Jeollabuk-do

Introducing Jeollabuk-do

The southwestern province of Jeollabuk-do has always been Korea’s rice bowl, and the image of white egrets standing in terraced rice fields is a provincial icon. Unspoilt national, provincial and county parks cover the more mountainous parts and offer some of Korea’s finest get-away-from-it-all hikes and scenery. Buddhist temples, frequently rebuilt over the centuries, still house shaven-headed monks who find the surrounding rocks, hills and trickling streams an aid to Zen meditation as they try to escape from the chains of material desires.

Another form of escape is to off-shore islands, sun drenched in summer, when the beaches could almost be Thailand. In winter thrill-seekers head to the slopes of Muju Ski Resort, with its European alpine atmosphere.

Jeonju city is famous for its food (especially bibimbap, a dish of rice, meat and vegetables served up by countless restaurants nationwide), its traditional culture and its hanok (traditional house) village suburb with its craft workshops, museums and rustic teashops. Fans, dolls, boxes and even ties made of hanji (paper made by hand from mulberry bark) are popular buys. Pansori, a traditional musical drama performed by a solo singer and a drummer, is particularly associated with the province. Like its sister province to the south, its radicalism and artistic side combine in the annual Jeonju Film Festival, which focuses on indie films from around the world.

Jeollabuk-do has recently faced conflict over two major environmental issues: the storage of nuclear waste and the Saemangeum reclamation project on the west coast.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009