Free Admission to Jeju’s Unique Exhibition Space, Podo Museum

I visited Podo Museum not long ago. I knew there was a Podo Museum, but I didn’t really know what kind of exhibitions it hosted or what kind of ideal it pursued. By chance, I received an invitation from Podo Museum and went to check it out. ​ ​ ​

Podo Museum is located in Jeju’s mid-mountain area, and you can find it as you drive along Sanrok Road. It’s closer than you might think from the Jungmun Tourist Complex. ​ ​ ​

And Yet We Love

Free admission with advance reservation from July 5, 2023

Exhibition ends on September 3, 2023

The exhibition, which began last year, is still ongoing. “And Yet We Love” tells a story about the prejudice and hatred that have seeped into humanity.

It conveys how hatred and indifference born from prejudice and hatred affect society—and that even so, we must move toward harmony through forgiveness and acceptance. ​ ​ ​

The first work I encountered was a media piece showing the silhouettes of people wandering behind a thin sheet of fabric. I heard it was filmed with foreigners who have come to live in Korea.

Behind the thin fabric, they walk back and forth, sometimes stopping, sometimes peering inward. The drape that hides skin color and facial features simply reveals them as people no different from us. ​ ​ ​

One piece that really stuck with me resembled an airport departure board, showing the small cries of people who were marginalized in actual history. What I still remember is—an episode from the Korean War in 1950, and an episode about Vietnamese refugees in 1975. ​ ​ ​

This piece tells the story of Filipino migrants. Filipinos who left for Australia in search of work reportedly packed their belongings into a 50cm square box that wasn’t subject to tax and sent it off. Each small box holds a life and a story. ​ ​ ​

It felt heartbreaking because it resembles our own experiences—working in Germany, being dispatched to the Vietnam War, and passing through construction sites in Saudi Arabia. ​ ​ ​

A somewhat profound work. I couldn’t quite grasp the artist’s intentㅠ_ㅠ ​ ​ ​

On the second floor, the space is filled with clowns in all kinds of poses. ​ Resting in their own ways, they somehow look tired and worn out. In contrast, dressed in bright, colorful outfits, the clowns come together to complete a vivid and varied space. ​ I’m not sure if I interpreted the artist’s intent correctly, but maybe it’s something like: “Each of us is lonely, exhausted, and struggling, but when we come together, a new utopia comes into view.” ​ ​ ​

After the visit, I sat at the café for tea time. In the basement, there was also a space where you can relax and read. ​ I do like museums and exhibition spaces, but there were more works than expected that felt difficult to fully understand. ​ ​ ​

Exhibits

Podo Museum788 Sanroknam-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si

This cultural space invites visitors to reflect on diversity and coexistence, the environment, and social values through art. Since opening in 2021, it has presented high-caliber exhibitions by a wide range of artists from Korea and abroad, establishing itself as one of Jeju’s 대표 complex art venues. Each exhibition stands out for its thoughtful themes and immersive spatial design, offering visitors more than viewing—an experience with a lasting message. With refined architecture, well-curated gallery spaces, as well as a café and a gift shop, it’s a great place to enjoy both art and relaxation. It is also a recommended cultural stop to visit together with Bonte Museum and Bangju Church.

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