SEVENTEEN's Seungkwan in Jeju: The "Bukas" Village Stay and Other K-Pop Spots on the Island (2026)

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SEVENTEEN's Seungkwan grew up in Jeju and has been the island's tourism ambassador since November 2024. In October 2026 the Jeju government released "Bukas", a vlog of him staying in a small village on Jeju's far west coast, the sunset side of the island where I live. This guide covers what he did there, how you can book the same village stay, what else is nearby, plus the other K-pop and K-star spots on the island and how to catch K-pop live. Last checked 1 November 2026.

Quick answer: Seungkwan (Boo Seung-kwan) of SEVENTEEN is from Jeju and has been the island's official tourism ambassador since November 2024. In "Bukas", short for "Boo Seungkwan's Jeju Kareum Stay", released on 15 October 2026 on the Jeju provincial government's YouTube channel with English subtitles, he stays in Sinchang-ri on the west coast, eats local food, cooks with green tangerines and rides along the coast at sunset.

You can book stays and experiences in the same village through Kareum Stay (kareumstay.com), a village tourism programme run by local residents. Pair it with sunset on the Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road.

Boardwalk over black basalt rocks with a wind turbine on the Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road in Jeju
The boardwalk and wind turbines on the Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road, in the village where Seungkwan filmed "Bukas". Photo: Grapesurgeon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What is "Bukas"?

"Bukas" is a travel vlog made by the Jeju provincial government. Seungkwan joins the Kareum Stay programme in Sinchang-ri, in Hangyeong-myeon on Jeju's west coast. He stays in village lodging, tries Jeju home-style food, makes dishes with cheonggyul (green, unripe tangerines) and rides an e-bike along the coast as the sun goes down. Instead of a tour of famous sights, it shows village life up close.

Some background:

  • Tourism ambassador: Seungkwan was appointed Jeju's ambassador in November 2024.
  • Campaign ad: he also stars in the island's 2026 tourism campaign ad, which is running at Singapore's Changi and Shanghai's Pudong airports, and he did it without a fee.
  • Donations: he has given to protect Jeju's endangered Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and in June 2025 to preserve Jeju's documentary heritage.
  • Where to watch: on the Jeju provincial government's official YouTube channel; the full episode has English subtitles.

Sinchang-ri: the village in the vlog

Sinchang-ri is a small coastal village near the western tip of Jeju, roughly an hour's drive from the airport. Its coast is one of the best places on the island to watch the sun set over the sea.

  • Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road: a coastal road where tall wind turbines stand in the shallows, with a boardwalk out over the black basalt and small parks (Singyemul and Byeollaemul) along the way. Come an hour before sunset.
  • Dolphins: with luck, you can see wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins from the shore along this coast and further south towards Sindo-ri. Watch from land and give them space.
  • The sunset ride: Kareum Stay lists an electric-bike ride from Noeul Haean 1014, a café and e-bike rental run by a Jeju-born couple, along the Sinchang coast to Suwolbong for sunset. You need a driving licence for the e-bikes, so check which licences they accept for foreign visitors. Ordinary bicycle rental is also listed in the village.
  • Green tangerines: cheonggyul are tangerines picked while still green in late summer and used for tart syrups and drinks. Look for cheonggyul ade in local cafés.
A white tower on the rocky Sinchang shore with wind turbines along the horizon
The Sinchang shore, with wind turbines along the horizon. Photo: Grapesurgeon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Nearby: Suwolbong's layered volcanic cliffs and Yongsu Shrine, where St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon came ashore in 1845, are both a few minutes away; see my west-side pilgrimage guide. If you are on the island on 14 November 2026, Sinchang's Catholic church hosts the touring WYD Cross that day (full schedule).

How to book a Kareum Stay

Kareum is a Jeju word for a small, unspoilt village. Kareum Stay is a tourism brand run by local residents, and 13 villages currently take part. Each one offers its own lodging, food and activities, so the money you spend stays in the village.

  • Go to kareumstay.com (it is also linked from the Visit Jeju site), pick a village, and book the stays or experiences listed on its page.
  • Village tours and experiences were listed from around ₩14,000 per adult when I checked; lodging varies.
  • If the pages show only in Korean, your browser's translate feature will get you through. If booking asks for a Korean phone number, ask your accommodation or a Korean friend to help.

More K-pop and K-star spots in Jeju

Seeing K-pop live in Jeju

Jeju doesn't have a big arena, so major K-pop concerts happen on the mainland. The island's newest large venue, Center 2 of the ICC Jeju convention centre, opened in February 2026 with a K-pop concert whose line-up included OH MY GIRL. Jeju has floated plans for a 25,000-seat venue, but as of October 2026 there was no concrete project.

  • To check for shows in Jeju, search the main ticketing sites, such as Interpark's global site or Ticketlink, for "Jeju".
  • For the big ones, go to Seoul. The new Fanomenon K-pop festival runs from 2 to 12 December 2027 at Seoul Arena and KINTEX, and Jeju is an hour's flight away; my guide to adding Jeju to a Seoul trip covers flights, entry rules and a plan.
  • Catch a weekly music show. Seoul's TV music shows are where idols perform their new songs, and Creatrip sells a package for foreign fans that combines THE SHOW with a Seoul tour.

Frequently asked questions

Is SEVENTEEN's Seungkwan from Jeju?
Yes. He is from Jeju and has been the island's official tourism ambassador since November 2024.

Where did Seungkwan stay in "Bukas"?
In Sinchang-ri, in Hangyeong-myeon on Jeju's west coast, through the Kareum Stay village programme.

Can I watch "Bukas" in English?
Yes. The full episode on the Jeju provincial government's YouTube channel has English subtitles.

Can I do the same sunset ride?
Yes. Kareum Stay lists an e-bike ride from Sinchang to Suwolbong. You need a driving licence for the e-bikes; ordinary bicycles are also available in the village.

Are there K-pop concerts in Jeju?
Occasionally, at venues like ICC Jeju, but the big tours and festivals are in Seoul. Check ticketing sites for "Jeju" before your trip.

If something here has changed, a booking link, a programme or a date, tell me on the Contact page and I'll update this guide.

More from Jeju Insider:

Photo credits, via Wikimedia Commons: Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road (two photos) by Grapesurgeon (CC BY-SA 4.0). Details of "Bukas", Kareum Stay and Seungkwan's ambassador work are from the Jeju provincial government, Kareum Stay and Korean news reports as of November 2026. This guide is not affiliated with SEVENTEEN or PLEDIS Entertainment.

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