Jeonju is located roughly 2 hours south west of Seoul and is easily accessible via the KTX or Express buses. Previously, I wrote about visiting Gyeongju which was the capital of the Silla Kingdom on the eastern side of the country. Jeonju, on the other hand, was in the area that belonged to the Baekje Kingdom (before being conquered by the Silla Kingdom). Today, its traditional hanok village draws both local and international tourists.

If you plan to stay overnight, I do recommend booking into a hanok for your stay. There are plenty in Jeonju’s Hanok Village so you will be spoilt for choice. Another popular activity to do while you are here might be to rent a hanbok from the many stores around town for some great souvenir pictures.

One of the ‘must eats’ in Jeonju is the Jeonju bibimbap. The bibimbap at the restaurant I ate it came with a raw egg yolk onto and so many veges. It was one of the better bibimbaps that I’ve eaten during my time in Korea. A Korean meal is of course, not complete without side dishes, which I had cut off in my picture!

Walking around the hanok village, it is easy to cover within a few hours winding through town. I have been told previously that a day in Jeonju would be enough but to stroll, relax, visit a teahouse or 2……I would recommend staying a night. It’s a quiet and peaceful area despite the amount of tourists during the day.

Across one of the main roads is Jaman Mural Village. A hill covered in winding alleys, the odd cafe and odd restaurant. It’s not very big but includes some vibrant and interesting artworks. You never know what is just around the corner.

We stopped at 꼬지따뽕 which is an eclectic cafe located smack bang in the middle. Some what of a 80s/90s time warp cafe. You won’t miss it with the fluoro and bright paint colours. It is a huge cafe with its outdoor area spanning 2 rooftop areas. It doesn’t serve much food but it’s a nice spot for a drink while taking in the beautiful scenery of the surrounding mountains.

At night, we ventured into Nambu Market but it was really quiet with only a handful of street food stalls and restaurants opened. We walked past a place selling deep fried foods and the mini crabs caught our eye. Not really enough to fill our bellies we went back to the hanok village for some pajeon (Korean savoury pancake) and maekgeolli. After dinner, we found refuge from the cold in a teahouse with the teahouses’s special blend and some yakgwa (Korean honey cookies).

Autumn is such a beautiful time in Korea. There are endless blue skied days which, when contrasted with the yellow gingko trees and red maple trees, makes for a romantic and vibrant season.

How to get there: KTX or Express bus to Jeonju. The train station and bus terminal are about 10-20 minutes away from the Jeonju Hanok Village so you will need to change for a taxi or local bus to get there.

Related Posts:
– Staying in a hanok in Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul
– South Korean Dishes To Try
– Visiting The Most Heavily Guarded Border, Seoul