Jeonju Hanok Village [Slow City]

Jeonju Hanok Village is the largest traditional hanok village in Korea, with about 700 hanok houses clustered in the Pungnam-dong area of Jeonju. It is the only urban hanok cluster in the country. First established in 1910, it is an important space reflecting the development of modern residential culture in Korea. Major cultural properties such as Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Omokdae, and Hyanggyo Confucian School, along with about 20 cultural facilities, are scattered throughout the area. Strolling along Hyanggyo-gil, Choi Myeong-hee-gil, and Gyeonggijeon-gil allows visitors to experience the beautiful alleyways and the ambiance of the hanok village. When night falls in Jeonju Hanok Village, the Cheonsa Chorong lanterns illuminating Taejo-ro and the lights highlighting the hanok walls create a charming night view. Additionally, unique travel spaces such as Jeonju Nanjang, Jaman Mural Village, the night market, and Cheongnyeon Mall can be found.

The beauty of hanok lies in the roof lines. The slight upward curve of the eaves is a distinctive feature and charm of hanok. The structure of a hanok is largely divided into the anchae (inner quarters) and sarangchae (men's quarters). The anchae, where women stayed, includes a gyubang (maiden's room), while the sarangchae, used by men, features a seonbi-bang (scholar's room). Hanok reflects the separation of male and female activities, each with its own characteristics. The anchae, being the women's living space, is located in the most private and secluded area. Another feature of hanok is the ondol room. Since Koreans traditionally sit on the floor, ondol (underfloor heating) is installed. The ondol system works by lighting a fire in the furnace (hamsil) outside the room, which heats the stones (gudeul) beneath the floor, warming the room. The ondol is known for keeping the room cool in summer and warm in winter.