Jeonju Hanok Village

 

In the evening of 20 March 2026, we visited Jeonju Hanok Village. Jeonju Hanok Village comprises around 700 beautiful hanok buildings, and is Korea's largest, and the only urban, traditional hanok village. 

The beautiful hanboks

The village is famous among Koreans and tourists because of its traditional buildings that strongly contrast with the modern city around it. 

A lovely evening stroll.

We also had our foot spa and shoulder massage, in total 30 min, comprising of 15 min interval. 

Place we had our foot spa

Jeondong Cathedral

Pity we could not visit the church. The church was closed by the time we had our dinner. Jeonju Cathedral (Jeondang Seungdong Temple) was built in 1914 and was designed by the same priest who created Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul. It was the first cathedral in Jeolla Province, and its present building was completed in 1987.

Jeonju is famous for its Bibimbap. No surprises that is what we all had for dinner and complimentary ginseng strawberry from our guide. 

Gyeongam-dong Railway Retro village (Korea)

Here we are in Korea. I had a sleepless night as I can never sleep on planes. We arrived in Korea on 20 March 2026. Perhaps for me, this has to be the much awaited break after what I have been through in 2025. On arrival in Korea, we had to queue for 1.5hour at immigration. (perhaps due to the BTS Concert) and hence an increase in the number of visitors. After a sumptuous Braised Pork Ribs in potato soup, here we are at the first stop of the day. 

Gyeongam-dong Railway Village is a retro-themed attraction built around a 2.5km railway in Gyeongam-dong. We only walked the left side of the railway. The place was originally constructed in 1944 during the Japanese occupation to transport paper materials. Although train no longer run, the railway had been preserved as a cultural tourism site. 

Gyeongamdong Railroad Town is a charming district developed on top of abandoned railroad tracks. The village today creates the atmosphere of the 1970s and 1980s. This tourist destination evokes a nostalgic atmosphere. Visitors can stroll through the streets, admiring the picturesque scenery while soaking in the unique cultural experience. 

Old houses and shops line the tracks, and vendors sell nostalgic Korean snacks such as dalgona candy. For me, it was a walk along the railway track balancing the uneven ground, I was admiring the items and staff toys sold at the various stalls. The quaint ambiance and retro architectural style certainly caught my attention.