Top 10 things to do in the city of Jeonju, South Korea
On our journey back to Seoul, we decided to stay several nights in the town of Jeonju. Some may know Jeonju for its bibimbap, or its famous traditional Korean paper, hanji, or maybe it is the first time you are reading about this city. Jeonju is the capital of the Jeollabukdo province and Jeonju's meaning is literally “Perfect Region” and we definitely think so! The city has a deep history in art and in the year of 2012, this city won a UNESCO distinction for being a creative city. You will definitely see it through their traditional cooking methods, talented local chefs, and artist. Jeonju also holds a wide range of festivals throughout the year.
We compiled a short list of must-do things here in Jeonju!
Explore Jeonju Hanok Village This is the first stop for most travelers. This hanok village is the largest in Korea, with 700 traditional Korean houses, you will have plenty to see! If you want a panoramic view of Jeonju, hike up to Donggosa Temple on a clear day! They also host a Hanok Village Alley Tour that is held daily at the hours of 1100 and 1500. It is a one-hour tour that leaves from the Gyeonggijeon shrine tourist information center and hits the main parts of the Hanok village.
Rent traditional clothing Hanbok, plenty of hanbok shops are around the hanok village and you can rent them by the hour! You can leave your belongings at the shop and pick them up once your rental is done. A lot of hanbok rental stores also have a bunch of photo spots in their store.
Get some street food - One of Oliver’s favorites! If you are walking through the hanok village, you will not miss the many stalls selling street food.
some of our recommendations:
So bok - Organic ice cream made from barley - we absolutely devoured this dessert. It is topped with honey, persimmon, and sunflower seeds. It was visually appealing and not too sweet!
10-cent bread - also famous in the city of Gyeongju, a pastry on a stick filled with mozzarella cheese and cream cheese. Tasty!
Octopus on a stick - Steamed and grilled chunks of octopus on a stick, with a choice of spicy-ness level.
Fried Squid - An entire fried squid on a skewer stick and then tossed in some flavoring powder of your choice.
Eat a PNB bakery item - A famous bakery here in Jeonju where everyone buys souvenirs and gifts from. Known for their “choco pie”, it is more like a high-quality Whoopie pie with a jam and cream filling. This year was PNB’s 70th year anniversary since the bakery opened. Definitely worth a visit. You are able to get just one or boxes to take home as a great gift!
Book a Hanok Stay - Being in the heart of Jeonju Hanok Village, you will have a lot of opportunities to stay in a traditional hanok (traditional Korean house). As of 2023 - it is told that there are about 160 hanok accommodations to choose from! There are many guesthouses and Airbnb’s all along the village as well. We stayed in a traditional hanok and we loved the rustic architecture and enjoyed such a unique experience. Go to www.jjhanok.net to see options and make a reservation.
Get good coffee at cafes - Korea has an abundance of coffee shops, and Jeonju is no different! We could not go to every coffee shop that was recommended to us by locals, but we went to two mind-blowing cafes and wanted to share them with you.
Bricolage - is known for their white einspanner (latte topped with heavy whipped cream) and black einspanner (black coffee with heavy whipped cream) with a cute drawing on the top. The location may look bland on the outside, but inside is an industrial atmosphere that is eye-catching but cozy.
Old Brick - a little ways from the city, you will run into this beautiful café. A beautiful cafe with five floors, you won’t be short of space ever. The drinks are innovative and tasty. We had the chocolate cookie latte - a latte topped with half a chocolate cookie! Beautiful spot for pictures.
Try your hand at traditional arts and crafts - along the streets of Jeonju Hanok village you can see many stores that advertise DIY moju (Jeonju traditional rice wine), silver jewelry, ceramics, phone cases, etc. Bring home a unique souvenir! If you go to the Jeonju Hanji Museum, you can also try to make your own hanji (traditional Korean paper)!
Specialty foods of Jeonju
Gyodong Croquette - Korean croquettes stuffed with various ingredients, the one that is a best seller is the Jeonju bibimbap croquette. Flavorful, warm, and the perfect size… what more do you need?
Bean sprout and rice soup - an amazing broth with kimchi, rice, squid, and bean sprouts. It is served in a hot clay pot and boiled with various spices. It is a traditional meal used as a hangover soup for drinkers and lunch for workers. One restaurant, Wang-e (전주 왱이 콩나물국밥 전문점)got so famous that they had to open a second location that opens only on the weekends! The original location is right next to the new location so keep your eyes open… you may miss it! Once you get inside you will be welcomed by the staff and served quickly.
Jeonju Bibimbap - a rice bowl topped with bean sprouts, carrots, zucchini, eggs… sometimes even pinenuts, chestnuts, and other seasonal vegetables.
Veteran Kalguksu (베테랑 칼국수) - it is not your average knife noodles! It has a much thicker broth with some unique characteristics (mustard seeds, seaweed powder, etc). After you order and they bring out your food, they will take your payment, so have a card or cash ready!
Jeonju home meal (Baekban) - a good number of baekban restaurants are around Jeonju. It is a Korean dish that consists of rice and soup and various side dishes as well.
Moju - This is a traditional Korean drink with fairly low alcohol content. It is based on makgeolli—a traditional Korean beverage made with fermented rice. Moju has a darker color and is brewed with herbs and spices that usually include cinnamon, ginger, jujube, ginseng, and licorice root.
Take some pictures at the Jaman Mural Village - what was a poor village inhabited by refugees during the Korean War, now it has become a trendy destination because of its beautifully painted murals. Many tourists come here to take pictures of famous cartoon characters!
Visit the Nambu Market and Youth Mall - This is a must-visit place in Jeonju. From delicious food to unique items, this market will take a lot of your time! We want to highlight Fridays and Saturdays from 6 PM to 10 PM. There is a night market that is in full swing! After eating some of the food go upstairs to the second floor where the youth mall is located. The Youth mall is a bunch of small innovative stalls to sit in and eat and drink.
