Although hanok villages are a must-visit in Korea, there is no lack of villages in Seoul itself. However, every city’s village has its own special story, and Jeonju Hanok Village is no exception.
It’s also been designated as an International Slow City in 2010 ‘in recognition of its relaxed pace of life where traditional culture and nature blend harmoniously’.
Plus point: This was the filming location for Running Man Ep 185 Running Stars!
According to the KTO website, ‘Jeonju Hanok Village is especially beautiful for its unique roof edges, which are slightly raised to the sky.’
Do look out for this special architectural detail when you are there!
Every corner and alley make for such great photos!
My first trip to Jeonju Hanok Village was in winter, but subsequently made a few trips in autumn and spring as well!
My favourite season to visit is probably autumn as the foliage is really gorgeous.
Among rows of beautiful houses, there are many shops that sell clothes, accessories, etc. They aren’t the cheapest around in Korea if you’re looking for a bargain.
The shops that are most commonly found, however, are the hanbok rental shops, as the architecture in Jeonju Hanok Village makes for a great photograph background.
They work the same as those in Seoul, where you rent a hanbok for a certain period of time and can pay extra for better hanboks, or extra accessories.
Of course, I couldn’t let this opportunity slip past. However, I wore this in winter when it dropped to almost 1 degree Celsius, and the hanbok isn’t really made of the thickest material so I could feel myself freezing throughout the whole time I donned the hanbok.
Also, another point to take note is that the sun sets really, really early in winter. It almost got too dark to take a decent photo at just 5 PM, so you may want to time your visit or hanbok experience at around 4 PM, just before the sun sets, and if you’re lucky enough you might be able to catch the golden hour!
Other than hanbok rental, there are lots to do around Jeonju Hanok Village. If you’re a huge bibimbap fan or generally searching for what to eat in Jeonju, you would have discovered that Jeonju is the birthplace of bibimbap. Be sure to try bibimbap at Gogung Suragan or Emokdae!
Jeonju Hanok Village is full of cafes and teahouses, where you can rest and take a break if you’re exhausted from all the walking around.
I personally really enjoying having tea at Gyodong Dawon. Just like how the tea ceremony is simple yet elegant, the tea at Gyodong Dawon portrays the same characteristics. It was clean and fragrant, easy to drink, yet you can tell it is made from tea leaves that are well-grown and well-prepared.
Be sure also to check out PNB Bakery which sells choco pies in Jeonju Hanok Village! There are a few other shops around also selling choco pies – even Lotte sells it in their supermarkets – but NONE come close to the one sold by PNB Bakery.
Their choco pie is a handmade confection consisting of two cocoa wheels. It sandwiches jam, whipped cream, and chopped walnuts, and is then dipped shallowly in chocolate.
DIRECTIONS
Address: 29, Eojin-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do
전라북도 전주시 완산구 어진길 29 일대
For more information, visit KTO’s website here.
Related Posts:
- Top 8 Things to Do in Jeonju (tried & tested!)
- Jaman Mural Village: colourful revitalised village in Jeonju
- Bukyungdang Hanok Guesthouse: traditional lodging in Jeonju with friendly hosts
