This Is The Jeju Resort Where You Can Find G-Dragon

And by that, we mean an astounding 2.5mil sqm of land that Jeju Shinhwa World occupies, which houses five hotels, two theme parks, one water park, luxurious spas and plenty of food and duty-free shopping options, a casino and a K-pop enclave once the IR is completely ready — it’s opening in phases and is slated to be fully ready in 2019. Still, there’s already plenty to do here, as we found out on a recent visit. Jeju Shinhwa World may be a 15-minute drive away from Jeju’s main tourist attractions, and a good nine-hour flight away from Singapore, but somehow, stepping into the Marriott Resort (pictured) at JSW kinda feels like…home. While parts of the resort are vaguely reminiscent of a certain IR on our own sunny shores — there’s even a food court serving up laksa and chicken rice — there are still plenty of uniquely awesome-haseyo things to do.

If you’re thinking that this abstract structure (above) is so cool it has to be the brainchild of someone arty farty, you’re right. Shaped like a grand piano is a café that G-Dragon designed. Untitled, 2017, named after one of his own songs (‘Untitled, 2014’).

The BigBang leader may have just enlisted into the army last month, but you can find traces of him here at his 228sqm Philip Starck-esque café.

Have coffee and desserts he personally selected, and paw at his handprint that he created just two days before his enlistment (pictured). The art gallery-style café is nestled within YG Republique, a mega complex in JSW where BigBang’s management agency has set up boutiques, restaurants (including a Jeju black pork BBQ restaurant) and a soon-to-be-opened bowling music bar called AC.III.T (don’t ask).

It is at the Shinhwa Theme Park where we’re faced with an odd dilemma. We knew that the theme park was created based on characters from TUBA, Korea’s answer to Pixar. But we didn’t realise that we’d be greeted by a kitschy motley crew of characters, among which is a fabulous merman who could pass off as an ambassador for Kylie Jenner’s lip kit and a female fighter who could break the Internet with her curves like Kim K did. Waitaminute, what are children in Korea watching exactly?

What’s really kid- and scaredy-cat-friendly are most of the 15 rides here. On a scale of 1 to daredevil, it’s probably a five. Don’t take our word for it: double-check on Instagram while you’re there using the free wi-fi available throughout the park. Adrenaline junkies can shell out extra cash for a series of five virtual reality rides, including a dizzying and very realistic VR rollercoaster. Those allergic to crowds will be glad to know that lines here are manageable at the moment. We’re no clairvoyants, but that will probably change soon once the other theme parks open for business. A 13,000sqm Shinhwa Water Park opens in June; and Lionsgate Movie World, with seven movie zones fashioned after films like The Hunger Games, Divergent and Twilight, will be unveiled next year.

The name of the game at this 5,500 sqm casino — one of the biggest in Jeju — is the gaudier, the better. No, really, it’s like Phua Chu Kang’s house on steroids. But there are other things to focus on here, like the 155 live gaming tables (includes baccarat, poker, black jack and roulette) and 239 slot machines and electronic table games, and three restaurants within the casino. No word if the Jeju abalone noodles (‘bao ying mian’ or sure-win noodles in Mandarin) at the 24-hour food court here can turn you into a God of Gamblers, but it sure is comforting when the chips are down.

There aren’t many premium hotels in Jeju that don’t cost you an arm and a leg; and while Airbnbs are great, sometimes you just want the luxury of having someone make your bed and clean up after you (hey, it is a vacay, okay?). Enter Marriott Resort, one of five hotels at Jeju Shinhwa World. It’s not just the modern condo-esque design that remind us of home.

The hotel is conveniently connected to the resorts’ food and shopping complex. No need to comb the streets for all your Korean skincare products — get your duty-free shopping done here in one fell swoop. Now that’s Singaporean pragmatism for you.

Also tucked in this food and shopping labyrinth is Asian Food Street, a food court that may make you think you’ve been teleported to the retro food court at the Singapore Flyer. Country-specific food trucks here sell everything from laksa and chai tow kway (Singapore) to pho and rice paper rolls (Vietnam). Don’t despair if you’re all about authentic travel experiences — there are plenty of non-Singaporean options, including a Korean street food stall, crab restaurant and an Italian joint. For true bragging rights at the unlikeliest place, duck into Starbucks, where we found not only Korea-exclusive merch, but Jeju-only beverages (udo peanut biscotti and Jeju hoji shot latte, anyone?) and souvenirs.

Chuck, er, let the kids have a whale of a time over here at Playtime, where nice folks will look after the lil munchkins for 12,000KRW (S$14.80) for two hours while you go do things that adults do without their kids.

Stay at Somerset Jeju Shinhwa World. The three-bedroom serviced condos come replete with a living room, a kitchen and even a talking Cuckoo rice cooker that’s all the rage in Korea.

This trip was made possible by Jeju Shinhwa World. For reservations and more info, go to https://www.shinhwaworld.com.

Photos: Jeju Shinhwa World