Tavel Sketch Diary: 3 Days Capturing Jeju Island’s Soul**

Author: Haosong Chen,a visual designer, illustrator and Urban Sketcher from Shenzhen,China, member of Urban Sketchers Urban Sketcher Shenzhen, China.

From April 4th to 6th, during China’s Ching Ming Festival, I grabbed my sketchbook and embarked on a three-day drawing adventure on Jeju Island, South Korea!

Instead of sketching crowded tourist spots, I chose to wander the streets of both **Old Jeju** (Jeju-si) and **New Jeju** (Shin Jeju). What fascinated me most were the vibrant Korean signage and tangled power lines lining the streets – they pulsed with raw, unfiltered urban energy, making the city feel alive and authentic. As I show in the first drawing of this publication, streets near my hotel transformed into an open-air gallery of colorful storefronts, perfect for quick urban studies.

**New Jeju Highlights**

A striking souvenir shop with bold architectural angles – its geometric facade practically begged to be sketched!

**Old Jeju Charms**

**Chilseong-ro**: A picturesque church nestled among retro buildings – its contrast of curves and straight lines stole my heart.

Hidden alleyways: I intentionally compressed perspective in my sketches to frame those iconic neon signs flanking narrow lanes.

**Jeonnong-ro’s Cherry Blossoms**: Painted during Jeju’s sakura season! To emphasize the delicate blooms against white buildings, I amplified their pink hues for poetic contrast.

A quiet street (I forgot its name!) – empty and serene, ideal for solo sketching sessions.

Three days felt far too short – Jeju is a sketch artist’s paradise! Its collision of old-world charm and modern quirkiness left me craving more. I’ll definitely return to keep capturing its unique character.