Bangju Church in Jeju, a Great Spot for Photos

It’s already become a story from last year. The day before Christmas Eve, I was wondering where to go and ended up visiting Bangju Church.

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Bangju Church113, Sanroknam-ro 762beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si

Designed by world-renowned architect Itami Jun, this church showcases an original architectural beauty inspired by Noah’s Ark. The water surrounding the building and its simple, linear structure blend together to create a scene that feels as though it’s floating on the surface. It is known as a beautiful space where Jeju’s nature and architecture harmonize. With its quiet, calm atmosphere, it’s a great place to take a stroll and admire the architecture, and it’s also loved as a popular photo spot. Beyond being a religious facility, it is considered one of Jeju’s must-visit architectural travel destinations.

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When I first moved to Jeju, I went everywhere people said was “good,” and that’s when I first came to Bangju Church. Back then I just thought it was a church with an unusually shaped building, but revisiting it now, I couldn’t believe how beautifully the scenery and architecture come together.

Along with Bangju Church, the nearby Podo Hotel, Pinx Golf Club, and Supungseok Museum were all built by the renowned architect Itami Jun. He’s often described as a Zainichi Korean, but his work feels deeply rooted in Japanese sensibilities, so you really sense a Japanese atmosphere in the architecture. 

Bangju Church takes Noah’s Ark as its motif, with an artificial pool surrounding the building so it feels as if it’s floating on water. I didn’t go inside, but since the natural light seems to be concentrated only near the lower part, it feels like it would create an intriguing atmosphere. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, yet there are no decorations at all. That’s what makes it even better. A blue sky, a roof with distinctive patterns, and an ark floating on water below—could there be a beauty more harmoniously put together?

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I didn’t have a particular destination in mind today. So I spent time at Cafe Bangju next to Bangju Church, catching up on the work I’d been putting off.

With a sweet-and-tangy drink, a mild-yet-sweet dessert, and the beautiful harmony of Bangju Church visible outside, the work I’d been postponing started to flow along smoothly. Around sunset, I could see Sanbangsan in the distance from inside the cafe, and the crimson sky beyond Sanbangsan was absolutely stunning.