Korean News Today - Stroll through Jeonju Hanok village and experience its elegance

■ Korean News Today

Total Articles 72

Stroll through Jeonju Hanok village and experience its elegance

Views 43605 Votes 0 2009.08.26 07:37:21

admin http://www.koreaaward.com/kor/5716

Category :	Travel

Summer has almost passed in Korea, yet tourists still flow down to Jeolla-do (Jeolla Province) to spend their summer vacation time with family members in historic, scenic places surrounded by pristine, beautiful nature.

For those who would like to introduce their friends or children to traditional Korean culture and have a tranquil, eco-friendly experience as people did long ago, Jeonju is a place well worth visiting.

Located about 250km south of Seoul in North Jeolla Province, Jeonju is known for its signature dish bibimbap (mixed rice and vegetables) and a movie festival – the Jeonju International Film Festival. But there is a lot more to the city than a rice dish and some flicks.

Here some 800 Hanok, or traditional Korean houses, form a large village, and some of Korea's loveliest surviving pre-modern architecture and folk culture are kept alive.

Upon entering the Hanok village, where hyanngyo, or Confucian schools, and other traditional cultural relics can be found, visitors can feel the living spirit of "seonbi" (scholars in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910)) and the elegance of the village's traditional culture.

When it gets dark, take a walk around the Hanok houses. Subtle yet gentle streetlights transform the area into a neat and antique looking hamlet. A stroll around is an excellent way to enjoy a cool, romantic summer night.

An evening perambulation could begin at Pungnammun (gate) in the west or Omokdae in the east. Similar to Sungnyemun (Namdaemun) in Seoul, Pungnammun looks imposing by streetlight, while a Romanesque church across the road shyly reveals its graceful figure as counterpoint. Walking along the 400-meter long Taejo-ro (road) from Pungnammun to Omokdae is peaceful and inspiring. Opposite the church is Gyeonggijeon, an old pavilion painted with the traditional vivid five-color dancheong patterns and pictures. Gyeonggijeon became famous when it appeared in the famous TV drama series "Tears of the Dragon" and is the location of the portrait of Lee Seong-gye (1335-1408), or Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

Walking along Taejo-ro to the east, you will find a crossroads and a 600-year old ginkgo tree on the left. Following the road named “Eunhaeng-no” after the old ginkgo tree, you will find a traditional liquor museum, Hanok experience center and other buildings to visit, including the house of the head family of the Jeonju Choi clan.

Some museums and exhibition buildings may close at night but Hanok houses are open to visitors. If your feet get sore from walking, drop by any traditional tea shop or café to take a rest.

When you arrive at Omokdae, you can get a bird's-eye view of the village. Though not as pretty as that of the big city, the rustic scenery of the Hanok village with its curved lines of tiled roofs gives people a peaceful easy feeling.

After finishing the nocturnal saunter, spending a night in a Hanok house is a pleasantly different accommodation experience. It costs around 50,000 or 60,000 won per couple per night. Reservations are needed during the peak season from July till Aug. 15. Deokjin Park, 10-minutes drive from the Hanok village, is another good place to drop by. This park is famous for its lotus pond and lotus bridge. It takes about 1.5 or 2 hours to take in the entire park.

To know more about Jeonju Hanok village and to get tourism information, click here.

For more general travel information, call Korea Travel Phone (02-1330, English, Chinese and Japanese are available around the clock).

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer

I want to

Trackback :: http://www.koreaaward.com/kor/index.php?document_srl=5716&act=trackback&key=a00

List

List of Articles

No.	Subject	Category	Date	Views
Stroll through Jeonju Hanok village and experience its elegance Category Travel Summer has almost passed in Korea, yet tourists still flow down to Jeolla-do (Jeolla Province) to spend their summer vacation time with family members in historic, scenic places surrounded by pristine, beautiful nature. For those who would like to introduce their friends or children to traditional Korean culture and have a tranquil... Aug 26, 2009 Views 43605
Celebrate Korean spicy chicken and buckwheat noodles in Chuncheon Category Travel The Chuncheon Makguksu and Dakgalbi Festival will run for six days from Aug. 26 to 31. Makguksu, a Korean buckwheat noodle and dakgalbi, a Korean style chicken dish, are two typical dishes of the Chuncheon area, highlighted through this annual festival each summer. The festival will have a main performance stage, exhibitions, and free foo... Aug 26, 2009 Views 39927
Korea launches its first space rocket Category National Korea's Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) rocket, or Naro, blasts off the ground on Tuesday (Aug. 25). (Photo: Yonhap News) Korea's first space rocket Naro, or KSLV-1 (Korea's Space Launch Vehicle-1), was launched into orbit on Tuesday (Aug. 25). About 215 seconds after lift-off, the payoff fairing separated from the rocket. Then f... Aug 25, 2009 Views 41036
President Lee meets N. Korea's special envoys Category National President Lee Myung-bak (right) and North Korea's chief envoy Kim Ki-nam at Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday (Aug. 23) South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met a high-level North Korean delegation at Cheong Wa Dae, early Sunday (Aug. 23), presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said. The North Korean envoys crossed the inter-Korean border ... Aug 24, 2009 Views 39328
Significance of Kim Dae-jung's Funeral at the National Assembly Category National Mourners flowed in and out all day at the outdoor ceremonial funeral stage set up at the National Assembly for the late former Korean President Kim Dae-jung. Final preparations were being made on Saturday, one day before the scheduled state funeral, the first for a former president. The National Assembly had special meaning for ... Aug 23, 2009 Views 41037
Korea posts highest Q2 GDP growth among OECD members Category National The Korean economy recorded the highest level of GDP growth out of all OECD members in the second quarter, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on Aug. 20 quoted the OECD report as saying. Korea's GDP in the period went up 2.3 percent from the previous quarter, which was the greatest increase among 29 OECD countries.... Aug 22, 2009 Views 43308
The gates and walls of Seoul Category Culture Dongdaemun today Okay, most people who have been in Seoul for more than a year know that Seoul was once a fortified city - meaning a city with a wall around it. This was to prevent the capital from attack by invaders but also to control who moved into and out of the city through its 4 large and 4 small gates. But how many ... Aug 22, 2009 Views 49316
Hangeul now used as writing system by Indonesian tribe Category Culture The project of Hangeul (the Korean writing system) globalization has borne its first fruit, linguists in Seoul said recently. The Hunminjeongeum Society, under the aegis of Seoul National University, said last week that an Indonesian minority tribe living in the city of Bau-Bau had adopted Hangeul as its official alphabet. Although h... Aug 21, 2009 Views 45360
Seoulites celebrate new Gwanghwamun Plaza Category Travel Gwanghwamun Plaza (Photo: Yonhap News) Since the official opening of the newly renovated Gwanghwamun Plaza, located in front of -- and named after -- the main gate of Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace), on Aug. 1, more than one million people have visited it, according to Seoul Metropolitan Government on Aug. 9. More than 400,00... Aug 21, 2009 Views 40403
Intrepid six race around the world to promote Korean sovereignty Category People The members of Dokdo Racers (from left to right, clockwise): Han Sang-Yeop, Choi Ga-Youn, Bae Sung-Hwan, Yoon Ji-Young, Chunng Jin-Won, Lee Han-Nah Traveling always sounds exciting, and overseas travel is twice the fun. But for these six young Koreans, their trip has more meaning than just adventure and exploration. Unlike or... Aug 14, 2009 Views 40542

No.

Subject

Category

Date

Views