Jeonju Hanok Village

Jeonju was closely linked with the Joseon royal family, whose founder, Yi Seong-gye (King Taejo), had ancestral roots here. Gyeonggijeon was built in 1410 to house his portrait, destroyed during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s and rebuilt in 1614. Pungnammun, the old south gate of the city walls first built in 1389, survived when other gates were removed in the early 20th century.

The hanok district itself was designated a preservation area in 1977, with later rules limiting buildings to two storeys to protect its character. It was named an international Slow City in 2010 and has since become one of Korea's most visited traditional neighbourhoods.

The village is still home to residents, so keep noise down in the side lanes, especially in the evening, and do not enter private courtyards. Gyeonggijeon and Jeonju Hyanggyo are important heritage sites - remove hats where requested and follow posted guidance. Pork appears in many local dishes, so Muslim travellers should ask about ingredients; vegetarian bibimbap without meat or meat broth can often be requested.