open almost every day except Sundays, allowing elderly residents to leisurely visit and children on their way to daycare to come in with their mothers to see the artwork. The space is free to enter. Studio 126 serves as an alternative space where art can become a part of the daily lives of local residents, providing opportunities for emerging artists and those whose careers have been interrupted. While she has spent the past five years engaging in fun and interesting projects as a curator, she aims to dedicate the next five years to fulfilling the role of a "public house."

After living for four years in Seoul, South Korea, and seven years in Paris, France, they contemplated where and how they want to live their life. They concluded that they wanted to live like Jessy's father, doing hands-on work diligently and working closely with the earth. Ji-eun, agreeing with Jessy's vision, moved with him to Jeju, where they can overlook the sea. The couple currently runs Maison Notre Terre in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo City. Like the name of their shop, which means 'Our Earth or Soil and Land,' they enjoy working with things that come from the soil with their own hands. Maison Notre Terre is like their little world, with a cozy workshop equipped with a pottery wheel and kiln, a showroom displaying their handmade ceramic cups and art objects, a kitchen where they make natural fermented bread from scratch, and a storage and roasting space for raw coffee beans.

She has been running Café MayB on Seogwipo Lee Joong-seop Street for 15 years. In 2010, when cafes were rare in Seogwipo, this place became a haven for foreign travelers. Guests gathered one by one to plan interesting events here. Every week, they organized activities like Art Day, where everyone could draw together, Open Mic nights for anyone to sing, charity events, themed parties, seminars, workshops, and more. The contents planned by her and the guests accumulated over one or two years, and she and her guests continue to pursue interesting activities today. Her most important goal every year is to keep this place running for a long, long time.

Debuted as a composer in 1993, he has released over 200 songs. He is a musician who has worked as a composer, producer, and singer. In 2013, after settling in Gujwa-eup area, he was asked to lead the choir made up of local grandmothers. Thinking he would do it for 1-2 years, he ended up doing it for a whopping 10 years, filling the second chapter of his life as the conductor of the Hado Haenyeo Choir. Starting with "I Am a Haenyeo," he has created songs depicting the lives and struggles of haenyeo, performing with the Hado Haenyeo Choir both domestically and internationally.

She engages in creatively planning and realizing children's play culture. In Jeju, she has been creating fun playful equipment with children using plastic boxes used for storing tangerines scattered in rural areas or buoys discarded in the sea, and operating popup playgrounds. She is involved in cultural arts projects to find a balance between life and work, with a particular focus on children's play culture and spaces. As an architecture major, she is creating a culture that can be enjoyed not only by children but also by adults, based on her architectural imagination.

Operating a "Drawing Studio" in Seonheul Village in Jeju City, she introduces the world of drawing to people who have not yet ventured into drawing. Following the drawing project <Grandmother's Art Warehouse> conducted in Seonheul Village in 2021, she began teaching drawing to the grandmothers in the village. Since then, the grandmothers have developed a desire for drawing and have also become her fellow artists. Now, they share their lives through drawing, building friendships, and sharing joy and sorrow, forming a loving community. Currently, Seonheul Village, led by the drawing grandmothers, is evolving into an entire art gallery.

Operating a "Drawing Studio" in Seonheul Village in Jeju City, she introduces the world of drawing to people who have not yet ventured into drawing. Following the drawing project <Grandmother's Art Warehouse> conducted in Seonheul Village in 2021, she began teaching drawing to the grandmothers in the village. Since then, the grandmothers have developed a desire for drawing and have also become her fellow artists. Now, they share their lives through drawing, building friendships, and sharing joy and sorrow, forming a loving community. Currently, Seonheul Village, led by the drawing grandmothers, is evolving into an entire art gallery.

Yena and Jaeha, who have loved animals since they were young, chose the path of animal researchers to get closer to animals. Majoring in animal cognition and behavioral ecology, they each lived the life of a scientist in their own way until they met. 'You in One,' located in Ilgwa-ri, a small village in Daejeong-eup area of Seogwipo City, is a science communication space created by the two, who found more joy in sharing and discussing what they learned with people than what they gained in academia. The interior of 'You in One' is designed as a 'field station,' where scientists stay and conduct research. Dreaming of popularizing science among the public rather than just making it accessible, they engage in various activities such as exhibition planning, docent programs, BioBlitz (biodiversity surveys), meetings with scientists, ecological education, Roots and Shoots movement, science book discussions, environmental bazaars, and more.

He is a singer-songwriter and currently active as an environmental docent in Jeju Island. In March 2023, he founded the environmental travel group Green Companion. Currently, he conducts environmental commentary at places in Jeju facing the climate crisis head-on, raising awareness about environmental issues among people. Born and raised in Tongyeong City, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, he considered the environment as a gift bestowed upon birth. He majored in sociology to become a person who contributes to the Earth and is currently striving to protect the natural heritage in beautiful Jeju through creative activities.

He, who loved traveling to Jeju, explored various places in Jeju even before the Olle Trail was established. In 2010, on a hot morning, he was captivated by the sight of a grandmother working in a field next to an abandoned house, which led him to turn his attention to Jeju's abandoned houses. Starting in the winter of 2012, he began investigating Jeju's  abandoned houses and initiated a project to revitalize unused spaces, founding the "Jeju Abandoned House Revitalization Social Cooperative." Since 2015, he has been working on projects to activate microeconomic activities in rural areas of Jeju and enhance the local settlement. With an unwavering interest in "the neglected, abandoned, and overlooked," he dreams of a world where small and precious things endure, and he continues to play a role as a facilitator, helping those who wish to settle in small villages in Jeju today.

He lives in Yeosuam, Aewol-eup, Jeju City with his son Si-woo, who writes poetry. About 20 years ago, he suddenly left for Russia to study film and majored in cinematography at the Russian State Institute of Cinematography the following year. His graduation film, <Bee Fly>, received positive reviews not only at Korean film festivals but also at international ones, marking the beginning of his career as a film director. Continuously creating films that reflect the artistic sensibility and questioning attitude towards life experienced in Russian culture, he contributed to the diversity of Korean cinema. After his wife passed away, he made a documentary titled "<Promise>, which captures the daily life of him and his son Si-woo in Jeju. Both Si-woo, the poet, and Min Byung-hoon, the filmmaker, plan to continue creating something in Jeju in the future.

He loves the sea of Jeju. Imagining things that don't happen in the sea and things that he wishes would happen in the sea, he is making them a reality. Starting sea swimming for the balance between work and daily life, it changed his life and even led him to meet his lifelong companion. That's why he is faithfully engaging in marine cleanup activities, upcycling creative activities, and serving as a sea swimming guide for the sake of the sea. Currently, he creates and sells upcycled artworks at <Dasi Bada, Back to the Sea> and conducts sea cleanup activities through <Haetime, Time of the Sea>.

Born and raised in Jungbang-dong of Seogwipo City on Jeju Island. He transformed the public bathhouse built in 1971, inherited from his grandparents, into a multi-cultural space called Lavarr. The space consists of a café on the 1st floor, a gallery and a concept shop on the 2nd floor, and a wine bar and rooftop on the 3rd floor. 'Lavarr' is a combination of 'lavare,' meaning to purify in Latin, and 'var,' meaning sea in Jeju language. Given that water is the primary symbol of this place, its meaning is akin to "sea of healing." Because the public bathhouse in the past was a place to cleanse the body, he reinterpreted the current space as a place to cleanse the mind. Here, where the past and present intersect, he engages in various tasks ranging from running the café and tending to the garden to planning exhibitions, performances, and branding. He hopes that someday this place will be recognized as a creative space for artists and a sanctuary for locals and tourists alike.

She, who was born and raised in Jeju, wanted to leave Jeju Island. After getting married, she started her life on the mainland as she wished, but only after leaving did she come to realize the uniqueness of Jeju. Upon returning to Jeju, she established a village travel program with local residents starting from Pyeongdae-ri Village, and now operates more than 10 village travel products. <Jeju Good Travel> pursues equality between travelers and local residents, fairness in transactions where profits return to small bookstores, restaurants, and accommodations, and the sustainability of Jeju by leaving minimal traces. In Jeju, where fair travel was rare, she is creating good examples of fair travel one by one. Additionally, she operates a space called <Goyo Bookstay> in the old downtown area where book clubs and stays can be done simultaneously, and organizes various activities to support libraries under the group <Jeju Library Friends>.

She, who was born and raised in Jeju, wanted to leave Jeju Island. After getting married, she started her life on the mainland as she wished, but only after leaving did she come to realize the uniqueness of Jeju. Upon returning to Jeju, she established a village travel program with local residents starting from Pyeongdae-ri Village, and now operates more than 10 village travel products. <Jeju Good Travel> pursues equality between travelers and local residents, fairness in transactions where profits return to small bookstores, restaurants, and accommodations, and the sustainability of Jeju by leaving minimal traces. In Jeju, where fair travel was rare, she is creating good examples of fair travel one by one. Additionally, she operates a space called <Goyo Bookstay> in the old downtown area where book clubs and stays can be done simultaneously, and organizes various activities to support libraries under the group <Jeju Library Friends>.

An introverted person, she chose Jeju Island as her first solo travel destination. However, despite wandering through quiet cafes and bookstores, she realized there was no space solely dedicated to spending time alone. With a vague idea of creating a special space for solo travelers someday, she quit her job that she had been with for ten years. While pondering about her future and livelihood, she recalled the regrets from her solo travel to Jeju, prompting her decision to build the perfect space she envisioned in Jeju Island. Thus, <Daytime of Gosan> was established, becoming a contemplative space for one person. This small space, where one can comfortably listen to music and read books while lying down, operates by reservation only. Currently, it is frequently visited by introverted travelers similar to her. She herself feels a sense of fulfillment for the first time in her life, watching the expressions of guests as they leave after spending time in contemplation. Her wish is to continue operating this space with a sense of responsibility for a long time to come.

From a young age, he was proficient with computers. Whenever he participated in computer competitions, he always clinched the first place. Although he naturally pursued computer science in college, a brief stint working on construction sites as a part-time job led him to change his life's course, inspired by the resolute demeanor of architects. After majoring in architecture and completing graduate school, he embarked on the path of an architect, co-founding the architectural design company <Layer Design> at the young age of 33. Since then, while designing various spaces, he has intermittently engaged in intriguing side projects. By chance, he was captivated by an old Nonghyup rice warehouse building in Namwon-eup, Jeju Island, and opened a cafe space called <Lespace>. Utilizing the space, he conducts exhibitions and various events while also practicing architecture design. He values materials derived from nature and enjoys creating a traditional architecture and space. The spaces he designs infuse freedom where the elements and pathways do not overlap.

She has loved drawing since childhood. Due to family circumstances, she had to attend a beauty academy instead of an art school, but it was an opportunity that opened her eyes to makeup at an early age. Starting her assistant career at the age of 22, she is now an 18-year experienced makeup artist. She has worked on almost every makeup-related task, including fashion shows, advertisements, magazines, and music videos. When asked about proud and happy moments as a makeup artist, she mentioned doing makeup for a Jeju friend's wedding and creating makeup for a close couple's 10th-anniversary celebration. Finding joy in making someone happy solely through her talent turned out to be unexpectedly heartwarming. Living in a western village in Jeju with her husband and dog, Jembe, she often takes evening walks, drawing inspiration from the colors hidden in the sunset for her makeup. Lately, she pays closer attention to the colors of Jeju's nature and incorporates them into her makeup. In 2024, she plans to publish her own picture book, featuring drawings of her friends' faces.

A third-generation haenyeo raised in a family of haenyeo. She entered the fishing village as a rookie haenyeo after her mother had been the youngest haenyeo for 50 years, and she has been gathering marine products for three years. She is dedicated to documenting everything about haenyeo and telling stories of the sea. Affiliated with the Haenyeo Cultural Research Institute, she engages in various activities related to haenyeo. Additionally, she has participated in photographing coral reefs on Beomseom and Munseom, a long-standing project by the Green Korea. In March 2024, she plans to visit Dokdo to find records of haenyeo who migrated from Jeju. Dreaming of doing water work in Dokdo, she, along with her mother, who was also a migrated haenyeo, is scheduled to do water work in the sea around Dokdo. In her usual routine, she conducts lectures on haenyeo culture in schools throughout Jeju. She plans to expand this work and start a Haenyeo Culture Academy in the future.

A third-generation haenyeo raised in a family of haenyeo. She entered the fishing village as a rookie haenyeo after her mother had been the youngest haenyeo for 50 years, and she has been gathering marine products for three years. She is dedicated to documenting everything about haenyeo and telling stories of the sea. Affiliated with the Haenyeo Cultural Research Institute, she engages in various activities related to haenyeo. Additionally, she has participated in photographing coral reefs on Beomseom and Munseom, a long-standing project by the Green Korea. In March 2024, she plans to visit Dokdo to find records of haenyeo who migrated from Jeju. Dreaming of doing water work in Dokdo, she, along with her mother, who was also a migrated haenyeo, is scheduled to do water work in the sea around Dokdo. In her usual routine, she conducts lectures on haenyeo culture in schools throughout Jeju. She plans to expand this work and start a Haenyeo Culture Academy in the future.