Teddies 3cm to 8m and everything in between

An important note on Jeju’s updated bus system and this blog post

From August 2017, Jeju Island implemented a new city and intercity bus system. It increased the number of buses in service, while simplifying the routes, fees and numbering system.

Consequently, the contents of this previously published blog post may have changed. We therefore would kindly request that you consult this page for new bus maps in English on VisitJeju.net, and this page on our blog for a chart of the old and new bus route numbers.

If you read Korean, then the province’s official bus system website is a useful and up-to-date resource. We hope you’ll enjoy your travels on Jeju Island!

Although the Jungmun Tourist Complex is chockablock with attractions, restaurants and high-end accommodations, it’s no exaggeration to say that the humble Teddy Bear figures prominently here.

You could even say it’s not the “Tamna Kingdom” (the old name for Jeju-do Island) so much as the “Teddy Kingdom”

Located right across from the the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum and next to the Play K-Pop Jeju attraction, the Teddy Bear Museum is popular with families and tourists from around the world, especially China.

This large building houses hundreds of rare, antique and undoubtedly cute Teddy Bears from around the world and many decades past.

It is organized into three main areas: History, Art and Teddy’s Forest – the outdoor garden that is both peaceful and fun to explore.

Did you know?

The world’s first dedicated Teddy bear museum was established in England in the 1980s (though it closed in 2006). At present, the largest such museum in the world is in China.

The history exhibit is where historical people and events are depicted using bears as models.

Similarly, the second exhibit has teddy bears acting out famous works of art, including the “Mona Lisa,” the “Thinker,” Klimt’s “Kiss,” and more. Teddy’s Forest playfully puts Teddy Bears in their “natural environment.”

There’s also an animatronic Elvis show, a large gift shop and fast food restaurant.

Did you know?

According to the museum, the Teddy Bear was named after Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States of America.

The story as recounted by many is that in 1902, “Roosevelt was out bear-hunting one day in Mississippi, when, having failed to capture a bear, he was invited to shoot an American Black Bear that had been rounded up by his attendants and tied to a tree. Roosevelt declined, claiming it would be unsportsmanlike. 

Subsequently the story served as the subject for a political cartoon that inspired Morris Michtom, a Russian Jewish immigrant, to create a stuffed bear cub that he would call ‘Teddy’s bear.’”

Overall, the Teddy Bear Museum is a worthwhile destination for people of all ages.

It doesn’t change all that much from year to year, but with the expansive garden out back, it’s a pleasant place to revisit from time to time, season to season.

And since it’s conveniently located near a large number of other attractions, you can make a day of your Jungmun excursion.