Important Notice: Please note that I have stopped updating all South Korea-related content published before 2020 on this blog. You may find all updated South Korea travel content at my dedicated, new travel site here: www.thecalmchronicle.com 

In an online poll of  “Countries that Singaporeans want to have an Air Travel Bubble with” conducted by The Straits Times, South Korea scored 40.7 per cent of votes, claiming its place as Singaporean’s favourite destinations after the COVID.

So here are my insider tips of 10 hidden Winter Wonderland destinations you should consider post-pandemic. Who knows, maybe we’ll have a travel-bubble with South Korea someday!

1. Jeonju Hanok Village

If you are an avid foodie at heart and interested in Korean traditional culture, Jeonju (전주) in Jeolla-do province is where you should head to. It is arguably the culinary city of South Korea where a long list of mouth-watering food experiences awaits. And if you are lucky enough, the snow painted Jeonju Hanok Village ( 전주 한옥마을) will be a sight to behold during your trip. Check out our Jeonju Hanok Village Street Food Guide and our 3D2N Jeonju itinerary here.

2. Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm 

Pyeongchang county (평창군)  in Gangwon Province is a snowboard capital of South Korea. And Daegwallyeong (대관령)  is nested within this beautiful county famed of its sheep farms and snow-covered landscape in winter. These enormous sheep farms offer a rare opportunity for city kids to enjoy the beauty of mother nature. Read my dedicated post regarding Daegwallyeong Yangtte Sheep Farm, a delicious Tangsuyuk and Jjajjang Myun restaurant in the region, as well as my recommended accommodation in Degwallyeong at Queen’s Garden Guesthouse.

3. Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌 한옥 마을) in Seoul is a traditional Korean housing cluster inhabited by the elite Yangban Noble class during the Joseon Dynasty. It has developed into a tourist site packed with independent cafes, tea-houses, and interesting shops or museums in recent years. Experience the enchanted atmosphere of Bukchon Hanok village after the snow here.

South Korea, Seoul, Jongno-gu, Gahoe-dong | 서울특별시 종로구 계동길 37 

4. The Palaces

I love going to the palaces in Seoul after heavy snowfall. Gyeongbok Palace is one of my favourites. The frozen lake, blue sky and the red, green, yellow motifs of the traditional architecture make a striking contrast against the white snow. Complete your palace tour experience wearing a traditional hanbok here!

5. Jeongdongjin

Located in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Jeongdongjin (정동진)  is a picturesque town with a train station closest to the ocean in the world. The beach right behind the Jeongdongjin station is also a well-known sunrise spot. Sunrise spectators would take an overnight train to Jeongdongjin station on the new year’s eve for the first sunrise of the year. The nearby Jeongdongjin Sun Cruise Resort is a beach resort modelled after a cruise ship perched on top of a cliff!

Jeongdongjin Station:
Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, South Korea

Jeongdongjin Sun Cruise Resort:
950-39 Heonhwa-ro, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea 

6.Hahoe Folk Village

Tucked away in a secluded valley in Gyeongsang Province, the Andong Hahoe Folk Village (안동 하회마을)  is an idyllic place to unwind and experience traditional Korean rural life. Visitors can immerse in a rich array of cultural traditions such as Korean Mask Dancing and enjoy a wide variety of ancient culinary delights such as Andong Gangodeungeo (Salted Mackerel), Heotjesabap (A type of Bibimbap for the nobles) and Andong Guksu (A local noodle delicacy). Sleepover at one of the traditional hanok within the village and enjoy the fuzzy, magical and ethereal view the next morning!

40 Hahoe, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 안동시 풍천면 하회남촌길 63

7. Gamaksan Mountain

This beautiful photo of winter at Gamaksan Suspension Bridge (감악산 출렁다리) located in Paju definitely warrant a mention on the list! It just feels straight out of the Disney “Frozen” to me. The bridge spans 150 meters across Silmari Valley, and is easily accessible from the car park area! (No hiking required!). Be early to enjoy this majestic winter view all to yourself!

365, Gisan-ro Gwangtan-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기 파주시 광탄면 기산로 365

8. Paju Heyri Art Village

Located just 1 hour away from Seoul, Paju is a heaven for any art and book lover. The Hyeri Art Village (파주 헤이리 마을) is home to filmmakers, publishers, book writers, and artists. Expect quirky museums & architectures, beautiful cafes, enormous book store and book cafes, interesting studios and art spaces in this village. Paju is the nearest South Korean city to North Korea. And the north’s winter is known to be harsher than the south, so you can imagine Paju to be a winter wonderland after a heavy snowfall.

There is a “Paju English Village” (파주 영어 마을) filled with European styled buildings to create an immersive environment for the students to learn the language. The space is open to the public so you may spot couples taking pre-wedding photos there too!

Paju Hyeri Art Village:
1652-239 Beopheung-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do |경기 파주시 탄현면 법흥리 1652-239

Paju English Village:
Paju-si Tanhyeon-myeon Uleumsil-ro 40  |경기 파주시 탄현면 얼음실로 40 

9. Seonunsa Temple

Seonunsa Temple (선운사) is one of the largest temples in the Southern part in Korea with over 1,500 years of its history. And winter is considered one of the best seasons to visit the temple as the camellia flowers bloom and the persimmons ripen. The fiery orange persimmons covered in snow, together with the blooming camellias from shrubs to shrubs make for an alluring sight in winter.

567, Samin-Ri, Asan-Myeon, Gochang-Gun, Jeollabuk-Do, Korea |전라북도 고창군 아산면 선운사로 250 선운사

10. Boseong Green Tea Field 

Located at Jeollanam-do Province, the Boseong Green Tea Field (보성 녹차밭) is another beautiful place to visit after a snowfall in Winter. Enjoy a tranquil walk and soak in the picturesque landscape at Daehan Dawon (대한 다원), the largest green tea plantation in the country as the snow turned the plantation white. Do note that the plantation closes at 5 pm daily during winter.

Daehan Dawon Greentea Plantation:
763-67, Nokcha-ro, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do | 전라남도 보성군 보성읍 녹차로 763-67 

All photos are provided by KTO unless otherwise stated.
Please note that information of the article is accurate at the time of publishing. 

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Li

Sieondang 시은당 [pronounce as see-eun-dang] was definitely one of the best hanok guesthouses in Jeonju. It is a traditional hanok with an exquisite modern twist. The wood paper door, the spoon door lock, fine embroidery on the thick Korean bedding, the sights of warm sunlight falls onto the aged wooden floor, all scream tradition.

I really love the rustic yet minimalist approach to the interior. It was a pity that the guesthouse is no longer available The owner now starts a cafe at a remote area near the orchard in Jeonju. If you’re at Jeonju and didn’t want to join the crazy crowd, you may check out this huge cafe call The Orchard. The two chow chows might be at the cafe greeting you!

A photo posted by 가현 [kakao. @프롬유/@바이워너비] (@by_fromu) on Sep 1, 2016 at 2:12am PDT

A photo posted by @uptoe on Jan 25, 2017 at 2:13am PST

A photo posted by Sora Veronica Park (@dinosora90723) on Nov 23, 2016 at 10:46pm PST

A photo posted by Sora (@orchard_sieon) on Dec 23, 2016 at 8:49pm PST

A photo posted by Sora (@orchard_sieon) on Sep 21, 2016 at 6:12pm PDT

A photo posted by ᴍʏ ᴅᴀɪʟʏ_ (@_carpediemmm) on Dec 31, 2016 at 5:53pm PST

A photo posted by New Season (@sijun_r) on Jan 1, 2017 at 9:27pm PST

Address:

32-30 Hanjeol-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea
전북 전주시 완산구 한절길 32-30 (도로명주소로 검색하셔야 오차드까지 안내가 됩니다.)
Tel:  063 – 282 – 1153

Directions:

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Important Notice: Please note that I have stopped updating all South Korea-related content published before 2020 on this blog. You may find all updated South Korea travel content at my dedicated, new travel site here: www.thecalmchronicle.com 

The best autumn foliage venue got to be the ginkgo garden behind the queen dowager’s residence within the Gyeongbok Palace. — Insider Pheuron Tay

“One of my best place to embrace the autumn is the Gyeongbok Palace. I was taking a stroll on a weekday afternoon and accidentally found this beautiful ginkgo garden behind the Jagyeong-Jeon (자경전 慈慶殿). It was like walking into an ocean of glittering golden leaves.”

Tell us a must-do activity in Korea during autumn?
Glamping. Pack up your personal belongings, call your friends, and you can basically leave the rest of the stuff to the glamping site. Remember to prepare some Ramyeon and Army Stew ingredients and So-maek for an authentic Korean campsite experience. Read my detailed write-up about glamping here.

 

Autumn-to-do in Korea: camping. 날씨 가을가을이니까 글램핑 글램핑 가야징^^ 고미워 친구야~~ 내 생에 첫 캠핑추억을 함께 해줘서 #글램핑 #가을 #autumn #camping #campsite

A photo posted by 정가현. 정퓨니. (@pheurontay) on Oct 25, 2014 at 1:35am PDT

What are your personal must-eats during this season?
Grilled ginkgo nuts & fresh figs.

Tell us 3 interesting facts about yourself.
– Korean mistaken me as local while people at home refuse to believe I am not a foreigner.
– I own 35 lipsticks but insist on wearing the same 5 shades over and over.
– I love bright sunlight. I get cranky and depressed in a dimly lighted room.

Gyeongju has the best autumn foliage…even the small maeul (village) bus stops match the autumn atmosphere so well. — Insider Neoh

“Although most Korean will recommend hiking to enjoy autumn foliage, I enjoy the scenery at Gyeongju (경주) very much. The slow-pace life over there, the streets filled with ginkgo trees and the endless rice fields…check out the small maeul (village) bus stops! Surprisingly they match the autumn atmosphere so well. Last but not least, the historical sites and temples covered in red and yellow leaves…makes a trip down to Gyeongju worthwhile.”

Tell us a must-do activity in Korea during autumn?
Hiking. Try Seorak Mountain. Basically autumn is a great season to travel, eat, drink and sleep. Remember to take lots of photo and hashtag them like mad.

What are your personal must-eats during this season?
You should definitely try fresh Bang-eo aka Japanese Amberjack (방어회) and Gwamaegi, Korean half-dried pacific herring (과메기), they’re my favourite sashimi during autumn. If raw fish isn’t your cup of tea, try their fresh persimmon or dried persimmon.

I went paragliding at Danyang during early autumn and I was genuinely blown away by the magnificent scenery beneath me. (It was so beautiful) I could’t stop smiling to myself .– Insider Irene Siah

Video Courtesy of Irene Siah

Tell us a must-do activity in Korea during autumn?
Road tripping or PARAGLIDING. It was a great experience flying in the air, with amazing autumn foliage beneath! Definitely something you want to add to your bucket list!

What are your personal must-eats during this season?
Autumn is the season of tangerine! I just had a tangerine-grapefruit juice (감귤 자몽 주스) from U:DALLY and it tastes sooooo good! You can even bring the cute little bottle home after drinking the juice!

 Naejangsan National Park was probably my favourite… The best photo spots: the Uhwajeong Pavilion & the Maple Tunnel.– Insider Siska

All Naejangsan Photos By Siska Ariyanti.

“I suggest to skip the free shuttle bus service and walk all the way up because the route from the car park to the cable car station is amazingly beautiful. It takes about 30 mins-1 hour to reach the cable car station, depending where you park your car at.The Naejangsa itself is just so-so, but the two scenic photo spots I mentioned above are situated along the way to Naejangsa. “

Any other insider autumn foliage locations you want to share with us?
For a place within Seoul, Children’s Grand Park (서울 어린이대공원) is worth a visit. I would recommend a stroll around the park or even go for a picnic.

If you have time to travel out of Seoul, I would recommend Jeonju (전주). You can have a foodie tour yet at the same time, enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage this city has to offer. Check out Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School, their ginkgo trees are at least 200-300 years old, therefore creating a picturesque view.

What is your personal must-eat during this season?
Danpatjuk, the sweet red bean soup (단팥죽) at “The Second Best in Seoul” (서울서 둘째로 잘 하는집), Samcheong-dong.

 

Coming back for this~ Danpatjuk (단팥죽) Not a fan of red bean porridge honestly but this one is an exception. ? #둘째로잘하는집 #thesecondbestinseol #danpatjuk #seoulfoodie #seoulfoods #koreandessert #koreanfoods #foodstagram #먹스타그램 #단팥죽 #삼천동 #삼천동맛집 #samcheondong #redbeanporridge #redbean

A photo posted by Siska Ariyanti (@seara3112) on Nov 17, 2016 at 5:11am PST

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It is easy to do a Free & Easy trip to Jeonju. If you’re planning a relaxing trip to Korea but tired of the usual itinerary, and if your definition of “relaxing” includes wandering around the city, soaking up in the traditional, laid-back, cafe-hoping kind of atmosphere, Jeonju is the ideal destination. 

Important Notice: Please note that I have stopped updating all South Korea-related content published before 2020 on this blog. You may find all updated South Korea travel content at my dedicated, new travel site here: www.thecalmchronicle.com

The Jeonju Hanok Village has quite an array of things to check out. (And things look appealing under your camera lens as well). The best part? Each site mentioned in the post is within walking distance so it requires minimal travelling. Just pack your bag, catch your bus/ train and enjoy your stay right in the village.

So I am going to share my  3D2N Free & Easy itinerary to Jeonju with you here in the post. This itinerary covers almost every essential activities one should do in Jeonju. However, since I was traveling with the folks, the trip is more a relaxed one than an ambitious one. We did not follow the itinerary thoroughly. Anyway, I’ll still share my plan up here in the post.

This whole Itinerary includes:

✓Jeonju Hanok Village Tour
(Including Cafe and Street Foods, check my Jeonju Street Food Guide HERE)
✓Jaman Mural Village
✓Jeondong Cathedral
✓Nambu Market + Youth Mall
✓Gyeonggi-Jeon Shrine
✓Omokdae & Imokdae
✓Jeonju Hyang-gyo (Jeonju Confucian School)
✓Must Eat Foods (Bibimbap, Ddeok-galbi and Kalguksu)

Transportation:

From Seoul to Jeonju Hanok Village:
Free Shuttle service is ONLY available from Spring to early December. Since my trip was in late december, I had to travel via Korail train service. The Train departs from Yongsan Station (용산역) in Seoul and reaches Jeonju via Jeonju Train Station (전주역). There are two kinds of trains bound for Jeonju from Yongsan Station: KTX and Mugunghwa.

KTX offers express service. It takes about 2 hours to reach Jeonju and, of course, comes with higher price (Economy class ticket at KRW 32,900 for an adult per single trip).Mugunghwa travels at normal speed, which takes about 3 hours to reach Jeonju and cost about KRW 17,600.To reserve a ticket, simply check the ticket available on the Korail Train Reservation Site (Click Me) available in English.

For more information about the free shuttle bus service (frequency, timing etc.), please check here. Do note that this service is made available only to foreigners.

Within Jeonju Hanok Village: 
By foot!

Jeonju 3D2N Day 1 

Summary:
830am depart from Yongsan Station→ 12.30 noon reached Jeonju Station → Check-in at Becky’s Gallery & Guesthouse → Lunch at Veteran Kal-guksu (베테랑 Knife cut noodles) → Jeonju Omokdae (오목대) →   Jeonju Mural Village(자만 벽화마을)  → Imokdae (이목대) →Jeonju Hyang-gyo Confucian School (전주향교) → Bibimbap for Dinner.

Check-in at Becky’s Gallery & Guesthouse 백희

Becky was the place I called home for my 3D2N Jeonju Trip. It is a cafe cum gallery cum guesthouse in Jeonju Hanok Village. Check more pictures about Becky and my review here.

Lunch at Veteran Kal-guksu 베테랑 (Knife cut noodles)

A Kal-guksu (칼국수 Knife Cut Noodles) house that started their business in 1977. Very similar to the Chinese刀削面, or what we call Ban-mian, this bowl of Kal-guksu is a popular dish at the Hanok Village, especially in the winter. Cooking method is quite identical to our Ban-mian: Noodles are thinly sliced from a dough and cooked in anchovies stock soup, add an egg, drizzle some chilli oil and dried seaweed, voila!  The shop offers man-doo (meat dumplings, KRW 4,000) as well. A relatively economical meal in Jeonju. Each bowl goes at KRW 5000.

Address:
전라북도 전주시 완산구 교동 84-10.
84-10, Gyo-dong, Wansan-Gu, Jeonju-si. Jeollabukdo.
9am-930pm.

Jeonju Omokdae & Imokdae Pavilion 오목대& 이목대

This pavilion located right beside the Jeonju Hanok Village is a victory pavilion where general Lee Seong Gye celebrated his victory over Japanese pirates in 1380. The general later became King Taejo, the first King of Joseon Dynasty. A smaller “pavilion” beside Omokdae is called Imokdae, where it kept a stone stele written by King Gojong. The Stele is a monument to the ancestors of General Lee Seong Gye. It was originally stood opposite the mountain (where Lee’s ancestors were born), but moved to the current location.

It was extremely crowded during my visit and I wasn’t able to get a satisfying wide angle shot. So here’s two very beautiful shots by Tistory Blogger island 1969, during his visit to Omokdae & Imokdae Pavilion in a beautiful winter.

More pictures along the trail to Omokdae Pavilion:

Jeonju Mural Village 자만 벽화마을

Jaman-Dong Mural Village, a whimsical little village famed for its wall paintings. It is a good place to kill your time, but not a must. Steep slopes are probably the greatest problem you’ll face if you’re traveling with the folks, maybe you’ll need to check their condition before climbing up to the village.

Jeonju Hyang-gyo 전주향교

Th Jeonju Hyang-gyo is a Confucian school that was established during the Joseon Dynasty. It is known as the national education center during the Joseon Dynasty. The school was originally located at the Gyeonggijeon Shrine site but was relocated in 1603. I did not go to this place for this trip, so here’s three pictures I found online. But I’ll be back in Spring and hopefully, I can replace them with my own work. So till then!

Dinner: Bibimbap at Hankook-Jib 한국집

There are various places for bibimbap in Jeonju Hanok Village. I had mine at Hankook-jib 한국집, which is slightly off the main streets of Hanok Village, but a brief 2 mins walk from Becky’s Guesthouse. It is quite famous among locals, also visited by President Park Geun Hye recently. According to the restaurant, President Park Chung-hee also dined at the restaurant during his visit to Jeonju.

The restaurant provides 3 kinds of Bibimbap, the Yuk-hoe Bibimbap (육희 비빔밥) a kind of bibimbap with raw beef, or tartare instead of usual bulgogi; Dolsot Bibimbap (돌솥 비빔밥), which is served in hot stone pot, and Brassware Bibimbap (놋그릇 비빔밥), also called Jeonju Bibimbap which comes in muted gold colour tableware, and is said to be prepared based on royal court dish.

Address:
한국집 비빔밥. 전북 전주시 완산구  전동 2가-21번지.
Hankook-Jib. Jeondong yi(2) ga, 21 bonji, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-Si, Jeollabukdo.

After dinner: Rest

Jeonju 3D3N Day 2

Summary:  Breakfast at Gilgoria Baguette →  Jeondong Cathedral 전동성당 → Jeonju Nambu Market 남부시장 → Real New Town Youth Mall (Inside Nambu Market) 청녕몰 →  Jeonju Market by the River → Gyeonggi-Jeon 경기전 → Hanok-Village Street Food 한옥마을 길거리 → Cafe → Dinner at Elu-hwa Ddeokgalbi Restaurant 에류화 떡갈비.

Breakfast: Gilgoria Baguette 길거리아

One of the very popular street foods in Jeonju Hanok Village. Since the baguette and Dawoo-rang dumplings stall are located on the same direction to the Cathedral and Nambu Market, If you’re keen on completing your street food tour in Jeonju in a day, I suggest you to get these two extra popular street foods checked before embarking your excursion of the day. The queues are less crazy if you’re early.

Jeondong Cathedral 전동성당

A Catholic Cathedral built in 1914, in honor of Roman Catholic martyrs of the Joseon Dynasty on the very same spot the martyrs lost their lives. It is famed for its unique combination of Byzantine and Romanesque architectural styles, one of the most beautiful cathedral in Korea. I blogged about the Cathedral earlier here .

Jeonju Nambu Market 남부시장

Located 10 minutes away from the Hanok Village, the Nambu Market is another place worth explore. Traces and bits of history can be found at the market. Ginseng, Herbal Medicine, fresh veggies and even beddings are available here at the indoor market. Soondae (Blood Sausage Soup) is the delicacy here — but too bad I just don’t know the art of appreciating pig blood sausage yet so I decided to give it a miss.

Market by the River

Walking out from the covered market, heading towards the river, that is where you’ll see an outdoor market, with approximately 800 stalls along the river. It was a late morning (about 11am) so I supposed it was already off-peak hours at the market. Further across the river stood a few booths selling fresh vegetables and fruits. It is quite an interesting place to check out.

Real New Town Youth Mall (Inside Nambu Market) 청녕몰

On your way back to the Hanok Village, please remember to make a detour trip to the indoor market– the are a more to check out — The Cheongnyeon Mall (or Real New Town Youth Mall),  where you might find some hidden gems.

Located at the 2nd level of the indoor Nambu Market, this place is a cluster for young designers and baristas. Making good use of the aged shophouses, these small cafes, bars, art galleries, board games shops and accessories shops are a perfect mix of the old and new. Certainly a place of exceptional charm.

Below is a short clip by Arirang TV featuring the Nambu Market and the New Town Youth Mall located at the 2nd level of the market.

Gyeonggi-jeon Shrine 경기전

This shrine was build in 1410, and holds the portraits of King Taejo and his successors such as Sun-jong, Cheol-jong, Yeong-jo and many others can be found on display. The King Taejo and his queen is enshrined at the Jogyeong Shrine within the Gyeonggi Jeon. Part of the shrine is destroyed during the invasion of foreign forces in 1592-1598. The current structure that we see now here in the Gyeonggi-Jeon Shrine is a rebuild in 1614.

I did not spend long time here at the shrine despite visiting Jeonju twice in two months. As such, there isn’t any good pictures of the shrine taken by me.  The compound looks identical to a palace, no doubtedly less fancy. Well you can search online for more pictures if you wish to understand more about it.

Hanok-Village Street Food 한옥마을 길거리

You can’t leave Jeonju without trying their street food. If you are a foodie like me, there is no reason for you to go out hunting. I’ve compiled a Jeonju Street Food Guide earlier, I am pretty sure there are more to explore. Prepare your stomach for a feast!

Cafe: 산책 Taste & Walk Cafe  UPDATE MARCH 2015: Cafe Closed. 

A quaint Hanok cafe 산책 (Taste & Walk Cafe) located beside Eun-haeng-Jeong (은행정 银杏亭) is a perfect place to rest after a tiring food hunt. It is a cafe cum Italian restaurant build in a private hanok, with its own garden. Since it is hidden behind an alley, this place is relatively quiet. Coffee and the rice cakes are great. I am not too sure about their pizzas and spaghetti, but online reviews are positive.

Address:
전북 전주시 완산구 풍남동 3가 74-25
74-25 Pungnam-dong Sam(3)ga, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabukdo.

Exploring Jeonju Hanok Village

Famed as the starting point of Joseon Dynasty, Jeonju and its Hanok Village is brimming with that classic, ancient charm. Hanok shop houses, hanok cafes and stone wall trails (돌담길) are common scene in the village. Visitors are also allowed to rent hanbok at about KRW 5,000 for that old Joseon experience. That’s why you see people walking around wearing Hanbok. This city with remnants of beauty left from the past definitely worth spending half a day or more to explore.

Dinner: Elu-hwa Ddeokgalbi Restaurant 에루화 떡갈비

Dinner is settled at a ddeok-galbi (bbq pork patty) house at Elu-hwa 에루화. These yummilicious minced pork patty goes at KRW 8,500 per person. It was partly cooked and served on a grill. Salad and other fresh vegetables, together with a few side dishes are served together with the patties. Wrap the piece of patty with lettuce, slightly grilled garlic and some pickled onion slice… and this package of juiciness, freshness, and a hint of sweetness from the marinated meat will make you go mmmmm! Not a fan of cold noodles so I ordered a mini bibimbap to complete the meal. Nicely scented with sesame oil, this bowl goodness just disappeared within minutes.

For dessert, head to the huge pots of biscuits and grilled chestnuts located right at the entrance. Those are for free! *Dessert menu changes according to the season*

Address:
에루화. 전북 전주시 완산구 서신동 932-10
932-10 Seo Sin-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabukdo.

WHY should one do Free-and-Easy in Jeonju?

It is easy to do a Free & Easy trip to Jeonju, even if you don’t speak Korean. English signboards are available at important places such as KTX stations and bus stations. The Jeonju Hanok Village itself has two tourist information centers (if I remembered correctly) and they offer maps in English. Take the free map in BOTH English and Korean Language so that it is easier for locals to help you around with that map in Korean.

If there is one city to recommend, other than Busan or Jeju Island, it’ll be Jeonju. In terms of convenience, it is just a 2-3 hours train ride from Seoul. The rest of the place are within walking distance.

What is more, there are plenty of stuffs to check out even within the Hanok Village itself. The Hanok stay is one great experience, renting Hanbok as cheap as KRW5,000 and walk around Jeonju in your Hanbok is another. Not to mention about Jeonju’s culinary skills, which is a nation pride — make Jeonju a foodie paradise.

Most importantly, with free-and-easy tour, you get to choose what you want to do, and how long you want to spend at certain places — this is particularly very important to me. Isn’t it a waste if you like certain place and would loved to spend more time there but have to move on to another place just because you are only given a stupid 40 minutes by your tour guide to eat, take picture, and shop? xD

HOW to wander around if I don’t speak Korean?

I’d say it is not really a problem if you do your homework — my itinerary above may help you a bit.

The Koreans learn English since young. On average, their command of English might not be as fluent, but most of them are equipped with good listening skills. Try to enunciate clearly, especially your “r” and “t”. Use short sentence, and speak in a slow, clear manner. Sometimes “No Ketchup.” works much better than “Please do not put ketchup in my burger”.

Roughly speaking, I find their younger generation speaks better English. Especially those born after 90s. Korean parents spent 20 trillion Won (USD 18 Billion) in private education each year, much of it on English Education. It is quite popular for them to send their kids to overseas English camp. I have came across Korean kids speaking English way better than our kids at home. My point is, try to speak to younger Koreans for better communication.

In a local restaurant and surrounded by mid-40s ajumma waitresses? Waitresses at famous restaurants are likely to speak simple English or even Mandarin. If worse come to worst, show them the photo of the food with hand gesture of the amount you’d like to order.

Having problems navigating around? Always have the Korean version of the address with you — this is also the reason why you can find Korean version of the address on every single posts on my blog. Most cabs here are equipped with GPS navigation system. Give the address to the cabby or call your hotel lobby/guesthouse owner and let the Koreans communicate.

See you in Jeonju! ; )

According to Visitkorea, the church was built in honor of Roman Catholic martyrs of the Joseon Dynasty on the very same spot the martyrs lost their lives. The piece of land where the church is located was purchased by a French Priest Baudenet in 1891, but construction of the church did not begin until 1908. The church was designed by Priest Poinel, who also designed the famous Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul (this explains why the two churches bear resemblance). Construction was completed 6 years later, in 1914.

With its one-of-its-kind combination of Byzantine and Romanesque architectural styles, the church is considered one of the most beautiful Catholic churches in Korea, if not, one of the most beautiful building structures in South Korea. I am very much in love with the grey and red bricks, also the seafoam green roof.

p.s. The church is very popular with tourist and locals alike. If you’re planning to get some good architecture shots, do come as early as possible.

The church is open for mass scheduled below:

Weekdays: 05:30 (Mon-Sat), 19:00 (Tue, Thu), 10:00 (Wed, Fri)
Sunday: 05:30 / 09:00 / 10:30 (Mass for the people) / 17:00 (youths) / 20:00
Sabbatine privilege (Sat): 16:00 (children) / 18:00 (middle, high school students)

No interpretation service is available.

Directions:

From Jeonju Intercity/Express Bus Terminal, take Bus 5-1, 5-2 or 79.Get off at Jeondong Catholic Church (Hanok Village) Bus Stop.

From Jeonju Station, take Bus 19, 60, 79, 109 or 119. Get off at Jeondong Catholic Church (Hanok Village) Bus Stop.

**If you’re at Jeonju Hanok Village, it is just walking distance from Gyeonggi-Jeon (경기전) or Pungnam-mun (풍남문)**

Jeonju was chosen as “Creative City of Gastronomy” in 2012, under UNESCO’s creative city network project. I believe it has to do with the city’s traditional way of cooking handed down from generations to generations that span thousands of years. If you ask me what is there do to in Jeonju, I’d recommend you to slot in a street food hunt on your activities list. Cos it is yum and fun!

So here is my complete guide to the street foods in Jeonju Hanok Village, with pictures and address. That is all for now. (p.s. I am thinking of making a street food map later on when I am less busy so stay tuned!)

Popular Street Food 1: Strawberry Red Bean Mochi

Price: KRW 2,000
This elegant and delicate dessert 딸기 찹쌀떡 is what you should really check out. Whole, fresh strawberry and slightly sweetened red bean paste wrapped in a thin layer of soft mochi. The sweetness of the red bean is not too overpowering, a match made in heaven with the fruity notes coming from the strawberry.

Winter Seasonal Mochi: Dry Persimmon Mochi (KRW 2,000)

Winter is the best season for dry persimmon and the store came out with this Dry Persimmon Mochi 곶감 찹쌀떡. Priced the same as its strawberry counterpart, this seasonal mochi is worth trying. Korean dry persimmon is meaty and a lot juicier than the usual dry persimmon imported from China. If you like dry persimmon, you’ll definitely like it.

Address: 전주 애담 찹쌀떡. 전주시 완산구 풍남동 3가 56-3(은행로 51-1)
Pungnamdong 3(sam)-ga, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea.

Popular Street Food 2: Macaroon Icecream

Price: KRW 2,000
Well, I am sure you might have tasted macaroon ice cream in Seoul, but I just felt like having one in Jeonju so here it is. Locals here love it as well! I received some of the queries while I was doing my real-time update on Instagram, asking if it really taste great as some of you were quite disappointed with those on the streets of Seoul. I have to say mine was actually quite yummy. This one I had was dark chocolate ice cream with orange macaroon, a pretty popular combination for dessert. It turns out delicious. I am not quite an adventurous person when it comes to dessert. My take is to only choose less adventurous ones to avoid disappointment if you are unsure about the flavours.

Popular Street Food 3: Meatball Skewer

Price: KRW 3,500
I have to say this meatball skewer 완자꼬치 from “Chon-nom-eui Sonmat” is my best find in Jeonju Hanok Village. None on the list had made me crave for it so much as it does. It is well marinated, huge and juicy. Oh! and the sour cream made it even better! One of the best street foods in Jeonju.

Address: 완자꼬치. 촌놈의 손맛. 전북 전주시 완산구 중화산동2가 592-9번지.
Junghwasan-dong 2(yi) ga, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si. Jeollabuk-do. 592-9.

Popular Street Food 4: Grapefruit Beer

Price: 3,500
Flavoured beer from the meatball skewer store, 촌놈의 손맛. Although it was just grapefruit cordial in local beer, it is a refreshing drink, perfect to wash down the greasiness from the street foods you consumed earlier. Am I the only one who enjoy sunshine with beer? I hope not because sunshine and beer is just marvellous!

Address: 완자꼬치. 촌놈의 손맛. 전북 전주시 완산구 중화산동2가 592-9번지.
Junghwasan-dong 2(yi) ga, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si. Jeollabuk-do. 592-9.

Popular Street Food 5: Grilled Cheese Skewer

Price: KRW 3,000
Another street food worth trying at Jeonju Hanok Village would be this grilled cheese skewer. The cheese is made of skim milk. It is grilled to golden brown with a slight crisp, then served with yoghurt dip. Very interesting pairing, and delicious nonetheless.

Address: 임실 치즈꼬치. 전주시 완산구 교동 121.
Im-sil Cheese Skewer. 121 Kyo-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si. Jeollabukdo.

Popular Street Food 6: Handmade Icecream

Price: KRW 3,000
Handmade ice-cream from 츄즈미 (Chuzme). It is actually a churros and ice-cream shop. Their ice-cream comes in a wide variety of flavours, and they are all made of natural ingredients. I saw mango, strawberry, green grapes, kiwi, orange, green tea, black sesame, bokbunja (Korean raspberry wine) and various fruity yoghurt flavours. I got myself a blueberry yoghurt ice-cream. It was smooth, creamy and luscious, with plenty of blueberry bits –I would have gotten myself another one if it wasn’t winter.

Address: 츄즈미. 전주시 완산구 교동 71-4.
71-4, Gyo-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabukdo.

Jeonju Street Food 7: Shrimp Dumplings

Price: 2,000
다우랑 (Dawoo-Rang) is a very, very, very popular shop that sells various kinds of dumplings. The crazy queue starts at 9.30am, and it took me 45 minutes during lunch hour to get my dumplings.  The one I am holding in the picture is their signature item: 새우만두 Shrimp dumpling. To be very honest, I did not find it special and it puzzles me why people would queue that long for it because I simply could not tell the difference from Dawoo-rang’s to an ordinary dumplings shop. Well, this is my personal opinion. The fact is that they are really, really popular at the Hanok Village.

Address: 다우랑. 전주시 완산구 교동 269-2 (태조로 33)
Dawoo-Rang, Gyodong 269-2, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabukdo.

Popular Street Food 8: PNB Choco Pie

Price: 16,000 per box. (10 pcs)
Chocopie is a very old-school snack in South Korea. Many of the ajussis, ajumma and even younger generations grow up eating them. PNB Confectionary (풍년제과) is the company that produce Chocopies and many other old-school snacks since 1951. This mouth-drying chocolate cake has different versions depending on the company that produce them. Different from the usual chocopies that use marshmallows as fillings, PNB ones are filled with fresh cream and strawberry jam. Their queue is by far the longest among all popular spots.

Address: PNB풍년제과. 전주시 완산구 은행로 61.
PNB Confectionary. Eunheng-no 61, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabukdo.

Popular Street Food 9: King Sized BBQ Chicken Skewer

Price:KRW 4,000
King sized chicken skewer, another well marinated, moist, succulent and tasty choice on the street of Jeonju Hanok Village. It is really huge. I actually find it heavy while I was holding it for picture. x D

Location: 교동 왕 닭꼬치. Gyo-dong Wang Dak-kkochi. Somewhere opposite PNB.

Popular Street Food 10: Gilgoria Baguette

Price: KRW 3,800
A baguette “burger” that is super popular on social media. It is basically a hollow-out baguette bread filled with some tomato puree, cheese, some frozen peas and carrot. A highly raved street food on Instagram (check #길거리아바게트) but I find it quite strange for my taste. Firstly the sauce is too watery, and the bread was serve lukewarm. The mozzarella cheese was not even melted. Isn’t it supposed to be consumed warm? Not a fan, but I’d say go ahead and give it a try and let me know about it.

Address: 길거리아 바게트. 전북 전주시 완산구 경기전길 124
Gilgoria Baguette Burger. Gyeonggijeon-gil 124, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabukdo. 

Popular Street Food 11: Rainbow Slurshie

Price: KRW3,500
A rainbow colour slurshie just reminded me of my highschool days, the 7-11 convenient store nearby the school, and their green or blue coloured Slurpee. Cheers to the good old days!

Address: 달콤한구석. 전주시 완산구 은행로 74-15
Dalkomhan-guseok, Eunheng-ro 74-15, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si.

Popular Street Food 12: Octopus Skewer

Price: KRW3,000
I was diagnosed with shellfish allergy a year ago and quit eating seafood since then. However, this stall was so popular that I decided to include it in the post. The queue was still long at 830pm. Online comment was positive as well. Some Naver bloggers even commented that this is the best street food among all. I am quite interested in knowing how does it taste. Please leave me a comment if you have tried it before.

Address: 문꼬치. 전주시 완산구 교동 121.
Octopus Skewer. 121 Kyo-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si. Jeollabukdo.

Bonus: Candy Floss Macaroon Bingsu (Shaved Ice)

Price: KRW 12,000
솜사탕빙수 Dreamy candy floss, colourful macaroons and shaved ice – This is certainly one very visually captivating dessert in Jeonju Hanok Village. You can find it at the same cafe where you get the Rainbow Slurshie. I have yet to try it out myself. But this certainly looks appealing. Similar to any other cafes in Jeonju Hanok Village, the size of the cafe is a little too cosy. You need a bit of luck to be able to get a seat in the cafe so when the chance came, do not forgo!

Address: 달콤한구석. 전주시 완산구 은행로 74-15
Dalkomhan-guseok, Eunheng-ro 74-15, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si.

If you want a room that is quirky, designer-inspired, yet not burning a hole in your wallet,  Becky Art Space (백희) located right at the Jeonju Hanok Village (very good location) could be what you are looking for. Now that I am writing about the trip, I find that allowing myself to immerse in a space of arts and to be able to enjoy the perks of starting my day in the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee throughout my stay, was a brilliant decision.

I reached Jeonju Station quite early that morning. Not a fan of carrying my heavy backpack as I roam around the city, I decided to try my luck and hail the cab straight to the guesthouse. Though their house rules were to only accept check-in at 3pm, I was lucky enough to be granted an early check in.

As the name suggests, Becky Art Space is a guesthouse for travellers, a gallery and a cafe. The guesthouse has 9 tastefully decorated rooms. Rooms come in different sizes. Bigger rooms could fit up to 5 people, which is very accommodating for group visitors, or even family outings. Room rates vary from KRW 60,000 per night to KRW 140,000 per night, depending on the size of the room and the amount of guests per room. **price listed here varies depending on peak and low season.**

The lobby of the guesthouse serves as a cafe-cum-art gallery, where the space is dedicated for talented artists to showcase their masterpiece and to reach out to the public. Interesting exhibits and exquisitely selected furnitures formed a harmonious ensemble.

 The Room:

Becky has 9 guest rooms. Each and every room is a living example of a perfect mix of Korean traditional and contemporary interior design. I especially adore Room 1, 2, 4 and 7, which has bigger windows that allow ample sunlight in the daytime. Another thing I like about Becky’s  is that each room has a beautiful bathroom attached.

Since the trip was decided in a rush, and it happened to be the year-end festive season, I was not able to secure myself with any of the rooms above that I prefer. However, I was still very keen on spending my nights at Becky so I settled with Room 6, the only small room available then. It costed me KRW 280,000 (peak season pricing) for two nights.

Room 6 turned out to be clean and cosy. It comes with a comfortable double bed, thick comforter, a TV, and a corner for tea. Basic amenities such as hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and toothpaste are provided. As I prefer natural sunlight, Room 6 was a tad too dark in the day time. However, the design of the room, the atmosphere and the cleanliness are above expectations.

The Cafe: Chosun Fantasy

The cafe at their lobby, the Chosun Fantasy serves unexpectedly good coffee. Coffee, herb teas, smoothies, burgers and shaved ice can be found on their menu. It is the only place in the building with WiFi access. Spending a relaxing morning, sipping a cup of goodness while surfing the Internet was the first thing I did every day during my stay.

The coffee Mocha and Americano me and my mom ordered. Seriously I did not expect quality coffee at a guesthouse cafe in the first place. The first sip of the Americano was a mind-blower. It wins any international franchise hands down. Though I think their Mocha is too sweet for my liking, I really like their black coffee (great choice of beans!). If you are craving for an excellent brew, and if you trust my taste buds for coffee, here is where you should visit. The cafe has a great sense of selecting their music as well. It is certainly a space with character and a great atmosphere.

My Verdict: My 3D2N stay at Becky Art Space (Becky Gallery Guesthouse) was a pleasant surprise. Although living with the art exhibits for about half a week did not change my charisma or anything LOL, it feels great waking up in an art space. More importantly, the room was cosy and clean. Hot shower supply and the heater were left on 7/24 (you know this is crucial in winter). Service was friendly, and the owner is very knowledgeable in terms of good restaurants around Jeonju. Everything was great, the only drawback was that the guesthouse does not provide drinking water. Guests will have to purchase bottled water from the nearby convenience store.

Contact Details:

Becky Art Space. Gallery. Guesthouse 백희(click me!) 
Jeonju-si, Wansan-gu, Gyeongwon-Dong 2 Ga, 40-35
전주시 완산구 경원동 2가 40-35번지(어진길94-6)
Tel. 063-232-6748
HP. +8210-9595-6748

If you read and understand Korean and resides in South Korea, you may make your reservation through their official website, which enables you to secure the room instantly after transferring the rental through a Korean bank account. If not, you may want to contact Becky Kim at bkartspace@naver.com or call for a reservation.

Directions:

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