[Jo Yongjun's Journey] Onion-shaped Roof, 131 Unique Windows Full of Personality, Udo Embracing Artistic Spirit

Jeju Udo, a Journey with Art - Meeting Austrian Genius Artist Hundertwasser

The Hundertwasser Park buildings feature only curved lines, with none sharing the same shape, making them vibrant and bold. The ceramic pillars and 131 windows vary in size and shape, capturing attention.

A view of Hundertwasser Park located on the coast of Tolkan with Udobong in sight. The place with the onion-shaped dome on the left is the Hundertwasser Museum.

Hundertwasser artwork exhibited at the museum

Onion-shaped dome roof that vividly showcases Hundertwasser's unique architectural beauty

Seongsan Ilchulbong viewed through the large window of the Hundertwasser Winds cafe

The sea of Udo ripening in the spring light and the patchwork fields

The beautiful sunset of Biyangdo, known as one of the top three backpacking sanctuaries in Korea

[Asia Economy, Travel Specialist Reporter Jo Yong-jun] The pristine island, Udo of Jeju Island, has transformed into an island of art. The ‘Hundertwasser Park,’ themed around Hundertwasser (1928?2000), one of Austria’s top three painters alongside Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, has opened its doors. The park is located beneath Udobong, overlooking the beautiful Tolkani Beach and Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. Hundertwasser was a painter, architect, and environmental activist. With vivid colors, unique aesthetics, and sparkling creativity, he transcended the realms of canvas and cement. Every line in the park’s architecture is curved. The 78 pillars are made of ceramic tiles, and the 131 glass windows all differ in size and shape. Though each has a different form, their vibrant and bold colors dazzle intensely. His architectural characteristics are fully alive in the onion-shaped dome roofs and winding curves, which captivate travelers’ eyes even before the ferry to Udo docks. But that’s not all. Udo has named its natural scenic spots ‘Udo Palgyeong’ (Eight Views of Udo). Famous for its emerald sea and coral beaches like ‘Seobin Baeksa,’ and the mysterious ‘Jugan Myeongwol’ where one can see the moon inside a cave at midday, these names alone evoke a sense of wonder. Recently, Udo’s Biyangdo has emerged as one of the top three backpacking destinations nationwide, attracting backpackers. For various reasons, the reasons to visit Udo keep increasing.

Taking a 15-minute ferry from Seongsanpo Port in Jeju to Udo brings you to Cheonjin Port. Standing at the bow and looking right toward Udobong, a unique onion-shaped architectural structure catches the eye. This is the Hundertwasser Park. The onion-shaped roof, ceramic tile pillars, uniquely shaped windows and curves, and the brightly painted exterior... If you have ever seen Hundertwasser’s work, you can immediately recognize his architecture.

Hundertwasser, who said there are no straight lines in nature, was a painter who created intense and colorful artworks excluding straight lines. Especially under the philosophy that humans are guests in nature, he was an architect and architectural therapist who infused natural vitality into urban buildings.

That’s not all. He constantly explored aesthetics and tried to define the theory of aesthetics. He did not just paint with brushes but expanded the aim of art into the realm of life. Beyond art, he was also an environmental activist practicing nature conservation, forest movements, and anti-nuclear campaigns. His move from the studio to architecture was, in essence, an intervention in the artistic lives of the public.

His representative architectural artworks include the famous tourist spots ‘Hundertwasser House in Austria,’ ‘Kunst Haus Wien,’ and ‘Bad Blumau.’

Hundertwasser Park, located five minutes from Cheonjin Port, is a natural artistic park that embodies his philosophy and artistic world, divided into three spaces. The centerpiece is the ‘Hundertwasser Museum’ exhibiting his works. Behind the museum stands the condominium ‘Hundert Hills’ like a low fortress, and on the seaside with a good view of Seongsan Ilchulbong is the caf? ‘Hundert Winds.’

In the Hundertwasser Museum, every line of the building is curved, including stairs and railings, all flowing curves. This is a characteristic of Hundertwasser architecture carefully supervised by the foundation.

The museum consists of three independent buildings facing each other with a fountain in the center. There is a permanent memorial hall exhibiting 24 paintings and 23 prints by Hundertwasser. Opposite is the Udo Gallery exhibiting invited artists’ works, and there is a separate goods shop selling souvenirs.

The museum was created under the theme ‘Dream Together.’ It houses five exhibition halls: Painting Hall, Print Hall, Life Hall, Environmental Architecture Hall, and Park Hall.

The Print Hall displays original print works, and the Life Hall showcases various records illuminating his life. The Architecture Hall exhibits models of Darmstadt, Spittelau, and St. Barbara, allowing visitors to see his famous overseas architectural works at a glance.

At the Udo Gallery, the exhibition ‘To Precious People’ themed on the family of fairy tale writer Jeon Isu runs until June 30. Both the museum and gallery are designed so visitors can enjoy the ever-changing nature of Udo through windows alongside the artworks.

Jo Hyun-chul, chairman of Hundertwasser Park, explained, “No building in the park has the same shape. By giving individuality and originality to each element, the buildings have been elevated to works of art. The 78 pillars and 131 glass windows each have different forms and boast vibrant and bold colors.”

The floor is not just flat either. The winding paths with varying heights enhance the wonder of the artistic works encountered at the end of the paths, and the feel of soil and stones underfoot reminds visitors once again of humans in nature.

In fact, the site where the park was built was originally planned for a resort. However, due to environmental issues and opposition from Udo residents, the plan was scrapped. Hundertwasser was the artist discovered amid this situation. Not only was his artistic achievement remarkable, but as a painter and architect, he had the advantage of realizing his works architecturally. The resort plan was abandoned, and a park was designed with a museum exhibiting Hundertwasser’s works as the core, with accommodation and caf? as auxiliary facilities.

Chairman Jo emphasized environmental preservation, saying, “We preserved over 1,600 trees within the development site by transplanting them into the park and decorating rooftops and gardens. We also perfectly established the best wastewater purification system.”

The Mediterranean-style condominium Hundert Hills and the view caf? Hundert Winds, which offers a panoramic view of Seongsan Ilchulbong, also attract Udo travelers. Don’t forget to try the signature dessert U-Donut, available only at Winds.

Additionally, Biyangdo on the east side of Udo is now called a sanctuary for backpackers enjoying backpacking. Near Biyangdo is Hagosudong Beach with its emerald hues. Also worth seeing are Mangru Lighthouse and Dapdani Tower Observatory at the northern tip, Seobin Baeksa with its white coral sand beach, and Jugan Myeongwol.

Eco-friendly electric cars, serving as rental cars, are icons of sustainable travel on Udo. Walking along the island’s coastline, touring by electric car, climbing Udobong, and taking a cruise allow visitors to experience all of Udo Palgyeong without missing any.

Udo (Jeju) = Text and photos by Jo Yong-jun, Travel Specialist Reporter jun21@

◇ Travel Notes

△Getting There=There are ferries from Seongsanpo Port in Jeju to Udo. They operate roughly every hour, with the last ferry at 5 PM, but cancellations occur frequently depending on weather, so it is best to check the schedule before traveling.

△Udo Palgyeong (Eight Views of Udo)= ▷Jugan Myeongwol (a round white stone like a reflector shining deep inside the sea cave at the southern entrance) ▷Yahang Eobeom (night fishing boat scenery) ▷Cheonjin Gwansan (view of Hallasan from Cheonjin-dong) ▷Jiducheongsa (blue sand, waves, and white sand meeting endlessly as seen from Udobong) ▷Jeonpomangdo (view of Udo from the sea between Jongdal-ri and Hado-ri in Gujwa-eup) ▷Huhaeseokbyeok (majestic vertical cliff of Gwangdaekoji in the east) ▷Dongangyeonggul (two nostril-like sea caves at Geommeolle Beach) ▷Seobin Baeksa (white sandy coral beach shining on the west side)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.