Jeonju essentials

Jeonju serves as a living museum of the Joseon Dynasty, anchored by the Jeonju Hanok Village. This collection features Gyeonggijeon, which preserves the portrait of the dynasty’s founder, and Pungnammun, the city's last remaining historic gate. Beyond Joseon history, the list highlights the Byzantine-Romanesque architecture of Jeondong Catholic Church and cultural centers dedicated to the city’s craft heritage, including traditional fan-making and the literary legacy of author Choi Myeong-hui.

Jeonju Essentials — Map

Steve46814 / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Jeonju Hyanggyo

The Jeonju Hyanggyo is a hyanggyo originally established at the Gyeonggijeon Shrine site in Jeonju, Korea, sometime early in the 15th…

Altostratus / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Gyeonggijeon Main Hall

A shrine established in 1410 to house the portrait of King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. The current main hall dates to 1614 and is designated as a National Treasure.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

C

Jeondong Catholic Church

A Byzantine-Romanesque church built between 1908 and 1914. It stands on the historic site where the first Korean Catholic martyrs were executed in 1791.

D

Pungnammun

The southern gate of the original Jeonju city walls, reconstructed in 1767. It is the only surviving gate of the four that once guarded the fortress during the Joseon Dynasty.

E

Jamanbyeoghwama-eul

A residential hillside neighborhood transformed into an outdoor gallery with colorful murals and street art, offering elevated views over the nearby Hanok Village.

Korea.net / CC BY-SA 2.0

F

Hanbyeokdang Pavilion

A Joseon-era pavilion built in 1404 on a cliff edge. Historically used by scholars for poetry and contemplation, it overlooks the Jeonjucheon Stream.

G

Jeonju Pungpaejigwan (Gaeksa)

A Joseon Dynasty guesthouse used by visiting officials. The main hall displays a tablet designating Jeonju as the ancestral home of the royal Yi clan.

H

PNBpungnyeonjegwa bonjeom

The original branch of Jeonju’s oldest bakery, founded in 1951. It is specifically known for its handmade chocolate pies filled with cream, walnuts, and strawberry jam.

I

Jeonjubuchaemunhwagwan

A cultural center showcasing the history and craftsmanship of Jeonju’s traditional fans, focusing on the Hapjukseon, a folding fan made of bamboo and Hanji paper.

J

Choice Myeonghui Literature Center

A museum dedicated to Choi Myeong-hui, author of the epic novel Honbul. It preserves her manuscripts and explores the cultural identity of Jeonju through her literature.