This route offers an opportunity to tour the Jeolla area, known for great its food and rich culture. Visitors can taste a wide array of delicious food from Jeonju Bibimbap to traditional-style full-course Korean dishes. Touring elegant traditional houses will enrich travel experiences for tourists as well.

Public Transportation and Travelling

• 2 hours and 50 minutes from Seoul to Jeonju Express Bus Terminal
• By bus from Jeonju Express Bus Terminal to Jeonju Hanok Village
• Traveling among attractions: by bus

* Free Shuttle Bus Operating for Individual International Tourists (January 1 - Dec. 31, 2012)

Route Introduction

Jeonju Hanok Village

It is the largest traditional housing complex in Korea. Rapidly populated in the 1930s, the village boasts over 700 traditional Korean houses and Japanese-style tile-roof houses made of bricks. Other attractions within the village include the Traditional Culture Center (offering traditional cultural performances), the Jeonju Traditional Alcohol Museum and the Jeonju Hanok Living Experience Center (where visitors can stay for a night in a traditional house).

[Lunch] Jeonju Bibimbap

Korean Bibimbap originates in Jeonju. Jeonju Bibimbap boasts over 30 fresh ingredients. Rice is prepared from beef brisket broth. Fresh raw beef, bean sprouts, and red pepper paste add further taste to Jeonju Bibimbap. Downtown Jeonju offers many restaurants offering the dish for over 40 years.

Gyeonggijeon Hall

The hall offers the portrait of Taejo Yi Seong-gye, the first king of the Joseon Dynasty. Visitors can see the portrait housed in the main hall with a gambrel roof after passing three gates: Hongsalmun, Oesammun, and Naesammun. The hall appeared in the popular Korean dramas, Prince Hours and Tears of Dragon.

Seosin-dong Makgeolli Village

The village refers to the area around the post office in Samcheon-dong, Jeonil Bus Company in Hyoja-dong, Pyeonghwa-dong Intersection, Gyeongwon-dong, and Seosin-dong. Visitors will find it delightful to see a number of side dishes after ordering a bottle of Makgeolli here. Some restaurants offer Samgyetang (chicken soup with ginseng) to visitors as a base dish. Yeotchon and Seosin Makgeolli are two of the most popular restaurants in the area.

[Dinner] Hanok Experience (Korean Food)

Visitors can stay for a night in a traditional house where an aristocratic family used to live. The Jeonju Hanok Living Experience Center consists of a guest house, an owner house, and a floored hall. The price for two people (including breakfast) ranges from KRW 70,000 to 130,000. Group guests may enjoy a luxurious full-course Korean dish and traditional music performances (typically, traditional Korean music, Western music, or fusion traditional music). Visitors can also stay for a night in Yangsajae (a house belonging to the Jeonju Confucian Academy) and Seolyewon (a private, traditional lodging facility) to experience a traditional house.

: Starting Point

Gangnam, home to huge concentrations of fashion streets, business buildings, shops, and cultural facilities, is where tradition and modern sensibilities co-exist. Visitors can enjoy shopping in the middle of Gangnam while tasting traditional food, experience culture, and viewing performances.

Public Transportation and Travelling

• 1 hour and 17 minutes by car from Incheon International Airport to Gangnam Station
  [public transportation: limousine buses]
• 54 minutes by car from Gimpo International Airport to Gangnam Station
  [public transportation: subways and buses]
• Traveling among attractions: by buses or subways

Route Introduction

Kimchi Museum

The museum displays the history of Kimchi. Along with documents and relics related to Kimchi, the museum exhibits over 90 types of Kimchi with detailed explanations. Kimchi is explained by region as well as by place (such as Kimchi used in a royal palace and a temple). Visitors can also taste a Kimchi sample and purchase various Kimchi to their likings.

[Lunch] COEX

COEX is the largest underground shopping mall in Asia. Combining shopping, entertainment, and cultural facilities and attracting a large number of visitors year-round, this huge mall (119,000 m2) is home to famous casual brand shops, accessories shops, top notch restaurants, and family restaurants. The mall also offers the huge move theater, Mega Box, and an Aquarium, making it an ideal destination for young people.

Bongeunsa Temple (Temple Stay)

Built 13 centuries ago, the temple is located in the middle of Gangnam. Surrounded by skyscrapers and beautiful night views, and thanks to its accessibility, the temple attracts many visitors year-round. It offers a one-night temple stay program and a day-course temple life program. Both Korean and international tourists can participate in the programs.

[Dinner] Korea House (Traditional Performance)

This cultural facility (7,000 m2) consists of five traditional Korean houses and offers royal food, craft exhibitions, folk music, and traditional dance to visitors. Visitors can enjoy a full-course dish served in a royal palace accompanied by traditional music performances including Pansori and Pungmulnori.

: Starting Point

This route covers Incheon and Suwon offering Incheon Rice and Suwon Galbi, two of the better known food brands in Korea. Visitors can experience traditional culture and history as well as royal food served for kings in the past.

Public Transportation and Travelling

• 50 minutes by bus from Seoul to Icheon Ceramic Village (Korea Tourism College)
• By walk from Korea Tourism College to Icheon Ceramic Village
• Traveling among attractions: by rental car or taxi
  (traveling by car is a good option since there is some distance between attractions).

Route Introduction

Icheon Ceramic Village

Over 30 businesses making ceramics form this village around Sugwang-ri (Sindun-myeon, Saeum-dong, Icheon). Visitors have an opportunity to craft pottery in over 40 studios, the latter of which attract many Korean and international tourists. Celadon, white porcelain, Buncheongsagi (grayish-blue powdered), mugs, and accessories are made here, and visitors can purchase them directly from producers.

[Lunch] Ssambap jeongsik

Icheon rice used to be sent to kings as gifts due to its high quality and taste. Its soft and sweet taste with a glossy coating are second to none. Ssambap jeongsik (rice with leafy vegetable wraps and side dishes) here is served to customers with Inchen rice prepared in a stone pot and fresh seasonal vegetables, herbs, and grilled meat and fish. Some of famous restaurants offering the dish include Imgeumnim Ssalbapjip, Jeongilpum, and Cheongmok.

Suwonhwaseong Fortress (Experience Programs)

This fortress, at a height of 6m and length of 5.7km, is a main cultural heritage of the Joseon Dynasty; it was designated as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1997. The fortress was built in the late 18th century as part of King Jeongjo's plan to relocate his father's (Sado Seja) tome to Suwon. It is believed that the fortress reflect the efforts of the best scholars of that era, combining the best of Eastern and Western military facilities. Various programs are offered at the fortress; visitors can overlook the fortress on the Fortress Train, shoot an arrow, or pray a wish by ringing Hyowon's Bell.

[Dinner] Suwon Galbi

This dish boasts a long history. King Jeongjo used to eat Suwon Galbi for breakfast when he traveled to the Suwonhwaseong Fortress. Compared to short beef ribs in other areas, Suwon Galbi is bigger and thicker; once roasted on a charcoal fire, it produces a tender taste with soft meat textures. Bonsuwon Galbi, Sambuja Galbi, and Gabojeong are three popular restaurants in Suwon offering Suwon Galbi.

: Starting Point