Jeonju Blooming: Places to See in Jeollabuk-do (Part One)
Our road trip started with South Korea’s south coast and the province of Jeollanam-do, but we ended by driving back up to Seoul through the western province of Jeollabuk-do. This area offers a rural and small-town feel, very different from Seoul and distinct from the coastal towns and villages we visited earlier on this trip. Here, we explored the foodie city of Jeonju, hiked the rugged peaks of Naejangsan National Park, and trekked through the towering stone pagodas and blooming cherry tunnels of Maisan Provincial Park.
In this post, visit historic Jeonju Hanok Village. In part two of this post, visit Naejangsan National Park and Maisan Provincial Park.
Jeonju Hanok Village
A small and slower-paced city, Jeonju is known for its historic Hanok Village and its home-cooking. It is famed as the birthplace of bibimbap (비빔밥), a signature Korean dish of vegetables, chili paste, and often egg or meat served on top of rice and then mixed before eating. We spent only one full day in Jeonju itself, so we stayed right across the river from the Hanok Village, quite convenient for sight-seeing.
The village of 735 traditional hanok houses has a fun series of streets and alleyways to stroll. Most of the houses have been converted into museums, restaurants, cafes, and art galleries. The village does house a historic site called Gyeonggijeon Shrine, which houses the portrait of King Tae-jo, the founder of the Joseon dynasty.
The shrine and black bamboo forest on the grounds are popular spots for couples and friends taking photos while wearing traditional Korean clothes, hanbok. We found the neighborhood as a whole to be an interesting blend of traditional sites and tourist kitsch.
Jamon Mural Village
To add to this fascinating blend of old and new Korea, just across the road from the Hanok Village is Jamon Mural Village. Fashioned in the style of Ihwa Mural Arts Village in Seoul, Jamon too is a former hillside shantytown that has been re-shaped by the government’s efforts to increase tourism. Artists are invited to create public artworks on the walls of the village’s homes and businesses, creating a colorful maze of streets and sidewalks.
The Most Important Thing: Food
There are so many different kinds of food available at Jeonju Hanok Village, you could pretty much eat your way through! Our priority was to try the region’s most famous dish, bibimbap, which literally means “mixed rice” as you mix all the ingredients together before eating it. Even better, we had my favorite preparation dolsot-bibimbap (돌솥비빔밥), which is the same dish but served in a hot stone bowl, so the rice gets crispy on the bottom before you mix it. Hanguk Chib (Korea House) restaurant served it up right.
The old and the new come together in Jeonju, creating a fascinating place to slow down for a few days and absorb the local culture.
Thanks for joining us! To see more photos of Jeonju, visit our Flickr page here.
In part two of this post, visit Naejangsan National Park and Maisan Provincial Park.
