South Korea has a history of being very strict on gender issues. In the 1970s, police officers would even measure the length of women’s skirts while patrolling the streets. Conservative is often used to describe the country, especially when compared to neighboring Japan.
Loveland is considered a destination for many couples to explore and learn more about sex. Photo: wordpress.com.
Sex education in Korea thus seems to be an open issue. Therefore, many people may feel confused by the fact that Korea has put into operation a sex museum called Loveland, located on Jeju Island - in the south of the country. On the official website, Loveland is introduced as "breaking all traditional rules about sex".
As soon as you enter the gates, you are greeted by friendly symbols like gloves and headgear in the shape of sensitive body parts, making Loveland look more like a gallery than a park. A series of sculptures in explicit poses are accompanied by pun-filled signs, such as “Alice in Wonderland.”
Loveland director Lee Sung-hyung said the park’s purpose is to entertain visitors through its sculptures. “Koreans are usually shy about talking about sex. But here, anyone can openly discuss sex, which is something that rarely happens elsewhere,” Sung-hyung said. In the museum’s cafe, many traditional dishes are also served, such as kimchi or bulgogi (marinated beef) or custard in the shape of genitals.
Besides viewing the exhibits, another interesting thing about Loveland is watching the visitors. Most of them are Korean citizens, laughing and talking loudly. Some young couples are a bit shy but no less enthusiastic. For a country that strictly prohibits obscenity, the statues in Loveland can be quite strange to see.
Confused and blushing after seeing the exhibits at Loveland, Kim Woo – a young man said he and his girlfriend came to the park to “learn more about sex”. Meanwhile, Seo Jung and her lover shared the reason because other couples they knew had all come here to explore.
Loveland Park could be seen as an answer to the lack of sex education in Korea with a variety of learning content. Many of the exhibits here are considered bad porn from the 80s. However, the number of visitors to the park is tangible evidence that Loveland is more than just a laugh.
One visitor, Sean Han, candidly said that it was his parents who brought him to Loveland. “My parents have been to the park before and now they suggested that I bring my girlfriend to learn more about myself,” Sean shared.
In addition to the sex park, Jeju also has many other attractive places for tourists to explore. Currently, this place has 3 beautiful landscapes recognized by UNESCO: Hallasan Mountain, rising in the middle of the island. Second is Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak - a giant volcanic crater and finally, caves formed from lava eruptions with many colors.
