About

Hi, I'm Dongkeun. I live in Aewol, on the northwest coast of Jeju Island, where I run a small Korean restaurant that cooks with wild greens foraged from the island, and a traditional dance studio in Jeju City.

I started Jeju Insider because most English guides to Jeju are written by people who visited for three days. I've lived here year-round, driven every coastal road, eaten at the places locals actually go to, and figured out the bus system so you don't have to.

Everything on this site is based on my own experience. When I recommend a beach, a café, or a hike, it's because I've been there — usually many times. Photos are mine unless noted.

What you'll find here

  • Itineraries that work without a rental car
  • Where to eat (and what to order) in Aewol, Jeju City, and beyond
  • Seasonal guides: what's actually good in each month
  • Practical stuff: buses, SIM cards, weather, Olle trails

Questions about Jeju? Use the Contact page — I read every message.

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Every Jeju Location from BTS "Are You Sure?!" — All 9 Spots, Reviewed by a Local (With Bus Directions)

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A local's guide, not a fan page. I live in Aewol — ten minutes from the mackerel restaurant in episode 3 — and I've eaten at or visited most of these places long before the cameras showed up. Nothing here is sponsored. Last checked October 2026. Quick answer: Are You Sure?! (Disney+, 2024) filmed nine Jeju locations in episodes 3–5 — four restaurants, a café, an activity park, a yacht tour, a pool villa, and the island of Chagwido. All are on the west and south-west of the island. Six are reachable by the 202 bus; the mackerel restaurant and Danso are both in Aewol, 30 minutes from the airport. When the show sent Jimin and Jungkook to Jeju — with V turning up uninvited after reading the group schedule — the island quietly got a new tourist trail. Two years on, the restaurants still get daily visits from ARMY, and most English guides either list the wrong places or give you nothing beyond a name. This page is the overview: every location, what happened there, what it...
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Culinary Class Wars Restaurants in Jeju: 4 Netflix Chefs, Menus, Prices and How to Get a Table (2026)

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Season 2 of Netflix's Culinary Class Wars sent queues to restaurants all over Korea, and four of its chefs have places in Jeju. Two of them are in Aewol, my home district. I haven't eaten at all four, so this is a guide, not a review: what each place serves, what it costs, when it opens and how to actually get a table, taken from the restaurants' own booking pages and recent visitor reports. Prices and hours change, so confirm before you go. Last checked 1 November 2026. Quick answer: The four Culinary Class Wars Season 2 chefs with restaurants in Jeju are Song Hoon (Crown Pig, black pork, inland Aewol), Jung Ho-young (Udon Kaden, udon, Gyorae), Kim Tae-woo (Dongkyung Bapsang, eel rice bowls, Hagwi in Aewol) and Bae Jae-hoon (Sushi Sakaba Kappo Aki, sushi bar, Jeju City). Easiest to fit in: Kappo Aki , 10 minutes from the airport (evenings only, closed Sundays). Hardest tables: Dongkyung Bapsang (walk-in queue only) and Udon Kaden (long weekend waits, closed Tues...
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Jeju in Winter (November–February): Camellias, Tangerines, Snow and What to Plan For

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Disclosure: This post contains Creatrip affiliate links. If you book through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. How this site makes money . Most visitors come to Jeju in spring or summer and miss the island's quietest season. From November to February the crowds thin out, the camellias bloom, tangerines are in season and Hallasan turns white. It is also colder, windier and darker than people expect. I live on the west coast and this is how I'd plan a winter trip. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Last checked October 2026. Quick answer: Winter is good for camellias (Camellia Hill), tangerine picking, quiet coastal walks and cafés , and for Hallasan if you are prepared for snow. Plan for short days (sunset before 18:00), strong wind, and slippery roads . Rent a car with chains or stay on the main bus routes, and keep your itinerary light. Sara Oreum in winter. Photo: GROOT in jeju, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. What winter...
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