The view of Jeonju Hanok village from the up the hill

Imagine that you can go back in time to experience Korean history. You are walking through narrow alleys, surrounded by slate-tile roofs and mud-based walls. Your surroundings look like an art piece. You are now taking part in my story.

The feeling is magnificent; you cannot help but be overwhelmed with fascination and surprise. Jeonju is described as one of Korea’s “slow cities” because of its calm atmosphere. You can describe it as a real display of Korean traditional culture, manifested in the traditional architecture of the houses. The meaning of Jeonju is also unique - “Perfect Region”. It’s no wonder that it was named this way.

Situated 2 hours from Seoul, one of the busiest cities in the world, this city will make you forget all about your stressful daily life once you set foot there. All you need is to book your ticket from Seoul Bus Terminal. For more convenience, you can also book it online through www.kobus.co.kr - and you are ready to embark a new fascinating adventure.

One of the advantages of this city is how easy it is to find the places you want to visit. All you need to do is take public transportation from Jeonju Bus Terminal. It would be a good idea to book your accommodation near the Jeonju Hanok Village, since the majority of tourist places are located in the same area. You can visit all of them on foot.

Korean Traditional Clothes “Hanbok” display in front of a store

The street of Jeonju Hanok Village

One of the advantages of this city is how easy it is to find the places you want to visit. All you need to do is take public transportation from Jeonju Bus Terminal. It would be a good idea to book your accommodation near the Jeonju Hanok Village, since the majority of tourist places are located in the same area. You can visit all of them on foot.

After getting settled, you are ready to explore the city. Thanks to its traditional scenery, Jeonju is very Instagram-able and well-designed for taking pictures. Therefore, it’s a must for you to try traditional Korean clothing, hanbok, and walk through the city. With traditional clothes and a traditional setting, you are in perfect harmony with your surroundings. You can rent hanbok from a variety of stores in the Hanok Village. The clothes will make you feel like royalty, and there are multiple designs and colors to choose from. Some stores also offer an in-house photo studio for you to take pictures.

Hanbok store

Jeonju Hanok Village

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Gyeonggijeon Shrine

Once you start walking in the street, you will perceive hundreds of hanok. These are traditional homes, initially conceived for the Korean upper class, and Jeonju has one of the country’s largest collections. In the middle of Jeonju Hanok Village, you will find Gyeonggijeon Shrine (09:00-19:00 November-February, 09:00-18:00 June-August 09:00-20:00; adults 3,000 won, teenagers 2,000 won, children 1,000 won). This historical site preserves inside it the portraits of King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon dynasty, and other successive kings, such as Sun-jong, Cheol-jong, Yeong-jo, and many others. The King and his wife’s mortuary tablets are enshrined at Jogyeong Shrine.

Jeondong Catholic Cathedral

Once you exit Gyeonggijeon Shrine, if you keep walking, you will find in front of you Jeondong Catholic Cathedral. The church was designed by Priest Point, who also designed the famous Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul.

The beautiful architecture inside the cathedral will take your breath away with its high circular ceiling and coarse columns; you cannot but fall in love with its beautiful design.

Jeondong Catholic Cathedral from inside

Jeonju’s delicious kalguksu

You cannot visit Jeonju without trying its famous Korean dishes offered in one of the restaurants in Jeonju Hanok Village. Jeonju is famous for its delicious bibimbap, or mixed rice dishes. You can order bibimbap in most all of the restaurants there. You can also try bibimbap waffles, which you can only find in Jeonju city.
However, if you share the same love of kal-guksu (noodles) as I do, you can find one of the most delicious kal-guksu dishes in Korea.

Omokdae and Imokdae historical sites

The hill walking through Omokdae

After digging in to the delicious Korean food in Jeonju, it was time for a walk uphill from Jeonju Hanok Village to visit the Omokdae and Imokdae historical sites. I was informed by a kind Korean man that Omokdae is the place where Yi Seong-gye; who later became King Taejo, stopped to celebrate his victory on his way home from a war with Japanese invaders at Hwangsan Mountain. The man was kind enough to tell me the story behind this place. Up on this hill, you can see the breathtaking view of Jeonju Hanok Village from the top. It is of the most beautiful spots to take a picture as well.

Gyeonggijeon Shrine

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Jeondong Catholic Cathedral

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Omokdae

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It is always difficult to choose the perfect accommodation for your travel. You may think about all the places you want to visit, the food you want to eat, and the activities you want to do. But how about your accommodation? What if you could include your accommodation as one of the amazing things you would experience in Jeonju city? Wouldn’t it be a great idea to experience staying in a Korean traditional house” located in the middle of Jeonju Hanok Village?

Inside the Hanok Hotel

Inside the Honok hotel

I wouldn’t say I was excited about the idea of experiencing the stay in a hanok. In fact, I was thrilled by it. I was so excited to plan my trip starting with staying in a hanok so I could grasp the feeling of royalty of the past eras of Korea.

Inside the Hanok Hotel Room

Upon arriving at Dongnakwon, I met the friendly owner at the reception, and she was kind enough to guide me to my place and make sure that my room was well-heated. Inside the room, there were sleeping sheets, covers, and pillows. It was comfortable enough for me to sleep on the ground. The floor is heated by using the ondol, an underfloor heating system. When you open the door of the room, you can see in front of you a small secret garden. You can feel the calmness of the place and the connection to nature.

The Hanok Hotel Pond

The place provides a free sauna from 8 to 10 pm. You can enjoy yourself while having a nice view of the garden through a window. After staying in a hanok, I am convinced that a life-changing trip starts with quality accommodation.