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Jeju’s ‘Spirited Garden’ : A Three-Generation Labor of Love and Global Fame
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Jeju’s ‘Spirited Garden’
A Three-Generation Labor of Love and Global Fame
In a quiet corner of Jeju Island, an elderly man trims the branches of a quince tree with deliberate care.
Each snip of his pruning shears brings a gentle smile to his face.
Watching attentively by his side is a young man standing at attention, absorbing every detail of the elder’s work.
The elder is 85-year-old Sung Bum-Young, founder of Jeju’s iconic ‘Spirited Garden.’
The young man is his grandson, Jun-Min, representing the third generation poised to carry on a legacy of dedication to this breathtaking garden.
The Spirited Garden was recently honored by South Korea’s Forest Service as one of the country’s “30 Most Beautiful Private Gardens.”
Its guestbook reads like a who’s who of global dignitaries, including former Chinese Presidents Jiang Zemin and Xi Jinping, as well as political figures from Vietnam, Japan, and Mongolia.
Even Mo Yan, the Chinese Nobel laureate and author of Red Sorghum, has visited.
Annually, the garden attracts millions of visitors, drawn by its serene beauty and rich history.
A Vision Born from Barren Land
The story of the Spirited Garden began in 1968, when 29-year-old Sung decided to transform a desolate 36,000-square-meter plot of wilderness in Jeju’s Hankyeong-myeon area.
At the time, the land had no access to water or electricity.
Inspired by Jeju’s pristine natural environment during his earlier visits from Seoul, Sung left behind a successful shirt-manufacturing business to settle on the island.
“I came to Jeju a few times with friends, and I fell in love with its climate,” he recalls.
Yet, the challenge before him was immense.
For eight years, he worked by the light of a kerosene lamp, clearing rocky terrain, building stone walls, and planting trees.
Typhoons frequently threatened his progress, and the community dismissed him as “a madman.”
Despite physical injuries that often required hospitalization, Sung persevered.
His goal was clear : to create something that would showcase Korea’s beauty and culture to the world.
“Korea is a small country with a long history of over 5,000 years,” he explains.
“I wanted to create a garden that our nation could take pride in.”
His efforts bore fruit in the 1990s when prominent international visitors, including then-Chinese President Jiang Zemin, began to take notice.
By the late 1990s, the Spirited Garden had become a must-visit destination for visiting dignitaries.
A Family’s Lifelong Commitment
The legacy Sung started has been carried forward by his son, Sung Joo-Yeop, the garden’s current director.
Joo-Yeop joined the family business at the age of 27, putting aside his Japanese studies at university to dedicate himself to the garden.
Reflecting on the family’s hardships and triumphs, he notes, “Trees provide more than just beauty. They offer spiritual healing and comfort. During World War II, many European families found solace in well-maintained gardens after enduring unimaginable pain.”
His dream for the Spirited Garden is to create a place of “comfort and inspiration,” continuing his father’s vision.
However, the journey has not been without setbacks.
During the 1998 financial crisis, the family lost the garden to auction.
It took six years of relentless effort to reclaim it in 2004.
Since then, Joo-Yeop has actively worked to attract international visitors, traveling to countries like Mongolia, Vietnam, and Japan to promote the garden’s unique appeal.
Challenges and Controversies
Despite its success, the Spirited Garden has faced its share of challenges, including economic difficulties and unexpected controversies.
Recently, the garden became embroiled in a mystery involving a photograph of a man named Myung Tae-Kyun, taken in the garden’s exclusive “Secret Garden” area.
This space, typically reserved for corporate events and dignitaries, is not open to the public.
Neither Sung Bum-Young nor Joo-Yeop could explain how the photograph was taken, adding an unusual twist to the garden’s history.
A Legacy Continues
The combined efforts of Sung Bum-Young and Sung Joo-Yeop have spanned over 100 years, with the garden evolving into a symbol of resilience and beauty.
Together, they have authored six books on gardening and philosophy.
Now, the mantle is set to pass to Jun-Min, the 20-year-old grandson, who expresses his intention to continue the family’s mission.
“It’s only natural for me to carry on what my grandfather and father have dedicated their lives to,” he says.
The Spirited Garden stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, love for nature, and the belief that beauty can transcend generations.
What started as barren land on a remote island has grown into a global treasure, a legacy nurtured by three generations of one family.
Through storms, financial hardships, and the passage of time, the garden remains a place of solace and inspiration—a living testament to the human spirit.
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