A traditional Korean city known for its 800 preserved hanok houses and authentic bibimbap. The birthplace of the Joseon Dynasty draws food-focused visitors to its culinary scene.
In Jeonju, you can walk through 800 hanok houses from the Joseon Dynasty era, watch artisans make traditional paper at the Cultural Center, or taste bibimbap made from century-old recipes. Stop by a local tea house to learn proper tea ceremony etiquette, or spend your evening trying street food at the active Nambu Market, where vendors cook until 2 AM.
Getting to Jeonju
From Seoul, take a train (90 minutes, $20) or bus (3 hours, $15) to reach Jeonju. Trains depart every 2 hours while buses leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. The bus terminal and train station connect to the city center via local buses (routes 5 and 7, $1.50) and taxis ($8-10). Buy tickets at the stations or book them through letskorail.com.
Inside the Hanok Village
The one-square-kilometer district contains 800 Korean houses from the Joseon period. Walk through narrow streets to find small courtyards and single-story buildings with tiled roofs sloping at 45-degree angles. Many hanok accept overnight guests ($50-80 per night), where you'll sleep on traditional floor mattresses. At 8 AM, craft shop owners open their wooden doors, and food vendors prepare morning snacks along the stone-paved alleys.
Korean Food Scene
Local restaurants prepare bibimbap according to recipes from the 1800s, mixing rice with seasonal vegetables, egg, and gochujang chili paste. At Gajok Hoegwan (open since 1979), the kitchen staff makes each bowl to order using ingredients from the morning market. In Nambu Market, 50+ food stalls serve regional dishes like kongnamul gukbap (bean sprout soup with rice) for $5-7 per serving.
Museums and Historic Buildings
Visit Gyeonggijeon to see the 14th-century portrait of King Taejo displayed in the main hall. The red-brick Jeondong Cathedral (built 1914) rises 25 meters high with pointed arches and traditional Korean roof tiles. At the Korean Traditional Wine Museum, learn about makgeolli production methods and join daily tastings ($5). The Jeonju Traditional Culture Center runs hands-on classes in paper-making, ceramics, and textile weaving from 10 AM to 4 PM ($10-15 per class).
Markets and Shopping
Nambu Market opens from 6 AM until 2 AM. Browse through ground floor stalls selling fresh produce, seafood, and household items. On the second floor, the Youth Mall houses 30+ independent cafes and boutiques run by local entrepreneurs. After 6 PM, additional food vendors set up stalls, and workers gather at plastic tables for dinner and makgeolli rice wine ($3 per bottle).
