Teddy bears are no longer just regular toys. Since their introduction some 100 years ago, those bear cubs have been loved and cherished by nearly every boy and girl on this planet. I was no exception. Hence, when seeing the Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju, I couldn’t stop myself from getting in. It’s simply a trip to childhood.
Opened in 2001, Jeju Teddy Bear Museum is the first of its kind in Asia. The museum is located in Jungmun Resort, a tourist mecca on the southern coast of Jeju-do. Within three floors of this funnel-shaped building, hundreds of bear cubs are on display. Each is handcrafted by J & F’s most experienced artisans and presents a distinctive character. The bear’s costumes also gain a lot of attention, with every fabric and thread being hand-picked.
The exhibition is divided into a wide array of themes, ranging from history, art to Korean tradition. Here you can meet the bear-version of Mona Lisa, The Creation of Adam, as well as Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin. You can also ride the time machine to see the Normandy landings, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, or the Millenium Celebration at Times Square.
Or you can visit a folk village or join a Korean-style wedding. All the scenes are skillfully constructed based on thorough historical and artistic research. A few rare finds are also included, such as the Louis Vuitton Teddy Bear that is worth over $190,000 or SLOW – the world’s largest mechanical teddy bear, reaching a height of nine meters.
Each teddy bear presents a unique character.
Jungmun Resort
The surrounding area is home to four other quirky museums, as well as Jeju’s most popular arboretum – the Yeomiji Botanical Garden. The Jungmun Saekdal Beach is also nearby where you can take a stroll on a multi-colored sandy beach. Nevertheless, the water is not as appealing as in Hyeopjae Beach.
What I do like most about Jungmun Resort, is the way the facilities are blended with the surrounding nature. At first, it sounds like a mega tourist trap. But it’s actually a lovely green area where visitors can take pleasure in Jeju’s nature.
Tips for visiting South Jeju
- Having a strategic location, Jungmun Resort is accessible by buses from both Jeju City and Seowigpo.
- From Jeju City or Jeju International Airport, the Shuttle Bus (Nr. 600) runs directly to Jungmun Resort. It takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- From Seowigpo, take west-bound express buses to World Cup Stadium, and then to Jungmun Post Office. From there, you can either walk (15 minutes) or take the local bus to Jungmun Resort Entrance. The whole trip takes about 40-50 minutes.
- Jeju Teddy Bear Museum is just a short walking distance from the entrance. It’s easily recognized thanks to the glass funnel. The admission fee is ₩10,000. Next to it is the K-Pop Museum and Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum is just across the street.
Awwww, who does not love a teddy bear. That Louis Vuitton is my fav 😉
We have similar taste! 😉
👍🏼😊
Even though I wasn’t much of a fan of teddy bears, I do like the concept of a teddy bear museum it’s really cool. I can imagine a museum like that would have a gift shop that you have to go through before you exit and that would be a real test for some people… Do you have your own teddy bear collection (or collection of anything else)?
Those bear cubs are really cute, and it’s a challenge not to buy anything! I used to have a collection of stuffed animal. But my mom confiscated them when I started studying aboard 🙂
How amazing is this!! I’ve never seen anything like it! I want to go and visit it 😍😍
It’s a wonderful place, especially if you are a fan of teddy bear 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
Thật là một địa điểm thú vị, cả người già lẫn em bé đều có thể enjoy.
Dạ đúng thế ạ 🙂
Love the LV bear.
A piece of art, I would say 😉
Your post just put a great big smile on my face. Who doesn’t have a great memory of their childhood teddies. The scenes are incredible. The Creation of Adam…wow, and I love the fall of the Berlin Wall. I need to make it to this museum.
Highly recommend! 🙂
The cover photo made me smile – a place worth visiting, that’s for sure 😉
Definitively! 😉