When one thinks of Jeju Island, a few things immediately come to mind. Some might envision Mt. Halla, the tallest mountain in South Korea, towering high into the clouds. Others may think of Jeju’s female divers (haenyo) swimming off the coast, searching for fresh abalone. Finally, some can imagine the countless groves of orange and tangerine trees enclosed by old, stone walls made from the island’s volcanic rock. These are all iconic sights on the island to be sure; however, did you know that this island, famed for nature, is also home to a thriving music scene?

The Stepping Stone Festival is the largest music event of the year held on Jeju Island.

The largest music event on the island is the annual Stepping Stone Festival, which is held on Hamdeok Beach. This festival draws bands from all over Korea and Japan to play rock, indie and electronic music for thousands of Jeju natives and tourists alike.  This festival is always a hit, but although it is  generally held in early to mid-July, you don’t need to wait until next summer to hear live music and go dancing on the island!

The majority of the late night fun is centered in the City Hall area of Jeju City. Even so, there are many locations scattered all throughout the island, so no matter where you are, chances are you’re not too far away from good, live music. Whether you’re looking to relax while listening to acoustic music at a quiet coffee shop near the beach, or you want to dance the night away in a four-story technodome with a roof that opens into the night sky, chances are you’ll find something that suits your needs on the island.

Whether you’re looking to relax while listening to acoustic music at a quiet coffee shop near the beach, or you want to dance the night away in a four-story technodome with a roof that opens into the night sky, chances are you’ll find something that suits your needs on the island.

If you are looking to stay in the heart of Shin or new Jeju, look into “The Stronghold.”  It is a spacious coffee shop in Nohyeongdong which regularly holds jazz nights. Another similar establishment in Gunamdong, or Old Jeju, is “Elliot’s Chair.”

Perhaps the most dependable live music venue on the whole island is “The Factory.” Situated in the heart of City Hall, “The Factory” hosts open mike nights every Wednesday, and draws acts from all around Jeju and the mainland. Other nearby venues include “Indie,” a music pub that is dedicated to local and under-the-radar acts, and “Space Marley,” which is just down the road in Tapdong, located in the Jungang-ro shopping district.

Not planning to spend much time in Jeju City? No worries! There are venues to be found in Seogwipo and other quieter towns along the coast as well.

We have not even begun to talk about all the buskers and public performances that can be found out on the beach and the large pedestrian walkways every weekend during the summer season! If you are looking for live music that isn’t boxed into a music venue, check out your closest beach, or head on over to Shin Jeju’s Baojian Street.

Scroll on down to get more detailed information about each of the featured venues in this month’s editorial.

VENUES

The Stronghold

The Stronghold is spacious coffee shop situated across from Emart on the main drag off of Nohyeong Rotary.  This venue serves up more than just coffee, though.  Jazz concerts are held on the first and third Friday of every month starting at 8:00 p.m.

There is no cover charge to get in, so swing on by, grab a coffee, and get cozy while you listen to some great, local jazz musicians.  

Address:
3F/4F, 3338, 1100-ro, Jeju-si

Contact:
064-773-7733

Hours:
10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Elliot’s Chair

This venue is named after the singer and songwriter, Elliot Smith.  The lyrics of one of his famous songs, “Between The Bars,” can be seen at the entrance to this café. This cozy venue serves everything from cocktails to coffee, and offers a relaxed music viewing atmosphere.

Homepage:
blog.naver.com/elliottjeju

Facebook page:
엘리엇스체어

Address:
14, Gunamdong 5-gil, Jeju-si

Contact:
064-753-3345

Hours:
Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. – 12 a.m. 
Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. 
Closed on Mondays

Magpie Brewing Co.

Magpie is a very popular beer brewing company based out of Seoul. The Jeju location is doing quite well, and is even helping revitalize the new indie arts district of Tapdong. Magpie isn’t just bringing about growth in the area from the popularity of their beer, however. They also give local and even the occasional international acts the opportunity to play in front of patrons during the weekends. Concerts are relatively more frequent during the summer months. Check their website to see if there are any local Jeju- or Seoul-based musicians playing in the near future.

Homepage:
https://www.magpiebrewing.com/

Facebook page:
Magpie Brewing Co.

Address:
Jejusi Tapdongro 2gil 3 (Samdo Edong)

Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday, 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Closed on Mondays

Space Marley

On the opposite side of Tapdong is Space Marley. This establishment was opened in 2012.  The bar has a reggae theme to it, but music lovers and performers from any genre are welcome to listen or perform here. You can request a song from any one of the over 3,000 vinyl albums that are displayed behind the bar, listen to a 100-year-old antique gramophone, or watch any of the monthly live performances for no cover fee!

Facebook page:
Space Marley

Address:
Chilseong-ro 34, 2F, Jeju city

Contact:
070-7743-3849
010-3432-8560

Hours:
6 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Closed on the first and third Sundays of the month

The Factory

The factory opened over seven years ago, and is now run by a Jeju expat band, The Kundalini Trio.  The factory remains one of the oldest and most frequented venues for music among the foreigner community. Cover charges vary, but are generally around 5,000 – 10,000 won.  The Factory is situated in the middle of City Hall, and is easily recognized. Look for the giant yellow Andy Warhol banana.

Facebook page:
The Factory

Twitter:
@rubupagainst

Address:
6, Gwangyang 13-gil, Jeju-si

Contact:
070-7666-9525

Hours:
7 p.m. – 3 a.m.

Blue Hill

Blue Hill is the place to go as far as jazz is concerned on Jeju Island. However, with the monthly guest concerts, you are sure to see a variety of different acts. Be sure to check Blue Hill’s blog for a detailed schedule.  Blue Hill also offers an open audition concert, otherwise known as “Playground Day.” Playground Day is held every Thursday starting at 9 p.m. If you’re interested in performing, simply pay 5,000 won and ask to be on the lineup so you can play that evening.

Cafe page:
https://cafe.daum.net/clubbluehill

Address:
21, Donggwang-ro, Jeju-si

Contact:
064-702-2918

Hours:
7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Closed on Sundays

Indie

You guessed it.  This venue primarily shows independent artists who may often fly under the radar of some of the bigger stages on the island. The vast majority of the acts that play here are rock bands and DJs. Music used to be played here far more frequently than in the past few months, but that is because this bar also doubles as an arts venue. This allows many local charities to host events like open mics, comedy shows, and dance parties here as well.

Facebook page:
Jeju Indie

Address:
10, Gwangyang 11-gil, Jeju-si

Contact:
[email protected]
[email protected]
010-7129-0141

Hours:
8 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Closed on Sundays

Acoustic Homz

Another venue outside of the city limits is Acoustic Homz. Located in Yusuam-ri, Aewol-eup, Acoustic Homz opened this past summer as a music café, with all its furniture handmade to help improve the acoustics of the music being played there, as well as to accommodate the comfort of the patrons.  This cozy venue is fitted with a fireplace and wooden floors, almost giving it a cabin-like quality.

This venue is well known for accommodating the musicians who play here, all the while hoping to introduce acoustic music to as many people within Aewol as possible. Be sure to look into the Acoustic Homz blog posts for a full schedule of events.

Cafe page:
cafe.naver.com/ahomz

Facebook page:
어쿠스틱홈즈

Address:
226-20, Yusuam-ro, Ae wol-eup, Jeju-si

Contact:
064-799-3112

Hours:
11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Aroma SuperDome Nightclub

Well, it had to be put on the list at some point. Aroma Dome is easily one of the biggest nightclubs and music venues in Korea. Oddly enough, many foreigners that live on Jeju Island have yet to see a show here. This is not a venue to see indie rock music, but instead, it is a mega club that has various acts come up, one after another, for hours at a time.

To put it simply: Aroma Dome is an experience. You must reserve a table or a room, which in turn will provide you and your friends a few drinks to start you off. DJs, live bands, and K-Pop singers all parade in one after another for hours while people get up and dance the night away.

There will be some odd and wonderful sights as well. I once saw a keyboardist riding a giant eagle on stage! At the pinnacle of the night’s entertainment, the dome opens up and confetti falls from the ceiling. Be warned though, the custom of “booking” is often practiced here. High rolling Korean men will often ask to be introduced to attractive women who they see or meet on the dance floor. The staff can be quite forward about moving women to these men’s tables, and that may make some people very uncomfortable. Aroma Dome is definitely something to be seen, but consider going with friends and sticking together throughout your night to avoid any awkward moments like this.

Address:
Yeon-dong 274-25, Jeju-si

Contact:
064-749-8990

Hours:
7 p.m. – Late                                                           

To put it simply: Aroma Dome is an experience. You must reserve a table or a room, which in turn will provide you and your friends a few drinks to start you off. DJs, live bands, and K-Pop singers all parade in one after another for hours while people get up and dance the night away.

Café Seba

This gem is located in the sleepy town of Seonheul-ri. Café Seba is well known on Jeju for its jazz and classical concerts that are put on every so often. The owner of this café is a pianist, and she opened the doors of Café Seba to reach out to her community by sharing music and culture with her neighbors. The town responded positively to the café and music being played there. Most musicians that have booked here arrived from elsewhere on the mainland and have generally had some professional or commercial success. The ticket price of one of these concerts tends to be anywhere around 10,000 -20,000 won.  This includes one free drink, so it isn’t too steep.  If you’re planning to check this place out, be sure to get good directions as the café is not located very close to town.

Cafe page:
blog.naver.com/cafeseba

Address:
20-7, Seonheuldong 2-gil, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si

Contact:
070-4213-1268

Hours:
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Closed on Mondays

Café MayB

Café MayB is located right in the heart of gorgeous Seogwipo City on Lee Jung Seop Street, otherwise known as Art Street.  This unique and beautifully decorated café is brightly colored, so it easily catches the eyes of pedestrians checking out the wares of the neighboring quirky shops and stalls.  The interior of Café MayB has an incredibly warm and homey feel to it. The walls are filled with books, figurines, and flowers freshly cut from the shop that sits right next door. Colorful desks and cushy chairs spill from the café steps into the street, and the glass front door rolls back, opening the entire building up to the fresh Seogwipo air on warm days. It is the perfect place to check out an intimate concert whenever the delightful owner, Joanne Hyeyeon Lee, decides to host one in her establishment.

Facebook page:
Cafe MayB

Address:
416-2 Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Contact:
070-4143-0639

Hours:
11 a.m. – 1 a.m.

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-Edited by: Rafi Feliciano

-Featured images courtesy of: Hamdeok (Stepping Stone Festival), CafetheStrongHold (the Stronghold), Elliot’s Chair, ChantalCho (Magpie), SpaceMarley (Space Marley), TheFactoryJeju (the Factory), ClubBlueHill Daum Cafe (Blue Hill), Aroma Dome, IndieJeju (Indie), CafeSeb Naver Blog (Café Seba), Ahomz Naver Blog (Acoustic Homz), & JejuWeekly (Café Mayb)