Places to Visit in Jeonju, From Samcheon-dong to Gaekridan-gil

When people think of traveling to Jeonju, Hanok Village often comes to mind. Jeonju Hanok Village is certainly an appealing tourist destination, but limiting a Jeonju trip to the village alone could mean missing out on the city's other attractions.

Gaekridan-gil, Home to Unique Restaurants

The name Gaekridan-gil combines Gaeksa, a Joseon-era historic site in Gosa-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, with Gyeongridan-gil in Seoul. The area is lined with distinctive restaurants and cafés established by young entrepreneurs with limited capital. Its resemblance to Seoul's Gyeongridan-gil gave rise to the name Gaekridan-gil. After appearing on entertainment programs such as “Wednesday Food Talk” and “The Dictionary of Useless Knowledge,” it became an even more popular destination among visitors to Jeonju.

The recent opening of the Jeonju Nambu Market night market has made it a new attraction on the city's tourist trail. Jeonju Nambu Market traces its origins to Nammunjang, a market held outside the south gate of Jeonju Fortress from the mid-Joseon period. During the Japanese colonial era, markets around Jeonju Fortress were consolidated, giving it the name Nambu Market. A youth mall was established on the market's second floor, and the market was developed in connection with Hanok Village, making it a popular destination visited by many people. Its convenient accessibility for those staying in Jeonju Hanok Village is another advantage.

For Traditional Liquor and Jeolla Cuisine, Visit Samcheon-dong Makgeolli Alley

The makgeolli establishments along Jeonju's Samcheon-dong Makgeolli Alley are Jeolla-style dachi restaurants where new side dishes are added every time another kettle of alcohol is ordered. What distinguishes the restaurants on Samcheon-dong Makgeolli Alley from other dachi establishments is that traditional liquors such as moju and makgeolli are included at the table. Samcheon-dong Makgeolli Alley is recommended for anyone who wants to experience a distinctive drinking culture accompanied by Jeolla dishes made with a wide variety of ingredients.

[FamTimes = Reporter Lee Jae-seong]