(Source from) http://tour-eng.jeonju.go.kr/index.sko
Jeonju was designated as a capital city
The name Jeonju was first used in AD 757 (16th year of Shilla King Gyeong-deok), when Wansanju was renamed Jeonju, the name that is still used today. Jeonju has seen 1,250 years of history, and is famous for being one of Korea’s oldest cities. In AD 900, Jeonju was designated as a capital city of the Baekje Dynasty, founded by Gyeon-whon, and later became the birthplace of the Chosun Dynasty’s cultural renaissance. Jeonju was the political and governmental center of Jeollado during the Chosun Dynasty and jurisdiction ranged from Jeollado to Jejudo. Jeonju is the center of Jeollabukdo, as its provincial government office is located in Jeonju. In the history of past one thousand years in Korean, there have been only 6 cities that have ever been designated as the capital of a dynasty, with Jeonju being known as a political and cultural center of its region.
Cuisine!
Good food is essential for any good trip; there’s no virtue in travel at all if you cannot enjoy good food along the way. Here’s a mini quiz for you: what city is most famous for traditional Korean cuisine? It’s an easy answer, isn’t it? Korea’s most famous international dish, the eponymously-named Jeonju Bibimbap, originated in Jeonju. Also, Kongnamul Kukbap (bean sprout soup) is a well-known remedy for hang-overs while the Jeonju Table d’hote is the true and genuine highlight of Jeollado cuisine.
- Try such Jeonju dishes as Jeonju Bibimbap
- Explore the vast range of side dishes that come with Jeonju-style Makgeolli
- Experience the traditional culture and tea ceremony of Hanok Village
- Get relief from hangovers or an empty tummy with the spicy, tasty Kongnamul Kukbap
- Taste the countless, budget-saving side-dishes, home-made Jeonju Baekban
- Stop by the nearest restaurant, and indulge in the endless side dishes
Author Choi of Honbul tells that the literary code of Jeonju is ‘resistance and appreciation for the arts’. Of these traits, the latter is the cultural code and context of the city of Jeonju along with its historic importance and tradition. Within this context, Jeonju City hosts an international film festival, the Dan-O festival, the Hanji Cultural Festival and numerous other cultural festivals. The Jeonju International Film Festival, in particular, held in the last week of April every year (opening ceremony is on Thursday), has now become one of the two most important film festivals in Korea along with that of Busan. Jeonju’s wealth of traditional cuisine can be tasted in the food festival held each November called the ‘Millennium-old Banquet of Jeonju’.
Jeonju is the hub of Han Style Han Style aims to provide cultural and economic value-added products through the active promotion of Korea’s traditional culture as a collective brand. Jeonju focuses on 6 categories of the quintessential Han Style--Hanji, Hanok, Hansik (Korean cuisine), Hanchum (Korean traditional performance), Hansori (Pansori) and Hanbang (Korean Traditional medicine)--based on its historic, long-standing cultural heritage assets.
- Jeonju Hanji is made from specially-selected trees and water, and carefully produced by Hanji masters. Jeonju City aims to provide technical and marketing support for the further development of the Hanji industry through collaboration with academic & commercial institutions and training centers.
- Jeonju Hanok Village, found in the center of metropolitan city, is made up of 700 historic and traditional Korean houses. This village retains Korea’s traditional houses, in which one can glimpse the traditional life and culture of ancient Korea.
- Jeonju is famous for its traditional Korean cuisine. Jeonju City is promoting Jeonju cuisine, which has become a brand of Korean food, on the international stage. Jeonju hosts a ‘Millennium-old Banquet of Jeonju” every October, leading the cuisine culture festivals.
- Jeonju City is also putting effort into making Korea’s traditional performances known worldwide. Many traditional legends, folk customs and traditional dances are widely taught and studied in order for the public to have better knowledge of them.
- Jeonju is famous for Pansori. The Jeonju Daesasup is a prestigious national contest that awards notable Pansori performances.
- Jeonju was one of the three Yakryeong cities, cities in which the marketing of traditional medicine is authorized. Jeonju aims to modernize the traditional medicine industry while promoting its virtues to the borader world.
- Jeonju has a millennium-old history of being home to many dynasties and reigns of royalty.
- Jeonju Hanok Village has 700 traditional Korean houses, Hanok that are still home to residents today. Hanok Village is the best-preserved living traditional village. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Korea. Jeonju also hosted the FIFA World Cup 2002, which saw grand scale refurbishments to many areas in Jeonju for World Cup visitors.
- Many traditional and historic sites are excellently preserved in Jeonju such as Gyeonggi Palace, Jeondong Catholic Church, Pungnam-dong, Omokdae, Hyanggyo, Gwonhwon Fortress ruins, Namgo Fortress and many others historic sites. There are also traditional culture learning centers such as art crafts exhibition halls, master products exhibition centers, Hanok Living Experience centers, traditional alcohol museum, Hanji centers, and herbal medicine experience centers. People can also participate in learning about and making traditional art crafts such as Hapjukseon or Taegukseon (fans) along with trying out the traditional tea shops and restaurants. Jeonju offers visitors much to see, do and eat.
- Historically, the neighboring area of Kyo-dong, Pungnam-dong and the urban Hanok are the living record of Korea’s modernization process and the transformation of housing since 1910. Many scholars and civil organization demand the preservation and management of the area with important governmental authority to provide preservation, improvement and management under strict supervision. Jeonju’s urban Hanok Village is the only place that so well preserves the old traditional streets, houses and structures from Korea’s past.
Hanok Village Accommodation
http://tour-eng.jeonju.go.kr/board/list.sko?boardId=tour_lodgeInfo&categoryCode1=eng&categoryCode2=a&menuCd=AB07004000000
Depart: Opposite of Wedding Hall- Stop at Jeondong Catholic Church (Hanok Village) Bus Number: (25 min)Bus Number: 12、60、79、109、119、142、508、513、536、542～546 (25 min) 
15 min/ Price: 5,000-6,000 won
Depart: Opposite of Wedding Hall- Stop at Jeondong Catholic Church (Hanok Village) Bus Number: (25 min)Bus Number: 12、60、79、109、119、142、508、513、536、542～546 (25 min) 15 min/ Price: 5,000-6,000 won 
Bus#79: Bus stop in front of Terminal Front Gate (interval: 25 min)Bus Number 5-1, 79, 15 min
Jeonju Bibimbap
Jeonju Bibimbap is - Korea’s best dish
Bibimbap is cited as one of the best dishes amongst three most popular dishes of the Chosun era. Now, bibimbap is one of the best-known Korean dishes internationally, the one most favored by foreigners. The bibimbap rice is cooked with fresh kongnamul then topped with thirty different vegetables along with ginkgo, a fried egg, pine nuts, chestnuts, walnuts and other ingredients. This is a whole foods dish offering a balance of proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fat. Bibimbap is a wellness food that contains the wisdom and philosophy of ancient Korea, now loved throughout the world.
History of Jeonju Bibimbap - Originating from the royal table
There are many hypotheses regarding the origins of the bibimbap; from the royal table, a ritual food, the Donghak revolution, a farming season food or royal flight during war time; but the most reliable of these is the royal table origination. It was first served at the royal table but was then passed down and spread amongst the lower classes. According to records, people started to eat bibimbap in Jeonju two hundred years ago. Jeonju bibimbap owes its popularity to perfectly steamed rice topped with freshly-cut vegetables (10 different ingredients in Jeonju) combined with the excellent cooking skills of the local women.
A Transition of Title, Bibimbap
Bibimbap was not always called bibimbap; its name has gone though numerous transitions. The basic meaning arose from the Korean world ‘bibida’, meaning ‘mixing’, because the dish requires the rice to be mixed well with its vegetable toppings.
- Goldongjiban
- Cited in the Dongguksesiki, written by Hong Seong-mo in 1849 (King Sunjo’s reign). Gol meaning ‘dizzy’ and dong meaning ‘bibimbap dong’, and as a whole, golding means ‘the thorough mixing of various items’.
- Bubimbap
- Cited in Siuijeonseo (writer unknown, but written at the end of the 1800s), circulated as a recipe book for the nobility.
- Bubimbap
- Cited in the Chosun Recipe Book first published in 1913 till 1939 with nine editions, written by Bang Sin-yeong.
- Bibimbap
- It’s present name
A table filled with side dishes, Jeonju Korean Cuisine
You can taste almost every kind of food at the Jeonju Table d’hote, whether from the field, the mountain or the sea. Fresh seafood comes from the west coast of the Korean peninsula, grains are produced in the neighboring rich fields, and vegetables are collected from the mountain areas. All provided the rich toppings of Jeonju Bibimbap and ingredients for Jeonju dishes. They are known as the Jeonju Table d’hote, which boasts soup, stews, stir fried (or seasoned) vegetables, pickled seafood and other tasty treats, comprising more than 30 different side dishes.Jeonju cuisine is famous not just for its splendid side dishes but also for its generosity, thanks to liberal amounts of food. The Jeonju 10 Flavors make up the table and all are locally produced and have contributed to the flourishing of the region’s cooking. Jeonju cuisine still retains the flavors of the past with great excellence in taste and service, found nowhere else but here.
Jeonju Kongnamulgukbap and Moju, for anytime of the day
The Jeonju-produced Kongnamul is known as the best in Korea because the Jeonju soil is ideal for growing Kongnamul. The breed of beans for Jeonju Kongnamul is called the ‘mice eyes’ bean, and its soft texture is an ideal food for relieving hangovers.Historic records cite that Koreans long ago ate Kongnamul to relieve famines in the Goryo and Chosun dynasties. Detailed recipes for Kongnamul are seen in 1910, and tradition records that it first originated in Jeonju. The traditional Jeonju Kongnamul gukbap is made by boiling rice and kongnamul in a Tukbaeki (unglazed earthen pot) with lots of seasonings. Instead of boiling, though, the hot soup can be added instead to the bowl of rice, which is Nambusijang-style gukbap.These two different types of gukbap are popular with drinkers of alcohol in Jeonju. These gukbaps are low in cost, relieve hangovers and take the edge of hunger for families, working class people and friends.
Jeonju Baekban[Full Course]
A table for everyday Jeonju people
Baekban is the name of what average local Jeonju residents ate in the past, a serving of rice and side dishes and today it still boasts a large number of side dishes. Travelling in Jeonju will soon fill any empty spots in your tummy, and many restaurants specializing in Baekban are found in the area of the former Jeonbuk Provincial office, where the Jeolla area governor’s office was located in the Chosun Dynasty. Jeonju Baekban was popular with local residents. Professor Song Hwa-seop of Jeonju University states that ‘Kongnamul gukbap is popular outside the four gates of Jeoju Eupseong (fortresses), and Baekban was popular among residents who lived within the fortresses itself’.Baekban restaurants are mostly found where there are large firms or offices nearby, such as the former Jeobuk Provincial office site, the Jeonju City Hall area and the Jeonju Deokjin park area. Jeonju Baekban is also called ‘Homemade Jeonju Baekban’.
Jeonju Makgeoli
The best place to meet up with your friends, the Jeonju Makgeoli streets
You don’t need to worry about side dishes and no time is wasted in ordering. Just holler ‘one kettle of Makgeoli!’, and everything is served at once. With another order of Makgeli, a new side dish is served, then again different side dishes with the next. A true luxury for the eyes, the mouth and the tummy
-Cited from the “Tenth Planet”, Korean Travel Authors Association, 2006.
Use public transportation, no need to worry about driving under the influence
Drink makgeli when you’re not too full to fully enjoy the drink and its side dishes
As you empty your kettle, new side dishes are served, so take the opportunity to enjoy all the different side dishes. When the manager is generous, you will be served with an enormous amount of side dishes. All are welcome!
The side dishes are all different upon regions, Samcheon-dong, Seosin-dong or Gyeongwon-dong. Be sure to try all the different side dishes in the different regions
You can mix makgeoli with other alcohols. Varying ratios offer a whole variety of different flavors!
Land of Co-existence and Harmony, where insiders and outsiders live together
There should be no distinction of insiders or outsiders, and any distinction vanishes when drinking Makgeoli. Jeonju has long been known for harmony, equality and the coexistence of variety. Bimbap and Makgeli are the symbol of harmony.
Here, outsider means those who only eat the side dishes and don’t drink the Makgeoli, while insiders mean people who only drink the alcohol without tasting the side dishes! You might be sober even after numerous shots or drunk even after having none.
Makgeoli represents the local life and culture of ordinary people
Jeonju Makgeli is cited as one of the three most-known Korean Makgelis, and they are as equally famous as the Jeonju Bibimbap, table d’hote and Kongnamul gukbap of Jeonju. Makgeli will not make you too tipsy, yet can relieve hunger, boost energy and strengthen friendship. It is said Makgeli is very similar to Koreans, as a soul food for them where they can drink with memories and nostalgia of the past.
- Makgeli has a low alcohol content yet is actually nutritious, a food for well-being, it could be said. First of all, it is high in protein and has 10 different essential amino acids. A large amount of Vitamin B complex is coupled with large amount of lactobacillus and abundant fiber. Makgeli is a naturally-fermented alcohol, making Koreans say that Makgeli is a food not an alcohol.
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