food trip in korea

One can find the "Hankookjib" about 10 min on foot from Gaengnidan Street. Opened in 1952, Hankookjib is said to be the origin of Jeonju bibimbap and was featured in the 2011 Michelin Guide South Korea. Bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish of steamed rice topped with vegetables like bracken, spinach, bean sprouts, and the like. It is enjoyed and mixed together with a sauce. The red chili paste, a common ingredient in the sauce, is a spicy condiment that is widely used in other Korean dishes as well. In addition, one can also add stir-fried meat, beef tartare, cockles, and other ingredients to the mix.

Bibimbap with Beef Tartare served to taste

Hankookjib offers Jeonju bibimbap and hot stone pot bibimbap. These two dishes have the same ingredients but feature different bowls: the former comes in the traditional brass bowl*, while the latter comes in a hot stone pot that keeps the rice piping hot until the end of the meal. Another special feature of the Hankookjib’s bibimbap menu is hwangpomuk, one of the 10 Tastes of Jeonju*.

Hwangpomuk refers to mung bean jelly colored yellow with gardenia seeds. It is a type of "muk," a jelly-like dish boiled down and solidified from grain starch. Jeonju bibimbap also contains bean sprouts, summer squash, and other ingredients included in the 10 Tastes of Jeonju, so it is a perfect dish to taste Jeonju flavors at once.

About 8 min on foot from Hankookjib, Jeonju Nanjang is an indoor interactive museum showcasing a private collection of artifacts from Korea’s modern history collected over 25 years. Fans of K-dramas will be delighted to know that they can see the items featured in the Squid Game and the Reply series in person. Indeed, Jeonju Nanjang has payphones that Deok-sun had used in Reply 1988, Shi-won’s radio in Reply 1997, and marbles featured in Squid Game.

Interactive experiences like making dalgona, comic book library, arcade games, and transporting coal briquettes with an A-frame carrier allow the visitors to recreate scenes from their favorite TV shows. There are nearly 80 thematic zones in this museum, so make sure to set aside enough time to see them all.

Retro-style items within Jeonju Nanjang

Retro-style items within Jeonju Nanjang

Located 3 min away on foot, Jeonju Hanok Village is the largest hanok village in Korea, which is home to nearly 700 traditional buildings. It is even more meaningful because it retains the old and traditional values in the rapidly changing society of Korea.

Street food at Hanok Village

Street food at Hanok Village

One can find various street food being offered on the alley connecting the Hanok Village to Gyeonggijeon Shrine. From grilled cheese to baguette sandwiches with bibimbap filling, octopus skewers, and Jeonju choco pie, one can taste many interesting dishes to enjoy on the walk. Jeonju Hanok Village is also close to historic sites like Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Jeondong catholic cathedral, and Omokgyo Bridge. Jeonju Hanok Village is designated as a Cittaslow (Slow City)*, so take a step back and enjoy the leisurely walk through history with Jeonju Hanok Village’s historic sites and traditional food.

Gyeonggijeon Shrine was built in 1410 to enshrine the royal portrait of Yi Seong-gye, King Taejo of Joseon Dynasty. The royal portrait can be found in both the Jeongjeon Hall of Gyeonggijeon Shrine and the Royal Portrait Museum because the portraits on display are copies, as the actual portrait is stored in the storage unit*. A festival that features various performances and programs with themes of the royal portrait and Gyeonggijeon Shrine is held in the shrine during fall.

Photo area in Gyeonggijeon Shrine

Gyeonggijeon Shrine is a popular place for lovers or friends to take pictures in a hanbok, which is traditional Korean clothing. The most famous spot for photography is the bamboo forest, but other than that, red plum blossoms during spring and ginkgo trees during fall can also be found. Make sure to rent out some hanbok and get a unique photo for the album.

Just a road crossing away from Gyeonggijeon Shrine stands a building in stark contrast to the nearby hanok: Jeondong catholic cathedral, which, along with Seoul’s Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral and the Gyesan Cathedral of Daegu, is known as one of the three most beautiful Catholic churches in Korea. In particular, Jeondong catholic cathedral is meaningful because it is dedicated to the first martyrs of Korea. In the Joseon period, the Confucian idea of filial piety and loyalty was the order of the day, which coexisted with a strict class system, and Catholicism‘s claim of equality before an Almighty God was completely in contrast with that ideology. What followed was a 100-year-long oppression of Catholics, as the ruling class of Joseon feared the influence of Catholicism on society. Jeondong catholic cathedral was built on top of a site where many Catholics were executed for their faith.

The cathedral was completed in 1914 with a design by Father Poisnel, who was responsible for the interior of the Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul. With its red bricks and round bronze bell towers, it features Byzantine and Romanesque motifs integrated into the building that stand majestically in contrast with the surrounding area. It is also the oldest and the largest Western-style building in the Jeolla-do area.

Jeondong catholic cathedral’s entrance

Once you’ve explored the Hanok Village, Gyeonggijeon Shrine, and Jeondong catholic cathedral, it’s time to take a breather and rest your legs. Visit the "Gyodong Dawon," located about 5 min on foot from Jeondong catholic cathedral, to take a breather in a peaceful space. Gyodong Dawon is housed in a century-old hanok, serving traditional Korean tea and desserts.

Tea utensils in Gyoeong Dawon

Instead of coffee, one can find yellow tea, green tea, and Pu'er tea in Gyodong Dawon. One can also learn how to brew tea there, so brew a cup of tea to immerse yourself in Korean traditions. For the sweets that go with the tea, taste handmade red bean paste jelly made with citrus, pumpkin, and chestnuts; honey cookie; and snow white rice cake.

Peaceful atmosphere in Gyoeong Dawon

Red bean paste jelly, known in Korean as yanggaeng, is a soft and tender dessert made by boiling and solidifying a mixture of red bean, sugar, syrup, and agar. It tends to be quite sweet, but Gyodong Dawon’s version eschews sweetness to ensure the natural taste of the ingredients, so it goes very well with a warm cup of tea. Make sure to check the surrounding areas after the break. From teacups arrayed on the wall to the window-side seat where sunlight falls like a curtain and the piles of firewood at the entrance, Gyodong Dawon is a picture of peace and tranquility. The seats in the main building are floor seatings, where one can feel the warmth of the ondol (under-the-floor heating system), while seats in the annex feature tables and chairs. Visitors can choose the seat that they are most comfortable with and enjoy the atmosphere.

Hyanggyo refers to national educational institutions installed throughout the regions in the Goryeo* and Joseon periods that are akin to a middle or a high school. Jeonjuhyanggyo Local Confucian School retains the historical buildings of Myeongnyundang Lecture Hall and the Daeseongjeon Hall, which houses the memorial tablet of Confucius*. During fall, the complex is awash in the colors of ginkgo and maple trees. The ginkgo tree in front of the Daeseongjeon Hall, in particular, has stood for 400 years, so check it out as you take a leisurely walk on the premises.

Myeongnyundang Lecture Hall in Jeonjuhyanggyo Local Confucian School

Omokdae Historic Site is the place to wrap up your trip in Jeonju, thanks to its view of the Jeonju Hanok Village.

Don’t forget to stop for a break in the middle and enjoy the view of the Hanok Village and the high-rise buildings. The view of the traditional houses blending in with high-rise buildings is jarringly beautiful, which is intensified by the view of the Jeonju Hanok Village with lights on, blending into the sunset. The Omokdae Historic Site is also historically meaningful, as it was the site where Yi Seong-gye, then General of Goryeo, celebrated his victory over Japanese pirates in 1380. A small pavilion next to the monument is said to have been built by Yi after he founded the Joseon Dynasty.

Pavilion at the Omokdae Historic Site

"Bean sprout and rice soup" is a dish that can be found across Korea, but the one served in Jeonju is rather special. For instance, those being served in Seoul are eaten with a raw egg cracked into the boiling soup to be cooked therein. Meanwhile, Jeonju’s version serves the soup, with a poached egg provided separately. One can add some soup and laver flakes to the egg, or use it as a dipping sauce for the bean sprouts in the soup.

Restaurants specializing in bean sprout and rice soup can be found near Gyo-dong, which is located next to Namcheon and Seocheon Streams that provide good, clean water. Of course, this gave the bean sprouts excellent quality and taste, so restaurants specializing in bean sprout and rice soup began to take hold in Nambu Market next to the stream. Bean sprouts are a part of the 10 Tastes of Jeonju.

The soup is refreshing with a spicy kick, providing warmth as it goes down one’s stomach. Side dishes like diced radish kimchi, cabbage kimchi, and salted squid err on the traditional side, helping to add flavor to the soup without harming the balance. Jeonju Waengi Kongnamul Gukbap Jeonmunjeom also serves moju, a beverage that represents Jeonju. Moju is a hangover drink made by boiling unrefined rice wine with medicinal herbs. Its sweetness and low alcoholic content make it an ideal complement to meals.

A refreshing bowl of Bean Sprout and Rice Soup