Trip to Jeonju

Last weekend I visited Jeonju with my best friend for the first time in my entire 20 + years in Korea. It was a city break, only for a night and two days, but Jeonju is not as big as Busan or Seoul so a day is enough to look around. If you have run out of things to do in Seoul, I would recommend you to visit Jeonju. On the other hand, If you had a great time in Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, chances are you would love Jeonju as well.

Why you need to visit Jeonju!

Jeonju is where you can fully experience traditional Korean culture.

• Firstly, Bibimbap, most popular Korean dish, originated from Jeonju.
• Secondly, it has a Hanok village where people still dine, shop and reside in traditional houses from the Chosun Dynasty.
• Also, you can explore Hanok village in traditional Korean attire, Hanbok. Imagine yourself exploring Hanok village in Hanbok, having Bibimbap at a restaurant featured in Michelin guide for Korea, then wrapping up your day by sleeping at Hanok.

For these reasons, Jeonju is an ideal place for foreign tourists to experience traditional Korean lifestyle today,

​If you are travelling from Seoul, you can take trains from either Yongsan station or Seoul station.

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Book Your Train

I booked my outbound ticket 4-5 days in advance of my trip. Then I booked my return ticket on the day I was leaving. Unless you are travelling during the holiday season, from late June to early September, you can still get your ticket by 2 days in advance of your trip. But, it is always better to be early and safe so don't take a risk and schedule them in advance; my trip was very spontaneous that's why I booked my tickers in the same week I was travelling.
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Things to do in Jeonju

When I got off at Jeonju station, I took a taxi from the station and headed to Jeonju Hanok Village- that's where you can meet fellow tourists.

Jeonju Hanok Village 

Jeonju Hanok Village is similar to Bukchon Hanok Village.
But, it has more historical spots compared to the Hanok village in Seoul.

• Gyeongijeon Shrine
  
  Gyeonggijeon Shrine functions as same as Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul. But it was specially established to hold memorial rites for Taejo, the founder and first king of Chosun Dynasty. That is why you can see the portrait of Taejo, and a Royal Portrait Museum is also located within Gyeongijeon.
  
  The reason Taejo's portrait is located in Jeonju, not in Seoul, capital of Chosun Kingdom, is because Taejo is originally from Jeonju. Korean surnames are related to regions like lots of English surnames. Taejo's surname 'Lee' originated from Jeonju and that is why Taejo's portrait is located in his hometown.
  
  Other than the portrait and the museum, small Hanoks, gates and a small well could also be found in Gyeongijeon. But the well is closed so you can neither see inside nor throw a wish into it.
  
  As a person who's grown up in Korea, wells in Korea culture are not associated with wishes but more likely to be associated with death and ghosts.
  
  

• Jeondong Cathedral
  
  ​Jeondong Cathedral is located to the opposite of Gyeonggijeon Shrine. You only need to cross the road, that's it. Lots of tourists take photos in front of the cathedral, but inside of the cathedral is very quiet.
  
  The dome-shaped roof suggests its style-Roman Byzantine. As you walk in, you can see simple but colourful stained glasses. I love being showered by colourful shine through stained glasses, and that is why I've wanted to come to the cathedral.
  
  Cathedrals are not as common as temples or churches in Korea. So if you have a chance to come across Cathedrals in Korea, I would highly recommend you to walk in. There are all recently built, in the 20th century, so you are highly likely to be disappointed if you expect to see something like Milan Cathedral, Sagrada Familia, and so on.
  
  It is free to enter the cathedral but it is closed during the services. Like any other cathedrals, you are not allowed to speak loudly or take photos with sounds or flashlights as you can disturb people who are there to pray.
  
  

Near Hanok Village

• Jaman Mural Village
  
  Take a 10 min walk from the entrance of the Hanok Village then you can reach Jaman Mural Village. This is a small village and each house is beautifully decorated with murals by local artists.
  
  This village is very quiet and not as busy as Hanok Village so if you want to visit somewhere less crowded or touristy, you would love to visit the village.
  Also, this is a residential area so don't trespass someone's roof garden or house unless you have permission. Also, the village is located on the steep heel so wear something comfortable. I saw a girl wearing heeled boots and she struggled to come down from the top of the village.
  
  

• Omokdae
  
  Omokdae is located between Hanok Village and Jaman Mural Village. It is located on a nearby hill of Hanok Village. As it is located on top of small hill, people visit to see the night view of Jeone Hanok Village.
  
  I visited when the sun was setting. It has a small rest area where you can take off your shoes, sit down and rest. This style of the rest area is called 'Jeongja' in Korean. It is an open space made of wood and ancestors used to rest here during the summer time as the wind blows from all 4 different directions.

Far from Hanok Village

• ​Dukjin Park
  
  Dukjin park is not near the Hanok Village. It takes approximately 15-20 mins from the village by Taxi. The reason I visited Dukjin Park is because it has a big pond full of Lotus flowers.
  But you can only see the flowers start blooming from June and withering during September.
  
  My friend and I did not go to Dukjin Park to see the lotus flowers. We had a lot of time left till our train to depart so we decided to go to Dukjin Park in the morning after Breakfast.
  
  There is a bridge to walk across the pond, however, the bridge is so old that it has been closed for tourists and under repair. But there are smaller wooden bridges which seem like a maze above the pond so you can walk along the pond through the bridge.
  
  Inside the Park, they have a Jeonju Citizen Gallery. When I visited, a quilt art society members was having an exhibition to show their works throughout the year. The space seemed to be run by people having an exhibition; hence I had a chance of getting to know much about Quilt art and to find inspiration for my works.
  
  

So this is the end of my first Jeonju Trip. Jeonju felt very different to me as I am only used to contemporary Korea and Seoul which is fast-pacing and full of high rises.

As a tourist, if you want to run away from busy city life and take a breath, I would love you to visit Jeonju for a night.

Also, I would like to help anyone who plans to visit Korea but struggles by an limited amount of information or language barriers. Feel free to reach out to me via comment or email, I am more than pleased to help you.