K-Life Project: Pangyo Worker’s Journey to a Jeju

HansJung(애들빙자여행러)
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A real Korean story of leaving the city hustle for Jeju’s calm. Follow one office worker’s journey from tech life in Pangyo to building a home — and a new way of living

Episodes

  1. 11/08/2025

    11. Beyond the Blueprint: Navigating Korean Architecture

    Building a dream in Korea is tougher than it looks. Join a Pangyo office worker (FoodTech and traveler) on his intense, years-long journey to build a unique structure—the Warang Studio—on Jeju Island. This isn't just about building a house; it's about creating a 'second house' or a space focused on healing and connecting with the fierce beauty of Jeju's nature, from the sweeping winter winds to the moonlight. Discover the chaotic reality of modern Korean construction: ???? The Design Struggle: Hear how the initial flat blueprints failed to capture the spatial feeling, leading to a complete architectural overhaul and the need for a "Savior" architect who urged the author to communicate directly with designers. ???? Bureaucracy Battles: Learn about the unexpected administrative hurdles, including getting architectural permits despite initial failures, dealing with complex ground lease rights (지상권설정) tied to land loans, and the required prepayment of the massive agricultural land preservation charge (농지보존부과금). ???? Experimental Design: Explore the groundbreaking concept of Warang Studio—a simple, open, and experimental space featuring a four-sided glass structure surrounded by a 'ㄷ' shaped wall ('담') that defines privacy and public areas. We delve into the philosophy of rejecting traditional rooms and walls to focus on personal reflection. If you love K-culture, K-lifestyle, and architectural stories of persistence against the odds, this is your blueprint for the Korean dream.

    29 min

  2. 11/02/2025

    10. Jeju Transformer: The Frustrated Guide to Korean Home Building

    K-Escape: The Cost of Building a Dream Home on Jeju Island. Follow the raw, frustrating, and incredibly real journey of Pangyo office workers who decided to trade their corporate lives for a slice of paradise in Jeju Island, forming a tight-knit community known as 'Wrang Village'. This isn't your average travelogue; it’s a deep dive into the unpredictable reality of Korean home construction. Learn why the dream of building a custom wooden house quickly turned into a nightmare. Discover the shock of construction costs tripling due to global events like the Russia-Ukraine war, pushing prices past 10 million KRW per pyeong (a unit of area). Hear firsthand about navigating complex Korean bureaucracy, from discovering you must independently solve severe local water shortage issues (costing upwards of 70 million KRW to pull new lines) to learning that an architect is not a "one-stop construction agency". Host "Hans" shares the painful lessons of "Frustration" (좌절) and the clash between his grand vision—like the minimalist 20-pyeong house concept or the modular ‘Jeju Transformer’ dream—and the financial limits imposed by reality. If you've ever dreamed of escaping the city or wondered about the reality behind the romanticized Korean country life, this is your indispensable guide.

    29 min

  3. 10/22/2025

    9. Jeju Land Scam:The Ordeal of Building Wrang Village and Escape Corporate Life

    pisode 09: The Cost of a Dream: How Six Families Were Scammed Trying to Build Paradise on Jeju Island Meet a former Pangyo office worker who made the crucial decision to escape the daily grind (a two-hour round trip commute to Gangnam, Seoul) and build a new life in Jeju. The journey began with a phone call from a chef-friend proposing a unique idea: creating a cooperative community called Wrang Village—a Jeju dialect word meaning "gathering noisily". This episode dives into the brutal realities of turning that dream into reality. The first attempt to secure land on the east side of Jeju, near Darangshi Oreum, quickly revealed they had been victims of a land scam. The group faced immense obstacles: the land, categorized as Imya (mountain/forest land), lacked basic utilities, requiring expensive lines to be drawn over 1 kilometer. The biggest hurdle was a forgotten tomb (grave) that deviated the road, demanding that the group either move the grave or secure permission from uncooperative, absentee landowners (who were all Seoul residents) to reroute the utilities. When neighbors refused to grant permission and instead demanded the purchase of their entire properties, the group's initial attempt collapsed. Driven by hope, the six families (including a chef, a guesthouse owner, and the narrator who dreamed of opening a pub) pivoted to a larger, cheaper plot on the west side of the island. However, this new land was Nongji (agricultural land), requiring them to become amateur farmers and cultivate crops like potatoes for at least a year. Listen as these urban pioneers navigate complex land acquisition laws, mandatory farming requirements, and the constant stress of collective decision-making, learning that farming is far from easy. This is the story of profound challenges—"trials" and "frustration"—that pave the way for a deeper, more resilient community.

    33 min

  4. 10/09/2025

    8. From Seoul to Stone and Sky: What Building in Jeju Taught Me About Freedom

    This episode delves into the crucial step of securing the wife's full support and consensus for the Jeju building project. Initially, she was skeptical (회의적) about the huge construction costs and questioned why they should push ahead if they weren't planning to live there permanently. The turning point came when she visited the land with the children and saw evidence that it wasn't too remote (오지), noting that Coupang deliveries arrived and kindergarten buses operated there. Once convinced, the wife took on a vital role in executing the detailed interior design (세부 디테일한 부분). She preferred warm, bright colors over cold black schemes and focused on using quality wood for certain accent points while managing the budget. Drawing on her background at a foreign IT company, she also thoroughly planned the Internet of Things (IoT) functionality. This allows them to remotely operate security, temperature, and humidity controls, which is necessary for a second house. Although she was stressed at work, gathering and reviewing interior data made her eyes sparkle. This process, which initially seemed painful, ultimately brought the family a sense of release and healing (해방감과 힐링). It became a valuable opportunity for the family to discuss what constitutes a valuable life, moving beyond the high-pressure educational system (학구열) of Gangnam and encouraging the children to realize their own dreams.

    34 min

  5. 10/08/2025

    7. The Frontier's Farewell: Four Years on Jeju Island

    Episode Summary and Outline This episode recounts the author's four-year journey living on Jeju Island after their IT company made a bold, sudden decision to move its headquarters there in 2003. I. The Unexpected Move: Becoming a Frontier (2003) • The Corporate Decision: In 2003, the author's IT company, famous for its mail and café services, made an abrupt decision to relocate its headquarters to Jeju. • The Challenge: The author’s boss encouraged the department to be the "frontier" for the relocation. While some female colleagues cried, the author, being single, viewed it as an interesting challenge. • Initial Support & Setup: The company provided genuine and exceptional support, including monthly stipends (which were adequate for living since the company provided three meals a day). • First Impressions: Employees lived scattered in two or three nearby studio apartments, giving a dormitory feeling. The author remembers the first night vividly, finding the moonlight very bright, feeling lost, but having a clear and refreshing mind. II. Work Focus and Local Connection • High Productivity: Work concentration was extremely high, primarily because there was little else to do outside of work. • Team Dynamics: Evenings were spent drinking with colleagues, who became like family, often buying ingredients together and sharing homemade side dishes. • Seeking Local Life: During breaks, the author would gather local information (hot spots, cheap restaurants, furniture) from colleagues newly hired in Jeju. • The English Academy: The author registered for an English conversation academy downtown, driven less by a passion for study and more by the strong desire to meet local Jeju residents. The hope was to connect with young locals, perhaps those working in the tourism industry or duty-free shops. • Finding Warmth: Although the expectation of meeting young people was broken (the morning class had few young students), the author met exceptionally kind local Jeju people. These individuals, who initially seemed blunt and cold, became very warm once they opened up. • Local Hospitality: These new friends helped the author adjust by hosting frequent evening gatherings, inviting the author to unique local weddings, hiking Hallasan, and even giving the author a heater (난로) when they mentioned the cold winter. They also explained the historical Pungsu (feng shui) of Jeju when the author was house hunting. III. The Hardship of Island Life (Isolation and Movement) • Isolation: At times, Jeju felt like an ancient place of exile (귀향지), and the author felt a fear of being socially cut off from information and trends. • Coffee Cravings: At the time, there were no Starbucks locations in Jeju City. During one night of overtime, the author drove for about an hour to the only 'Seattle' espresso specialty shop in Jungmun to bring back coffee for the team. • Moving Inland: After six months in a city studio, the author sought a house with a yard overlooking the sea, prompting adventurous colleagues to move to the mountains or the coast. The author moved to a detached house in Jocheon (a middle-mountain area), renting under Yeonse (Jeju's common rental contract requiring a full year's rent upfront). • Harsh Winters: The author experienced the severe cold of the middle-mountain area. Heavy snowfall sometimes prevented the author from getting home or leaving the house. • Moving to the Coast: Realizing the seaside was relatively warmer, the author moved to Hamdeok Beach, where the landlady treated the author like a grandson. However, the difficulty of dealing with oil boilers (common in rural Jeju) led to another move to Samyang Beach in Jeju City, where a gas boiler was available. The author found carrying a 20-liter oil container weekly in the winter to be exhausting. • Disconnection: By the fourth year in Jeju, moving back into the city provided convenience but led to a sense of disconnection. The "romance and connections" of the countryside disappeared. IV. The Confrontation with Nature and Departure • Fear of Stagnation: The author often climbed oreums (volcanic cones) alone on weekends. After a harsh typhoon, climbing an oreum led to a shocking moment when a butterfly landed gently on the author's shoulder. This experience triggered a fear of becoming complacent, feeling like they were sticking to the Earth's surface and being left behind. • Fear of Nature: The author felt the fear of nature for the first time after hearing the news that the youngest colleague was swept away in his car by rapidly surging river water during a historic typhoon. • The Conclusion: The author concluded that Jeju is difficult to live in and is better suited as a place to visit and enjoy occasionally. • The Departure: The author resolved to live intensely while young and return to Jeju when old. The author left Jeju and moved to the Seoul organization in the winter of 2006, exactly four years after immigrating to the island.

    29 min

  6. 10/07/2025

    6. The Second House: Throwing Money Away on the Street

    This episode explores the decision to build a second house in Jeju despite facing criticisms that it is an act of "throwing money on the street" and that maintaining two households doubles the cost. The narrator, a Pangyo office worker, finds a role model in a professor from the H University Kendo Club (교검회), whose lifestyle he envies. This professor successfully maintains multiple private spaces in Seoul, Gangwon-do (Yongpyeong), and the Southern Coast (Namhae), rotating between them seasonally. The professor shares that living in diverse locations based on the season provides happiness, even though disadvantages exist, such as significantly higher living expenses (2 to 3 times more, requiring multiple coffee machines). The professor's Namhae house boasts the best scenery the narrator has ever seen, overlooking the distant sea. Furthermore, the professor suggests that in the face of worsening global warming, Yongpyeong could be a future residential alternative due to its significantly lower temperatures. Ultimately, the narrator concludes that the Jeju project may not be an end, but merely the beginning of an endless desire for spatial satisfaction.

    20 min

  7. 10/06/2025

    5. The Perfect Timing for Building Your Dream

    This episode explores the eternal question for aspiring homeowners: When is the right time to build? Amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sudden, rapid shift to company-wide remote work, the narrator faced the immense burden of four family members cohabiting 24/7. This stressful environment led to a moment of profound reflection: if the world were ending tomorrow, what would be the most regrettable thing not done? The answer was crystal clear: drinking morning coffee and reading a book in the front yard of a house in Jeju. The narrator felt an intense urgency to start the project immediately. However, the initial momentum was met with severe setbacks: skyrocketing construction costs and financial uncertainty (relying on stock options that have yet to materialize). The project was paused, facing the dilemma of whether costs would ever drop, or if, as some suggested, "now is the cheapest time". The breakthrough came through a conversation with a highly respected and famous cartoonist. The cartoonist shared personal wisdom, stating that they bought their current space despite a poor real estate market because it was on the street they loved. The core teaching resonated deeply: "Isn't the most appropriate time when you genuinely and desperately want to do something?". This realization broke the fixed idea that external conditions must align perfectly. It proved that personal will and courage are the true indicators of the perfect timing, guiding the project forward regardless of the material cost. • The Conflict between Market Timing and Personal Desire ◦ Analyzing the dilemma of rising construction costs vs. the immediate need to fulfill a dream. ◦ The cartoonist’s philosophy: prioritizing personal conviction (간절한 마음) over market conditions. • The Impact of Crisis on Life Goals (COVID-19) ◦ The stress of company-wide remote work forcing a re-evaluation of living spaces and life priorities. ◦ The realization that previous "fixed ideas" (like the impossibility of remote work) could be changed. • Financial Dilemmas and Uncertainty ◦ The reliance on future expected wealth (stock options) to fund the project. ◦ Dealing with indecision caused by cost escalations. • The Value of Personal Fulfillment ◦ The understanding that realizing a lifelong dream (로망) creates value that transcends material cost. • Jeju House Building • Construction Timing • Remote Work (Telecommuting) • COVID-19 • Rising Construction Costs • Architectural Timing • Fulfilling a Dream • Creator’s Wisdom • Stock Options • Fixed Ideas

    15 min

  8. 10/05/2025

    4. The Secret Behind Korea’s Construction Costs

    Dreaming of building your own sanctuary? Join our host, a Pangyo office worker, as they detail their journey constructing a home in Jeju. This episode dives into the shocking financial realities that established books don't tell you. We reveal why the common metric of "cost per pyeong" is meaningless, as the final price is highly dependent on your chosen materials and concept. We explore the hidden factors driving up housing costs, including the huge jumps in material and labor expenses following global events like the COVID pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, plus added logistics costs for Jeju. Crucially, we dissect the cost breakdown: discover the surprising truth that labor costs and indirect expenses (like insurance and builder profit, often 10% each of material + labor) frequently hold a larger share of the budget than the materials themselves. Learn about the builder's dilemma and why reducing total expenditure is incredibly limited, often forcing difficult "down-grade" decisions on finishings like tiles or windows.

    27 min

  9. 10/04/2025

    3. The Offshore Build: Navigating Korean Home Construction

    The article discusses the difficulty and importance of finding the right architect for building a house in Jeju. The author considers this selection process crucial, noting that success in architecture depends at least 50% on working with a good person. Key Challenges and Decisions • Necessity: An architect is mandatory for obtaining construction permits. The author met six architects over two years. • Regional Dilemma: A significant worry was deciding between a Seoul-based architect (offering better communication during the design phase) and a Jeju-based architect (having better local knowledge and ability to oversee the site since the author resides in Seoul). • Trust Issues: After meeting a recommended Jeju architect, the author felt anxious about trusting them due to concerns over their portfolio, qualifications, and overall reliability for a major construction contract. • Cost Difference: Seoul architects were found to be at least three times more expensive than Jeju architects, although the author noted that price was secondary to the value and quality provided. The Architect's Role The architect is described as a "top strategist" and a "guiding light" who helps the client navigate the difficult "sea" of construction without getting lost. An ideal architect is one who listens to the client's needs but also points out errors and organizes ideas. Crucially, an architect who is open to discussing opinions thoroughly (even the minor details) is less likely to fail. Final Resolution Ultimately, the author decided to contract with two separate firms—one in Jeju and one in Seoul—to collaborate on the project. This approach was chosen to create "multiple buffers" and minimize the risk of failure in what is considered a lifetime "challenging act" (architecture)

    28 min

  10. 10/03/2025

    2. The Fateful Indecision: What Kind of House Do I Really Want?

    When asked “What kind of house do you want?” I froze. From materials to budget to design, every choice felt impossible. Yet, in that confusion, I discovered what building a home truly means. (Original link https://brunch.co.kr/@you1/33)

    21 min

  11. 10/03/2025

    1. Why Building a House Became My Life’s Greatest Challenge

    Introduction by Travel Lover Under the Guise of Kids | Apr 28. 2025 The scene in the movie The Shawshank Redemption where Red goes to find Andy: “The day I get fired will be the day I leave for Jeju.” In 2016. That is, about 10 years ago from now, I inadvertently signed a contract for land in Jeju and jokingly blurted this out. This thought made me feel secure about the future and was the object of envy for those around me, but the words I spoke as a joke ended up becoming reality. I like the movie The Shawshank Redemption. In the movie, prisoners come out for outdoor labor and, thanks to the main character 'Andy's' efforts, they get to drink cold beer on a building roof under the scorching sun. It might have been years since they had a drink. What was Andy thinking? Andy doesn't even drink the beer. Unforgettable is the scene of freedom at the end of the movie where Andy escapes prison, shouts hurray while being rained on. And the final image of him calmly repairing a boat on a Mexican coast, waiting for his best friend 'Red,' is unforgettable. Perhaps it was like my own longing for freedom from the prison of the company. Could I also meet the second half of my life somewhere in Jeju, like Andy? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It wasn't backed by tremendous effort and capital. It would be ordinary, if you call it ordinary. Shall I say that the door opened simply because I continuously pushed forward without tiring? I feel like I definitely couldn't have achieved it if I were alone. It seems I stepped on the gas even harder whenever I occasionally realized the vanity of life while on the bus ride to work or looking at the dazzling late-night buildings of Pangyo. During the COVID-19 period, when I asked myself, ‘What would I do if the world ended tomorrow?’ I answered that I would drink a cup of coffee in the front yard of my Jeju house. I wanted to talk about joy/enjoyment. No one would be familiar with building a house. Is it easy to build a house once in a lifetime? Because everyone is a first-time client/owner. I hoped the process of dreaming and building a house would be a continuation of joy, not pain. Just as life has waves/fluctuations, the process was like a roller coaster. I honestly confess. There were moments when I wanted to give up several times. However, it seems that this process also became a moment of healing for me, like a trip to an unknown world. Before I knew it, I had become 'Dorothy,' the protagonist going to meet The Wizard of Oz. Where are my friends? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This story may be insufficient for gaining knowledge about building a house. It does not contain sufficient theoretical or technical knowledge for building a house. This is a story about a dream. However, it is not fantasy, but a harsh, realistic reality attested by actual experience (현실 고증 리얼리티). Through the record of the trial and error process over the past 10 years by a Pangyo IT office worker who had no architectural knowledge, struggling to build his own space in Jeju, I hope to give a little courage and hope to those who wish to challenge the world for their dream at least once. • Keywords: Architecture, Jeju, Life • Brunch Book Serial: Monday Serialized Pangyo Office Worker Building a House in Jeju 01 Why Building a House Must Be a Life Challenge • Table of Contents (Excerpts): ◦ 02 Inevitable Decider with Decision Paralysis ◦ 03 What it means to meet a good architect ◦ 04 The secret of construction costs per pyeong that I didn't know ◦ 05 The most appropriate time to build • Comment (Author 'Travel Lover Under the Guise of Kids'): FoodTech and Architecture and the skill of holding, kicking, and carrying the kids around

    26 min
  • 11 Episodes

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A real Korean story of leaving the city hustle for Jeju’s calm. Follow one office worker’s journey from tech life in Pangyo to building a home — and a new way of living

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