VISIT JEJU

This street was created to honor genius painter Lee Jung-seop, who tragically passed away at only 40 years old. The memorial street is centered around the thatched house he lived in as a refugee from the Korean War. The project was initiated in 1996, with restorations complete in September 1997. The area is now lined with shops, many selling souvenirs featuring the illustrations of Lee Jung-seop, as well as an array of handicrafts. The area also features a “writer’s walking path,” tracing the lives of artists who have left behind masterpieces from their stays in Seogwipo.

Lee Jung-seop Street is also home to Seogwipo’s very first theater, the Seogwipo Tourist Theater. First opened in 1963, it closed temporarily in 1999 before reopening in 2015 as a comprehensive artistic space, serving as a venue for a number of artist collectives on the island. However, the building was marked for demolition in 2025 due to some age-related structural issues.

While walking along Lee Jung-seop Street, you will likely discover the former residence of Lee Jung-seop, the house where he and his family lived as war refugees. The house has been preserved to allow visitors to catch a glimpse of how Lee Jung-seop truly lived while in Seogwipo. No visit to Lee Jung-seop Street is complete without a stop at Lee Jung-seop’s residence.