Jeonju is the capital of North Jeolla Province in South Korea. One of the most visited places in Jeonju is the Jeonju Hanok Village. Even though the rest of the city has already been developed, Jeonju Hanok Village is able to retain its historical charm and traditions. Nowadays, it has become a favorite tourist spot among Koreans and foreigners visiting the city. There are about 735 traditional Korean hanok houses in the village and all of them are heated with ondol, a unique floor heating system.
A day is not enough to explore the city of Jeonju but if you only have a day, here are some of the fun things that you can do at Jeonju Hanok Village:
Have Fun Making a Traditional Korean Bibimbap
Did you know that Jeonju is actually the birthplace of the famous traditional Korean food Bibimbap? Before you start your tour inside the Hanok Village, you can register for a Korean Bibimbap making at Jeonju Traditional Culture Center (Cultural Foundation) which is just a few-minute walk from the Hanok Village. Our university arrange the cooking class reservation for us and we only paid for 10,000 Korean won. The facilitators can only speak in Korean but donโt worry because the steps in making Bibimbap is not that difficult to follow. It is also more rewarding to eat the food made by yourself.
Explore the Hanok Village in Fashion
One of the most exciting part of visiting Jeonju traditional village is to be able to immerse yourself in the past by wearing traditional Korean clothes (hanbok) or old Korean uniforms (gyobok). You can also try the latest trend of wearing vintage clothes also known as โGyeongseong Uibokโ. It is the outfit that people used to wear in the late 19th century to early 20th century. If youโve seen the Kdrama โHotel del Lunaโ, IUโs character, Jang Man-wol, usually wears Gyeongseong Uibok-inspired dresses.
There shops inside the hanok village where you can rent these clothes. Gyobok rental ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 KRW for two hours. While vintage clothes rental is averaging from 20,000 to 30,000 KRW for two hours. The rental fee increases if you want to add more accessories such as bag, hats, shoes, etc. Of course, sometimes, making a fashion statement comes with a cost. If you do not want to roam around the village while wearing those rented clothes, you can just have a photo shoot at a studio for around 5,000 KRW. The rental clothes are so fashionable and will really make you feel like youโre living in the old era. They also have clothes for kids so it will be a perfect family bonding and souvenir while going around the traditional houses in the village.
Dine in a Hanok-style Cafรฉ
If you get tired from walking around the village, how about dining in a hanok-style cafรฉ? There are a lot of food stalls inside the village where you can buy your food and eat but this cafรฉ offers a great view of the village especially during autumn season. Aside from coffee, they also offer the famous Jeonju choco pie and bingsu in variety of flavors.
Relax with a Top View of the Hanok Village
It is without a doubt that one of the charms of Jeonju Hanok Village lies in the hanok buildingsโ unique roof edges. After a long day, you just can relax, sip your coffee and chat with friends or loved ones with a breathtaking top view of the village.
Jeonju is just approximately 2 hours 40 minutes away from Seoul via bus and 1 hour 50 minutes via KTX, so if you want to experience something new in South Korea, consider visiting Jeonju on your next visit!
How to get here
Via Local Bus:
- From Jeonju station, take Bus No.12, 60, 79, 109, 119, 142, 508, 513, 536 or 542. Get off at Jeondong Cathedral (Hanok Village) bus stop.
- From Jeonju Intercity/Express Bus Terminal, take Bus No. 5-1 or 79. Get off at Jeondong Cathedral (Hanok Village) bus stop.
Via Taxi:
Approximately 15 to 20 minutes from Jeonju station or Jeonju Bus Terminal.
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