South Korea has a long history of 5,000 years and visitors can find her traditional beauty in many places, but not many places can beat Jeonju for featuring Korean traditional beauty. Jeonju Hanok Village is a cherry on top of Jeonju’s beautiful and interesting attractions.
On This Post
- Information about Jeonju Hanok Village
- Strolling around Jeonju Hanok Village
- Spots for Roofs Photos of Jeonju Hanok Village
- Jeondong Catholic Church
- Omokdae
- Kimchi Cultural Center
- Pungnammun Gate
- Nambu Market
- More Things To Do in Jeonju Hanok Village
- Jeonju Hanok Village in Korean Movies and Kdramas
Information about Jeonju Hanok Village
Location & Map
99, Girin-daero, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea
How to get to Jeonju Hanok Village from Seoul and Busan
- From Seoul: Ride KTX to Jeonju at Seoul Station or Yongsan Station. The train ride would take 2hours.
- From Busan:
- Ride KTX or SRT to Osong Station. Transfer to KTX to Jeonju. The trip would take just a shy of 3 hours.
- Ride an express bus from Busan Central Bus Terminal or Busan Seobu Bus Terminal to Jeonju Intercity Bus Terminal. It would take between 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours and half a hour. It may take longer depending on the traffic.
- From Jeonju Station to Jeonju Hanok Village: Take bus, No. 511, 513, 514, 515, 520, 521, 522, 535, 541, or 543. Get off at Dongbusijang bus stop.
- From Jeonju Intercity Bus Terminal to Jeonju Hanok Village: Walk to Geumam Gwangjang. Cheongdam Hanbangbyeongwon (금암광장.청담한방병원) bus stop (450 meters or 1,500 feet) > Ride a bus, No. 79, 149, 165, 644, 684, 685, 970, 999, or 1994 > Get off at Jeongdong Seongdang. Hanok maeul bus stop.
How to pronounce Jeonju Hanok Village
전주한옥마을 /jeon-joo-han-ok-ma-eul/: Jeonju is the name of the city. Hanok is a traditional Korean house. Maeul means a village.
Contact
- Website: Jeonju Hanok Village’s site (available in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese)
- Phone: +82-63-282-1330
- YouTube: Jeonju Hanok Village’s channel
- Instagram: @joenju.hanok
Strolling Around Jeonju Hanok Village
South Korea is one of the most technologically developed countries in the world. The country boasts one of the world’s fastest internet and Korean households are filled with items made by Samsung and LG (Yes, both companies are Korean, in case you didn’t know.) However, many international visitors want to experience a more “Korean” side of the country, not just a global and speedy part of South Korea. If you belong to this group, Jeonju is a perfect town for you, and Jeonju Hanok Village is the city’s essence.
Jeonju Hanok Village is the largest traditional hanok village in South Korea. Hanok is a traditional Korean house and the village is home to more than 700 hanok houses. Annually more than 10 million people visit this place. And many of them are wondering if people actually live in the village. The answer is yes: It is an actual residential area and people live in Jeonju Hanok Village. So, please be nice and mind your manners when you visit the place.
Jeonju Hanok Village has many interesting places to visit, but you would be enjoying the area by simply strolling through its streets. You will see lines of hanok, earthy walls decorated with designs or Korean sayings, lots of shops and restaurants, and more. The area around Gyeonggijeon is more crowded and vibrant with many retail stores and restaurants. If you want to enjoy a more quiet atmosphere, the neighborhood near Jeonju Hyanggyo would fit better for you.
You can easily find hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) rentals in the area. It would be a fun and interesting experience to walk around the traditional Korean neighborhood wearing traditional Korean clothes.
Photogenic Jeonju Hanok Village
Every corner of the village would be a photo zone for you like this 600 years old Gingko Tree above.
Jeonju Hanok Village Information Center
- 99, Girin-daero, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si
- +82-63-715-1330 (English, Chinese, or Japanese) or +82-63-282-1330 (Korean)
- You can rent a stroller or wheelchair at the center.
There are two more information centers in the village at Gyeonggijeon and Omokdae.
Spots for Roofs Shot of Joenju Hanok Village
Probably the most famous picture of Jeonju Hanok Village would be photos of widely spread roofs of hanok over the neighborhood. It is such a beautiful scene and you will absolutely want to take a picture of it when you visit the place.
There are a few spots where you can take this picture. My first pick is Cafe Jeonmang. The cafe is located on the 4th and 5th floors of the building near Lahan hotel. On the 5th floor, the open terrace has one of the best views of the village. I would recommend visiting the cafe a bit early before it gets crowded. Jeonmangdae Cafe near Cafe Jeonmang (I know their names are confusing) also offers a great wide view of the neighborhood.
Another good place for the view is on the way to Omokdae. When you come down (or climb up) from Omokdae, you will find a good spot for a view on the trail.
Have a quick stop at the 2nd floor of Manhwaru at Jeonju Hyangyo or the 2nd floor of Hanok Village public parking building for a view. Although their views are not as great as the ones previously mentioned, they are free and easy to access.
Jeondong Catholic Church
Jeondong Cathedral is a symbolic place in Korean Catholic history because it was built on the site where the martyrs, Yun Ji-chung (Paul) and Gwon Sang-yeon (James) were executed in 1791. The church is a popular destination for all visitors regardless of religion especially because of its architectural beauty in the Romanesque style. Father Poinel who designed Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul designed Jeondong Cathedral. You can visit the cathedral’s website for more information like mass schedules (available in Korean only.)
Omokdae
Omokdae (오목대) is a historic site where Yi Seong-gye, who found the Joseon Dynasty, celebrated his victory. He fought and won a battle against the Japanese army at Hwangsan Mountain. He stopped at Omokdae on the way back to Gaegyeong, the capital of Goryeo Dynasty. At Omokdae, Yi Seong-gye subtly showed his ambition to found a new country.
Omokdae stands on the top of a steep hill so you can look down the Hanok Village. In fact, you may not see the village from the site itself, but you will find a great spot to see the area on the way up (or down) to Omokdae.
Jeonju Kimchi Cultural Center
Kimchi is one of the most widely known Korean food, if not the most. At Jeonju Kimchi Cultural Center, visitors can learn about Kimchi including the food’s history, the process to make, gastronomical and scientific factors behind Kimchi, and more. In addition, the center runs several classes and events to learn and experience kimchi. You can find the content of classes and schedules on its website. I am afraid that the site is available only in Korean.
- Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (summer) / 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (winter)
- Closed: Mondays
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Website: Jeonju Kimchi Cultural Center
Pungnammun Gate
Pungnammun Gate was the south gate of Jeonju Fortress surrounding the old Jeonju. The fortress originally had four gates in each direction, but only Pungnammun Gate remains. The gate was originally built in Goryeo Dynasty, but it was burnt down during Jeongyujaeran, the second part of Imjin War. It was rebuilt later while King Yeongjo was reigning. Pungnammun Gate is Korean Treasure No. 308.
Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market
Jeonju Nambu Market has a long history. The market began sometime during Joseon Dynasty and it has been serving the locals and visitors as the biggest traditional market in Jeonju for over 200 years. Jeonju Nambu Market has about 800 stores and the list includes almost everything from hanbok to fresh fruits from local farmers.
The market was famous for its night opening on Friday and Saturday nights, but it is currently closed due to COVID-19.
When you visit Nambu Market, make sure to check out Cheongyeon (Youth) Mall on the second floor. This section started as a local project to make the market more attractive to younger customers, and it is considered one of the most successful regeneration projects for traditional Korean markets.
The mall is home to many restaurants, unique handicraft shops, and cafes run by young entrepreneurs.
More Things To Do in Jeonju Hanok Village
It is hard to cover all the attractions in Jeonju Hanok Village in one post. I have a separate post for Jeonju Hyanggyo and will write another one for Gyeonggijeon soon.
The village has many more cultural centers and museums including Jeonju Hanbyuk Cultural Center, Jeonju Korean Liquor Museum, and Jeonju Fan Culture Center. Walk along the “Sinabro-gil” trail which includes Omokdae, Jaman Mural Village, and more. Or, you can buy lots of traditional Korean items or souvenirs in the village as well. Especially stop by a Hanji store. Hanji is a type of traditional Korena paper and Jeonju is famous for it. The village also offers guided tours so find the schedule if you are interested.
Jeonju Hanok Village in Korean Movies and Dramas
Jeonju Hanok Village is one of the most beloved places by Korean movie or drama producers. The list would be too long to include all the Korean movies or Kdramas filmed here. Let me mention some of them, though: The King’s affection, Search: WWW, The Red Sleeve, Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield, Princess Hours, The Fatal Encounter, Mr. Sunshine, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Our Beloved Summer, Love in the Moonlight, Sweet Buns, and many more. If you are a fan of Korean movies or Kdramas, it would be fun to recognize some spots you’ve seen in the films and dramas.
Lastly, for K-pop fans, Jeonju is the hometown of many K-Pop stars. Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation), Hwasa and Wheein (MAMAMOO), Yeji (ITZY), Sungkyu (Infinite), New (The Boyz), Byunchan (Victon), and more Kpop stars are from Jeonju.
- Planning a trip to South Korea? Click here to find more destinations here.
- Do you want to study in South Korea? Here is a basic guide to start with.
- Want to learn about Korean culture and more? Click here to find more information about it.
- Trying to learn Korean language? I have some interesting real expressions for you.
- A big fan of Korean food? How about some Korean noodles?
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