JEONJU HANOK VILLAGE

The Beautiful Coexistence of Traditional Culture and Modern Everyday Life

In a city like Jeonju, which has a long history and tradition, the first stop of a tour has to be Jeonju Hanok Village. Here you’ll find low red clay walls, more than 700 houses with tiled roofs standing shoulder to shoulder, and residents continuing their lives today while preserving traditions and culture. Let’s take a trip to Jeonju Hanok Village, which has been called a space where the 100 years of modern history are expressed in hanok, in the slow snail-like pace through the alleys where tradition, modernity, culture and everyday life coexist.

Jeonju Hanok Village, which Survived an Ordeal

Across the plaza of Pungnammun Gate, which is the gate of the old Jeonjueupseong Walled Town, Jeonju Hanok Village begins. What makes Jeonju Hanok Village unique is that it is the largest hanok village that’s packed with houses and also located at the center of a city.

During the Japanese occupation, Japanese-owned stores and Japanese-style buildings were increasing in every corner of this city, so local residents built hanok in Pungnam-dong and Gyo-dong to block the expansion of Japanese influence. That’s how Jeonju Hanok Village was born. Although many left this village after 1970s, it was rediscovered as a place to find the traditional ambience of Jeonju after the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

The Martyrium Jeondong Catholic Church and Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Where Joseon Dynasty Started

The first thing that visitors will see at the entrance of the hanok village is Jeondong Catholic Church, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful catholic churches in Korea. However, the church also contains a sad history, as its foundation stones are from the stone wall of Pungnammun Gate where the first martyr of the Korean Catholic Church was executed, and the church was built using stones from Jeonjueupseong Walled Town, which was destroyed during the Japanese occupation.

Right across from the church is Gyeonggijeon Shrine, a hall where the portrait of King Taejo, the founder of Joseon Dynasty (Treasure No. 317) was set up and ancestral rites were held. Jeongju the original hometown of King Taejo, Lee Seong-gye, is considered as the cradle of the Joseon Dynasty, and that is why this shrine was built in Jeongju. While looking around Gyeonggijeon Shrine, you can see the tall bell tower of Jeondong Catholic Church over the roof-tiled wall. These two buildings that have stood the test of time surely look different, yet they blend harmoniously together.

The Coexistence of the Past and Future in Alleys Filled with Rows of Tiled Roofs

After passing Eunhaeng-ro where a stream flows and turning into an alley, you’ll find Seunggwangjae, a hanok where descendants of the Daehan Empire live. Inside the alley with gorgeous red clay walls where roof tiles form the shape of flower is the Chronicle of Jeonju Hanok Village. Jeonjuhyanggyo, the local Confucian school, has the most tranquil landscape. It is a cultural property as well as the most well-preserved local Confucian school in Korea.

The alleys all through the hanok village are surrounded with low walls made of bricks as well as red clay, and some are even decorated with drawings. The village is full of things to see and enjoy, such as traditional handcraft workshops, tea rooms, cafés, restaurants and gift shops. Because Jeonju Hanok Village is where the past and present, old culture and new culture blend, the village is full of vivid energy and the warmth of everyday life, even though it is a historic site.

Address│102 Pungnam-dong 3-ga, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do

Way to go│20-minute taxi from KTX Jeonju Station

hanok.jeonju.go.kr

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