Jeju Shinhwa World offers personalized staycations for all
Jeju Shinhwa World in Seogwipo, Jeju Island / Courtesy of Jeju Shinhwa World
JEJU ISLAND – Korea’s southern resort island of Jeju is renowned for its wonderful natural environment featuring translucent turquoise seas and hiking trails in mountainous and volcanic terrain.
Once known as Korea’s preferred honeymoon location in the 1980s, the evergreen island, with its warm and mild climate, opened a new chapter as a travel destination due to border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it has adapted by becoming a popular destination for extended trips among domestic travelers seeking to get away and recharge in a serene and natural island setting.
According to the Jeju Tourism Organization's (JTO) latest trends report, the island has also seen an upward trend in multiple visits of longer stays made by domestic travelers over the years.
Around 75 percent of Koreans who traveled to Jeju Island between 2020 and 2022 made multiple visits throughout the pandemic. On average, the number of visits during that time period was nearly three times and their average duration of stay was 4.57 days, which is 0.4 percent up from the figure published the year before.
Visitors arrive at Jeju International Airport on Jeju Island, Sept. 27 as the Chuseok holidays commence. Newsis
At the heart of the island’s new travel trend is Jeju Shinhwa World (JSW), a luxury integrated resort launched in 2018 that offers personalized vacations at reasonable prices for all kinds of travelers.
Located a 40-minute drive away from the island's airport, JSW in Seogwipo features over 2,000 rooms of diverse types at its four resorts, all of which are five-star rated.
Built on a 250 million-square-meter site, or 80 percent of Seoul’s Yeouido, a key business district, the resort complex is the largest on the island and offers high levels of service. JSW was selected by the Korea Customer Industry Appraisal as Jeju’s best resort this year and won the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award from Trip Advisor last year.
According to the resort’s customer data, over the past five years, the business saw a rise in regular visitors staying for more than a month, especially in the summer and during the winter holiday season.
Cosmos flowers are in full bloom at Shinhwa Garden within Jeju Shinhwa World. Courtesy of Jeju Shinhwa World
Home-away-from-home for families, business people
Providing a home-away-from-home experience for families and business people seeking long vacations is the resort’s premium condominium option called Somerset.
Fully equipped with furniture and daily necessities, the residence-like accommodation is especially popular among families with senior members or school-aged children, as it features a tranquil village vibe and geographical proximity to educational institutions, including Global Education City.
The luxury resort’s regular and long-stay visitors include celebrities and business people seeking a private and serene experience, many of whom purchase a property after their extended stay.
Also in response to growing inquiries from pet owners, the resort stepped up its efforts to launch a pet-friendly package, Tuesday. The rooms are filled with various amenities for furry visitors such as a dog house, dishware, an indoor pet toilet, toys, treats and pet shampoo.
A pet-friendly room at Jeju Shinhwa World's Somerset, Jeju Island / Courtesy of Jeju Shinhwa World
The picturesque garden surrounding the resort is perfect for a serene stroll with companion animals or babies in strollers. Visitors can savor the change of seasons while on their walks, as the landscape is filled with various types of local trees and flowers, including canola flowers and lavender blooming in the springtime and camellia flowers in winter.
The garden currently features a 7,500 meter square-sized flowerbed with cosmos flowers this fall.
Foam pool party is held at Jeju Shinhwa World's Marriott resort, Jeju Island. Courtesy of Jeju Shinhwa World
Dynamic leisure activities for young party-goers
Meanwhile, the JSW’s Marriott resort is ready to cater to the needs of young and trendy travelers who are seeking dynamic leisure activities and entertainment experiences.
During the peak summer holiday season between July and August, the resort holds foam pool parties on its rooftop every night featuring fireworks, DJ performances and cocktail service.
The resort also opened a premium movie theater in August, which is accessible to guests staying at all four resorts. The JSW Cine Lounge features two private screening rooms equipped with 36 recliner seats and Harman Kardon audio systems, where visitors can enjoy the hotel chefs’ dishes while watching films.
The resort complex also features a water park and an amusement park filled with exciting rides, both of which are the largest of their kinds on the island, while launching a joint promotion package with a neighboring golf club, Elysian Jeju, for those looking for some sporty activities.
Shinhwa Theme Park at Jeju Shinhwa World, Jeju Island / Courtesy of Jeju Shinhwa World
JSW also offers convenience for foodies and shopping enthusiasts with over 40 cafes and restaurants as well as a shopping area featuring over 60 fashion and luxury brands.
Hidden gem for adventure seekers
The integrated resort’s first hidden gem is its foreigner-only casino.
JSW’s Landing Casino is the largest among eight foreigner-only casinos on the island and the second largest in the country. The gaming establishment features 137 slot machines and 102 electronic game tables.
The resort complex is also closely located to lesser-known natural attractions on the island’s southwestern side.
Olle Trail Course 9 is a 7.5-kilometer-long course featuring beautiful seaside scenery along the Baksugijeong Cliff and Wollabong Mountain. Another must-visit eco-tourism site nearby is the Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park, a mysterious rocky forest where a variety of flora and fauna thrive in symbiosis.
Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park / Courtesy of Jeju Tourism Organization
With about only half of its site developed, JSW is set for the next phase of development at the cost of 1 trillion won ($740 million) slated for completion by 2025, featuring additional resorts and a Costco Wholesale store.
“JSW plans to expand cultural and leisure establishments and develop into a community platform that serves cultural needs of both travelers and local residents,” a resort official said.