
A European friend had spent three months visiting Seoul a few years back. She had been to ancient palaces, historic districts, mountain peaks, and temples. She had even gotten a good tour of the city’s hipster meetups and youthful nightlife. She had a good feel for Korea and its cultural sites. But there was something missing. Though she visited numerous sites, one place she had never been to was Jeonju. Jeonju has not been on the radar for many tourists in recent years, but that should change. Jeonju has traditional architecture, an authentic atmosphere, and traditional food to offer to any tourists that are patient enough to take the 2-hour bus ride from Seoul to its rustic setting.

Jeonju Hanok Village
The Jeonju Hanok Village showcases traditional Korean architecture. The site has museums, hanoks, stores selling merchandise and snacks, restaurants, and art galleries. The village rivals Andong, which is a bit bigger and is probably the premier traditional village on the modern-day Korean peninsula. There are over eight hundred hanoks. Besides some local museums like the Gyeonggijeon Shrine and Pungnammun Gate, it has a beautiful atmosphere akin to Insadong in Seoul or other historic parts of Gangbuk. There are guided tours available for anyone interested. There are activities and things to do in the village and its surrounding area, such as eating traditional food, shopping, sightseeing in the museums, taking photos, renting traditional Korean hanboks, and hanging out in cafes or venues. However, the village can be explored in a single day, and it should rather be looked at as a place to indulge in the atmosphere. It’s a good place to rest, relax, read books, hang out with friends, and enjoy traditional Korean aesthetics on a daily basis, if possible. Visitors from Seoul can check it out one time, or come back again and again for the peaceful atmosphere, relative emptiness, traditional vibe, and rustic beauty.



Stay in a Hanok
Jeonju visitors can stay in a traditional Korean house, a hanok. There are a wide array of hanoks available. Rooms run for about 35-50,000 Korean Won on Airbnb on a Saturday night during offseason. Prices can be much higher on Korean holidays and during the spring and fall. The hanok experience is wonderful, with traditional architecture and ambiance making evenings with friends or solo with a book a captivating experience. Hanoks can be cozy and it will be difficult to confuse an evening reading in a hanok with a night at home. I would recommend putting all technology away so a person can have the complete hanok experience. It might also be nice to come back to the room in the early evening, so one can get a feel for life in a traditional style house at a deeper level.


Jeonju Nambu Market
The Jeonju Nambu Market is similar to many traditional markets. However, it has some unique restaurants that serve traditional Jeolla-do food. Although it is open during the day, it is a night market.


Gyeonggijeon Shrine
The Gyeonggijeon Shrine is a great place to learn a bit about Korean history and see some ancient relics. It was built in 1410 and holds the portrait of King Taejo, the founder of the Chosun Dynasty. The site is located in the vicinity of the Jeonju Hanok Village. I find the shrine worth visiting, as it has some artifacts, history, a complex with open space, and the price is relatively cheap.

Pungnammun Gate
The Pungnammun Gate is a good attraction for all visitors to the Jeonju Hanok Village. It is located between the Jeonju Hanok Village and the Nambu Market. The gate is actually the South Gate of the old Jeonju Castle, and is its last surviving remnant. While the gate is iconic and is worth circling and taking a good look at, it won’t take too long to see it. It’s one of many locations visitors should check out while visiting Jeonju.
Jaman Mural Village
The Jaman Mural Village is another attraction visitors should check out. The village has murals of celebrities, anime characters, and movie stars. There are many themes that are explored by the murals, and the village has art galleries, cafes, and shops. The Jaman Mural Village appeals to young people and generally has a youthful vibe.

Visit a Famous Bibimbab Restaurant for Jeonju Locals
Any visitor to Jeonju should try the best bibimbab that Jeonju has to offer, as Jeonju is famous throughout Korea for its bibimbab. While many restaurants serve delicious bibimbab, there are local restaurants that visitors can go to eat bibimbab that is widely considered the best in Korea. Please check out other online resources for various opinions on good restaurants such as the Jeonju City Blog. Personally, I went with a local to the restaurant called Hankookjib, which is in the photos below, and it was more than satisfactory. It is the oldest bibimbab restaurant in Jeonju.



This article was largely written in August and September of 2021 but finalized and published in September of 2024.
Bibliography
1. Visit Korea
<https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264285>
2. Jeonju Nambu Market’s Night Market
<https://jeonjucity.kr/night-market-jeonju-nambu-market-hanok-village/.
3. Bibimbab Tour
You can click here for the Jeonju City Blog
4. Activities in Jeonju
<https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g1143545-Activities-c42-Jeonju_Jeollabuk_do.html>
Photo Credits
1. All photos by Rooftop on the Hanok.

David Kute has an appreciation for Seoul’s distinct neighborhoods. From Dongdaemun’s market stalls to Hongdae’s rock music venues, the city continues to fascinate him. After spending many years living and working in Seoul and South Korea, he started the blog Rooftop on the Hanok. The blog is a place to share information as well as explore facets of life on the Korean peninsula. He enjoys writing fiction and playing basketball when he’s not researching or writing Rooftop on the Hanok posts.