Museum of African Art in Jeju Jungmun: Inspired by the Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali

Why the Museum Moved from Daehangno in 1998 to Daepo-dong, Seogwipo in 2005

The Museum of African Art first opened on November 16, 1998, in Daehangno, Hyehwa-dong, Seoul, and reopened in its new location in Daepo-dong, Seogwipo-si on January 20, 2005. Its registration as a Jeju-do museum was completed on May 6, 2005, with the registration number Jeju-do No. 2005-3.

It started as a space to collect, preserve, and exhibit African artworks and is currently located at 49, Ieodo-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do. The fundamental educational philosophy promoted by the museum is 'Ubuntu,' meaning 'I am because you are,' and this concept is applied to the direction of its exhibitions, experiences, and humanities programs.

Why an Exterior Modeled After the Great Mosque of Djenné Stands in the Jungmun Area

The museum building was designed with the motif of the Great Mosque of Djenné's architectural style from the Republic of Mali in West Africa. The facade, which looks as if it were molded from earth, and the protruding wooden decorations create a different impression compared to the typical glass and concrete exteriors of other Jeju tourist attractions.

The address is 49, Ieodo-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, and the representative phone number is 064-738-6565. The official information channel is the Naver Blog, and the URL is https://blog.naver.com/africanmuse. Since schedules for holidays, performances, and experiences on the day of your visit can be difficult to confirm as fixed information, it is recommended to check by phone before departing.

1st Floor Safari Park (30 mins): Starting with Life-Sized Stuffed Animals

The recommended viewing time for the permanent exhibition 'Safari Park' on the 1st floor is approximately 30 minutes. The museum guide explains 'Safari' as an African word meaning 'a journey for hunting,' and this space features extra-large Hansa Toy animal plushies.

Reviews from 2023 visits mention life-sized animal figures such as lions, leopards, elephants, crocodiles, giraffes, gorillas, chimpanzees, eagles, and monkeys. Rather than starting directly with the artifact-centered exhibitions, viewing the animals and the continent's natural environment on the 1st floor first makes it easier to grasp the context of the exhibition when moving with children to the 2nd floor.

2nd Floor 'African Treasures' (50 mins): 9 Themes of Artifacts from the 3rd to 19th Century

The recommended viewing time for the permanent artifact exhibition 'African Treasures' on the 2nd floor is approximately 50 minutes. Program materials from 2023 introduce this floor as an artifact-centered exhibition organized into nine themes.

Official Jeju tourism guides introduce African artifacts preserving history and culture from the 3rd to 19th centuries, rare videos digitally restored from analog photos of the 1930s-1960s, the animation 'Etaa sere, Massai' reconstructing the life of the Maasai people, and the media facade 'Kingdom of Africa.' Since the expressions on masks and sculptures can feel unfamiliar or intense, a method of reading the materials, uses, and regions together is suitable for young visitors.

3rd Floor 'LIVINGCOLOR' (30 mins): The Colors of Tingatinga and Michael Soi

The recommended viewing time for the special exhibition 'LIVINGCOLOR' on the 3rd floor is approximately 30 minutes. This exhibition explores the colors and materials infused into African daily life through African furniture, crafts, contemporary art, and media art.

Official guides state that the exhibition includes works by Edward Saidi Tingatinga and East African contemporary artist Michael Soi. Combining 30 minutes for the 1st floor, 50 minutes for the 2nd floor, and 30 minutes for the 3rd floor totals about 110 minutes for the exhibition alone, so it is better to allow around 2 hours if you add photo taking or experiences.

Hours: 10:00–19:00 with Last Entry at 18:20; Reconfirm Fees by Phone

Visit information posted in March 2023 states operating hours from 10:00 to 19:00, with admission and ticketing closing at 18:20. Museum program materials from 2023 also record 10:00 to 19:00 for both winter and summer seasons. However, as the current hours could not be independently verified in the latest official announcements, you should confirm the operation status and last entry time at 064-738-6565 before departing on the day of your visit.

Based on the same 2023 information, on-site fees are 10,000 KRW for adults, 9,000 KRW for teenagers, and 8,000 KRW for children. While the post mentions Naver reservation discounts and a condition that they can be used 1 hour after booking, discount rates and usage conditions are subject to change, so it is safer to reconfirm with the seller and the museum before payment.

• Phone: 064-738-6565
• Official Channel: https://blog.naver.com/africanmuse
• Past Confirmed Operating Hours: 10:00–19:00
• Past Confirmed Ticketing Deadline: 18:20
• Past Confirmed Fees: Adult 10,000 KRW / Teenager 9,000 KRW / Child 8,000 KRW

Route from 49, Ieodo-ro to Jungmun Saekdal Beach and Teddy Bear Museum

The Museum of African Art is located on Ieodo-ro in the southwestern part of the Jungmun Tourist Complex area. Visit Jeju classifies this site with tags such as Indoor, Art/Museum, Kids, Rain, Snow, Winter, and Barrier-free Tourism. It is a good indoor segment for a schedule even on rainy or windy days, but since there is no recent official confirmation data on detailed barrier-free facilities or wheelchair/stroller rentals, prior phone inquiry is necessary.

According to distance information, the Joanne Bear Museum is about 0.5km away, the Teddy Bear Museum is about 1.9km away, and the Yeomiji Botanical Garden is about 2.1km away. The 'Open Tourism' recommended course by the Korea Tourism Organization suggests the order of Jungmun Saekdal Beach → Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff → Museum of African Art, which can be used as a reference for a day's route moving from coastal geological scenery to an indoor exhibition.

Public transport stops, bus numbers, and parking fees were not confirmed in the latest official data. If traveling by rental car, enter '49, Ieodo-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do' or 'Museum of African Art' into your navigation, and it is best to check parking availability and fees via the representative phone number before departing.