VOL.69/2024.04

 

[Into the Book ③]

A Place Where You Can Make Unforgettable Memories:
Hakuda Photo Studio

Welcome to Jeju, an island of splendid natural landscape and relaxation!

 

2023.10.04

 

 

 

“Hakuda means ‘will do’ in the Jeju dialect.
So, it means ‘a photo studio that makes anything look wonderful.’”

 

 

Jeju Island, the largest island in Korea, attracts Koreans and tourists from abroad with its gorgeous weather and stunning natural scenery. There is a photo studio there that captures whatever the customer wants. It’s the story of “Hakuda Photo Studio,” which takes photos of everything from weddings to family vacations, memorable trips with friends, and even academic photos. The book Hakuda Photo Studio (Noll) is a full-length novel that features the heartwarming stories of a photographer, Seok-Young, and Je-Bi, who moved to Jeju after getting tired of living on the mainland, and the people they meet while working together. Although “Hakuda Photo Studio” doesn’t exist in reality, the beautiful Jeju Island described in the book can be visited in person. So, let’s take a trip to the beautiful and friendly Jeju Island, where the guests of “Hakuda Photo Studio” make wonderful memories and where the main characters, Seok-Young and Je-Bi, heal their weary hearts.

 

 

Soft sandy beaches and cobalt waters, and the strong haenyeos that thrive in them

 

With Jeju Island as its background, Hakuda Photo Studio depicts the beauty of Jeju’s sea and nature. The charm of this book is that it makes those who have visited Jeju Island feel nostalgic, and those who have not yet visited the island feel the excitement and anticipation of traveling. Here, we would like to share the beauty of the Jeju Sea with you by quoting the description of the main character, Je-Bi, in the first part of the book. The cool Jeju Sea makes you feel relaxed, and the next words of Je-Bi, “Oh, I don’t want to go back!” will definitely make you agree.

 

 

A cobalt-colored sea stretched out over the fine sand.
The sky beyond the horizon was filled with puffy clouds.
The ocean sparkled in the midday sun, constantly flipping its white and blue sheets.

 

 

 

In addition to Seok-Young and Je-Bi, who works at Hakuda Photo Studio, as well as the studio’s customers, there are other important characters in the novel. They are the Jeju haenyeos (female divers in Jeju), who make their living gathering marine products from the beautiful Jeju Sea. In Korea, haenyeos symbolize the power of life, as they dive into the water with their bare bodies, without oxygen tanks or other devices. In the book, haenyeos speak a Jeju dialect that is not easily understood by Koreans, cherish their traditions and the sacredness of the sea, and share a strong bond with each other.
For those unfamiliar with Jeju haenyeos, there is a place for you. It’s the Haenyeo Museum, where you can learn about the lives of haenyeos as well as Jeju’s fishing villages. Established to inherit and preserve the historical significance of Jeju’s haenyeos and to provide a space for tourists to see and enjoy the culture of haenyeos and fishing villages, the museum consists of three exhibition rooms. The first exhibition room is themed, “The Life of Jeju Haenyeos,” featuring displays related to haenyeos’ homes and tools, as well as Jeju’s seasonal customs and beliefs. The theme of the second exhibition room is “The Workplace of Jeju Haenyeos,” which features exhibits related to the work lives of Jeju haenyeos, including their aquatic clothing, tools, and techniques.

 

 

The third exhibition room features a jointly organized exhibition by the Haenyeo Museum and Dokdo Museum. Under the theme “Jeju Haenyeo Defends Dokdo,” the exhibition revisits the stories of haenyeos who traveled beyond Jeju Island to Ulleungdo and Dokdo, and their contributions to the protection of Dokdo territory and its fishing grounds. This special exhibition will be open until December 10, so if you are interested in the history of Ulleungdo and Dokdo, as well as Jeju Island, you should definitely check it out. Another special part of Haenyeo Museum is that many of the items on display are donated items that were actually used by haenyeos. As you walk through the exhibits, you will be reminded of the hard work and determination of the haenyeos, who endured the harsh seas to support their families.

 

 

 

“The moment you decide to take a good picture, you will take a bad picture. But you have to carry on.
And then one day it happens - the day you forget about making good pictures.
That’s when you become a real photographer.”

 

 

Discover Jeju’s tourist attractions as diverse as the stories of the guests at Hakuda Photo Studio

 

While Hakuda Photo Studio and the “King Octopus Village” where it is located are fictional, the locations where its customers go to take pictures are real. In the book, geologist Song-Hwa asks photographer Seok-Young to take pictures of Jeju’s Jusangjeolli (columnar joint) for an academic paper. The Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff is not only an academic record of how Jeju Island was created, but it is also designated as a natural monument for its beautiful scenery. Once you see this spectacular gift of nature, which is rarely seen elsewhere, you will understand why Song-Hwa was in awe the whole time. Next, about a five-minute drive from Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, is the African Museum, where Hakuda Photo Studio’s first customer, a bridal couple, had their wedding photos taken. The museum, where you can experience African culture, is based on the Djenne Grand Mosque in Mali, Africa, as described by Seok-Young, and is both grand and rustic, strong and gentle.

 

 

Some of the places Hye-Yong’s family has visited on Jeju Island in the book are real. In the book Hakuda Photo Studio, Hye-Yong’s family shows how to truly enjoy Jeju, such as riding horses, picking citrus, and walking around Wollabong. So, if you are planning a trip to Jeju with your family, you might want to try to follow their itinerary. We would like to recommend two places where you can experience citrus picking and walking around Wollabong. The Citrus Museum, located at the foot of Wollabong in Seogwipo City, was opened with the theme of local citrus, a specialty of Jeju Island. The museum offers not only citrus picking, but also foot baths, pizza and cookie making, and more, making it perfect for both young and old. Behind the museum is a promenade to Wollabong, where you can climb to the boulder on the summit in about 10 minutes. As described in the book, the name Wollabong means “lunar month (woll)” and “lined up (la),” meaning the peak where the moon rises. Although it is a small mountain at 200 meters above sea level, it presents a spectacular view of Jeju from the top, making it a beautiful spot for beginners who feel overwhelmed hiking the tall Halla Mountain.

 

 

Apart from the places introduced in this article, the book Hakuda Photo Studio features many other places to visit in Jeju, both big and small. Of course, you can’t learn everything about Jeju with this book, but it can serve as a compass to determine the direction of your trip. Just as the characters in Hakuda Photo Studio made their own memories and gained enlightenment on Jeju Island, the joy of traveling lies in discovering a ‘new you’ in an unfamiliar place. So, if you are tired of the same old routine, take a trip to Jeju Island. You never know, you might end up with a memorable experience like the one that happened at Hakuda Photo Studio.

 

 

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Written by Choi Ha-Yeong