This route offers travel to Seoul’s past where everything rapidly changes. Meshing perfectly with its surroundings, Gyeongbokgung Palace (the first royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty) and Hanok Village offers glimpses of Korean livings centuries ago.

Public Transportation and Travelling

• 1 hour and 11 minutes by car from Incheon International Airport to Seoul City Hall
  [public transportation: limousine buses]
• 48 minutes by car from Gimpo International Airport to Seoul City Hall
  [public transportation: subways and buses]
• Traveling among attractions: walking distance

Route Introduction

Gyeongbokgung Palace

It was the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Built as part of the national founding of the Dynasty led by King Taejo (Yi Seong-gye) in 1392, the palace is home to numerous buildings including halls, kings and crown princes' living quarters, and gardens. In particular, Gyenghoeru Pavilion (considered the most beautiful pavilion in Korea) and Hyangwonji's pond are still well-preserved, offering a glimpse of the palace in its prime.

Seochon Hanok Street

To the west of Gyeongbokgung Palace is Seochon (West Village) covering Hyoja-dong, Tongin-dong, and Okin-dong. Unlike Bukchon (North Village) where aristocrats lived, Seochon was home to the Jungin, a small class of petty bureaucrats and skilled professionals including doctors and translators. Remodeled traditional houses are dotted along narrow alleys. Roof tiles, concrete walls, and tin roofs are reminiscent of Korea’s olden days.

[Lunch] Samgyetang

Samgyetang is young chicken sour stuffed with ginseng, medicinal herbs, and rice in boiling water. Popular as a healthy food in the summer, the dish offers delicious soup and tender chicken and has become a popular dish among international tourists. Near Gyeongbokgung Palace are many restaurants offering Samgyetang including Tosokchon.

National Museum of Korea

This sixth largest museum in the world is home to major cultural relics and ancient crafts of Korea. Its facade reinterpreted the traditional Korean building in a modern architectural style. There are over 135,000 items in the museum with over 5,000 items regularly available for exhibitions. The museum frequently offers special exhibitions, letting visitors experience the essence of Korean cultural heritages.

[Dinner] Itaewon

As a global village in Seoul, Itaewon is home to a wide array of restaurants offering diverse dishes from around the world. La Cucina offers traditional Italian food along with top-notch services; Le Saint-Ex offers typical food enjoyed in French homes; Taco Chilichili offers popular Mexican food; and Dubai offers Arab food and culture. Kayarang offers full-course Korean meals with savory side dishes.

: Starting Point

This route leads visitors to Jeonju, a city of rich traditional culture. The city represents not only traditional houses, but also traditional food and paper. Visitors will be privileged to taste traditional food in the heart of Korean food.

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 Hanji Museum
• Traveling among attractions: by bus

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

Route Introduction

Jeonju Hanji Museum

The museum offers the history of traditional Korean paper known as Hanji. The museum is home to the History Hall (displaying recorded relics and sculptures before paper was invented), the Future Hall (displaying Hanji crafts and videos related to them), and the Living Hall (displaying Hanji used as environment-friendly interior design items). The Reproduction Hall offers the process of making Hanji, and visitors can also make their own Hanji crafts as well as wooden prints.

[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 has many restaurants offering the dish for over 40 years.

Jeonju Hanbang Cultural Center

The center offers Oriental medicine as well as medicinal herbal teas to visitors. Diverse programs offered in the center include diagnoses of body types and food bathing with medicinal herbs. In addition, visitors can participate in hands-on programs through which they can make a scent bag with medicinal herbs and herbal cosmetics. Visitors can purchase herbal teas and medicinal herbal items as well.

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).

[Dinner] Hanok Experience (Full course Korean meals)

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

Gongju and Buyeo preserves the glorious days of the Baekje Period. The route begins in Buyeo and ends in Gongju, offering the rich history and elegant culture of the Baekje Period.

Public Transportation and Travelling

• Two hours from Seoul to Buyeo Express Bus Terminal
• By taxi from Buyeo Express Bus Terminal to Baekje Cultural Complex
• Traveling among attractions: by taxi or bus

Route Introduction

Baekje Cultural Complex

This is the largest history theme park in Korea, reproducing royal palaces and houses of the Baekje Period. Consulting with historians and experts, the park was built over the course of 17 years. Details of royal palaces including paintwork and attached buildings were reproduced in their original forms along with royal temples, wooden towers, and village houses. Baekje Historical Museum (the only museum specializing in the Baekje Period) within the park displays accessories, earthenware, and Buddhist statues of the Baekje Period.

[Lunch] Yeonipbap

Originating in Buddhist temples, it is the famous local dish in Buyeo. The dish is steamed glutinous rice and multigrain rice wrapped in lotus leaves. Naturally, visitors can smell the elegant scent of lotus leaves while enjoying the dish. Some better known restaurants offering the dish include Baekjeyang and Baekjeuijip in downtown Buyeo.

Gongju National Museum

The museum is home to over 16,000 items excavated in Daejeon and Chungcheongnam-do including 19 national treasures and three other treasures. The museum offers three exhibition halls: King Munyeong's Tomb, Unjing's Culture, and a Special Exhibition. King Munyeong's Tomb is particularly popular among visitors; it displays over 2,900 artifacts of 108 different types excavated from King Munyeong's tomb. Glittery accessories worn by kings and queens including golden belts, golden bracelets, and golden crowns capture visitors' imagination.

Magoksa Temple

Located on the outskirts of Taehwasan Mountain and surrounded by a valley, the temple was created by Monk Jajang in 640 A.D. Baekbeom Kim Gu, a leader of the Korean Independence Movement against Japan in the early 20th century, used to stay here as a Buddhist. Beautiful cherry blossoms attract many visitors in the spring. The temple offers a stay program called Finding Lost Self, offering traditional temple experiences for visitors.

[Dinner] Gongju Janggukbap

The soup uses beef brisket instead of pork. It was a popular dish when greeting many visitors at once. The soup with boiled beef and vegetables are served with rice and young radish Kimchi. One of the better known restaurants offering the dish is Mimaji.

: Starting Point