South Korea Pt 16: Jeju Loveland

I was debating on whether I should blog about this place, or even upload photos. Then I realized, why not? It’s one of the many highlights of my whole Jeju adventure, and it’s an… interesting place. I guess I should just choose which photos I post, huh. *dumps 90% of the Loveland pics on my WP media folder*

Besides, the month is about to end, and the second part of the year is beginning, and I bet it’s going to be really trying (I can almost feel it now) so, as a preemptive strike, why not shake things up a bit? If you are uber-conservative and have strict rules about sexuality and how it is expressed, you might wanna skip scrolling after the jump. Just sayin’.

Opened in 2004, Jeju Loveland is an outdoor sculpture park focused on the theme of sex, and featuring humans (and other creatures) depicting sexual acts and positions. The place has more than 140 sculptures; I only posted a few photos here, and these are what I call the “safer” ones.

The park opens at 9:00 am, and we were the first ones there as soon as the ticketing booth opened. Shortly after, a couple of other groups and a couple also came. I’m glad there was no crowd. It would have been… awkward. Haha!

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It seems that everything about Jeju Loveland is related to sex. From the gates, to the welcome signs, to the arrows pointing you in which direction to take, to the knobs on the doors in the restroom, and even the way the soap were placed on the sinks! Some are suggestive and subtle. Others are just plain IN YOUR FACE THIS IS ABOUT S-E-X Y’ALL.

Every item, sculpture, object at the park comes with an accompanying name plate. And I snickered through most of the names. They’ve taken puns and innuendos to a whole new level! If not for these touches of humor, I would say the whole place is just – let me say it – a porn haven.

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Since the place is called Jeju “Loveland”, I suppose seeing hearts everywhere at the entrance area is a given. It’s just that some of the hearts are cleverly designed to represent something else. Well, the “something else” depends on how imaginative you are. Or how deep in the gutter your mind could go. *winks winks*

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Pilipinas, reprezent!

It’s safe to say that you won’t get lost in the Jeju Loveland. Well, the place is soooo wide and vast, and the sculptures and places at strategic distances, so you won’t find yourself in a maze. But you also have the aid of these “arrows” to tell you where to go. Some are even painted on the pavement, and you won’t be sure to miss them. I mean, HOW COULD YOU EVER MISS THESE?

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So I will try to post only the wholesome photos. Because I don’t want this blog to be accused of publishing smut. (WHO, ME? *clutches chest*)

This is simple curiosity, but I wonder how many guys would actually wanna make use of these.

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One of the first sculptures that will welcome you once you’ve passed through the gates is…. Desire. Yep, that’s the name of the statue. She’s huge.

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You’ll see some pigs and dogs in the park. I don’t know why, there must be an association with sexuality that I don’t know about. I’m pretty sure there is. What I don’t get is the cows. WHY?

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The plate reads: “A dog must follow his master”.

By the way, it’s not just all about sex and lust, you know. Jeju Loveland also has some romance thrown in. Us three were taking photos, taking turns. And then this old Japanese (I think he was Japanese, I couldn’t remember) man – in a wheelchair, no less – wheeled up to us and offered to take our photo. So sweet. And no, never did it cross my mind that he could be perving. He’s like a grandpa. A grandpa who looks so lost. Haha!

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Taking a break, there was a cafeteria/canteen of sorts that sells all sorts of sausages. Fitting, no? We got curious with the green tea flavor of soft ice cream. Oh me and my green tea obsession. ‘Twas yummy, by the way.

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You know what this huge statue is called? The Gate of Heaven.

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Jeju Loveland also has an area devoted to humorous statues. I wondered what this red car was doing there. I thought it was junk or something. Then I saw the nameplate beside it, and the name was “ALIVE AND KICKING”.

You see, you have to step up beside the car….

….and then it starts moving. Vigorously.

Then you hear sounds coming from the inside.

You get the picture.

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Title: “Alive and kicking”
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Title: “Post-Shower Fear”
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Title: “Ain’t Going Nowhere” (oh you poor man)

While walking around the erotic theme park, we came upon a building where, on top of the roof are these three, the “THREE ANGELS”. The building, by the way, had two levels. The first level is pretty much a souvenir shop. Oh, all right, we could even call a section of it as a sex toy shop. You pretty much have an idea what is sold there, I don’t need to spell it out. Or do I?

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On the second level is a showcase area, I think. That time, there was an exhibit featuring diorama of…. yes, Explicit Sexual Imagination. Some of the dioramas are pretty EXPLICIT. So I’m just gonna post a few of the “safer” ones.

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After stepping out of the exhibit area, I shuddered to think if there was a part like THAT for teddy bears. Seriously.

Love represented in various ways.

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This is “Japanese Love”.
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Left: “African Love”; Right: “Indian Love”
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Left: “American Love”; Right : “Be My Lady”, you can take pictures with it. And on it. LOL. *stares pointedly at Peach*

Remember the giant Desire statue earlier? It has a smaller version, a more normal size.

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There was also an area filled with sculptures that I can only describe as abstract. They were supposed to represent something sexual or other, but you have to look at them real closely. And think. Which, in this kind of place, kinda hurts. Thinking, I mean.

And this is called "The Thinnest Die Hard". No idea.
And this is called “The Thinnest Die Hard”. Don’t ask.

It’s so easy to see why Jeju Loveland earns a lot of mixed reactions. Some found it entertaining. Others shun it and wish it would just disappear. There are those who refer to it with indifference. Check out this article.

From an architectural point of view, I thought the place was fantastic. Well laid out against the backdrop of the Jeju countryside. The sculptures are also well-made, but then again I’m not an artist, so I wouldn’t really know the intricacies of being an art critic. I was impressed by the thought that went into this. I’d love to meet the person who conceptualized this place, maybe pick his brain a little.

Or, maybe not.

Personally, I enjoyed going around the place. I think we spent almost a couple of hours checking the place out. I suppose you have to have an open mind when you go in. Or even if you don’t, never forget the fact that, hey, it’s all for fun. And, as a rule that I’ve always lived by, everything is a matter of perception.

Make of that what you will.

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