Hanok Village. Jeonju, SK

For those willing to see more than the westernized Seoul while visiting South Korea, the history and tradition of Jeonju should surely be on their list. Jeonju is an ancient city with a millenium-old history, offering a wide range of time-honored traditions. Of all the cultural gems of Jeonju, perhaps the one gathering most attention is indeed the Jeonju Hanok Village. Designated as one of the top places to visit in 2011, the Jeonju Hanok Village has more than 700 traditional Korean houses, representing the largest and best-preserved cluster of Hanok in Korea. Surprisingly, some of the houses are still home to residents nowadays. While visiting, we may also find a large diversity of traditional culture learning centers, royal museums exhibiting ancient relics, temples, Hanok Living Experience centers as well as several traditional restaurants, coffee shops, all kinds of Korean street food, sports activities and traditional games.

Jeonju is also home to Pansori, a genre of musical storytelling performed by a vocalist and a drummer, originated during the Joseon Dinasty in the 17th century.  UNESCO proclaimed the Pansori tradition a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. Accordingly, in the Hanok Village a reminder of the Pansori history can be found in detail. 

Jeonju has several important cultural assets and facilities like both Omokdae & Imokdae Pavilions and Jeonju Hyanggyo, a Confucian School. The Gyeonggijeon Shrine was built in the 10th year of King Taejong’s reign (1410) to accommodate the portrait of King Taejo, the founder and first king of the Joseon Dynasty. Inside, the portraits of King Taejo and five successive kings can be found on display. Visitors may as well take a look at the carriage used to move the mortuary tablets.

The impressive Pungnammun Gate was built during the Joseon Dynasty in 1768 and is the last one standing of the original four gates. The gate was partially destroyed during the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592-1598 and recently rebuilt in 1978.

Catholicism in Korea is equally present inside the Hanok Village. The Jeondong Catholic Church, built using the stones of the demolished Pungnammun Gate, was the place where the first Korean Catholic martyr was executed.