Eid Adventures in Korea: 10 Must-See Spots in Jeolla

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Korea offers various destinations with its own charm. Away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul, Gwangju and Jeolla Province can be an option for tourists vacationing in South Korea during Eid. Both regions offer a variety of tourist attractions that are worth visiting.

The city of Gwangju and Jeolla Province in South Korea, have locations close to each other and are often considered as a single region. Both are the birthplaces of J-Hope of BTS, Yunho of TVXQ, Park Shin Hye, and Bae Suzy. Jeolla Province is divided into two, namely North Jeolla and South Jeolla.

North Jeolla Province boasts superior culinary charms in Korea, while Gwangju offers a variety of attractions related to Korean culture and art. On the other hand, South Jeolla Province boasts coastal natural charms that directly border the Yellow Sea.

The distance from Seoul to North Jeolla is about 200 kilometers, Seoul to Gwangju about 267 kilometers, and Seoul to South Jeolla about 300 kilometers. If you want to visit these three regions, you can take a bus from Seoul with a travel time of about three hours. There are three bus terminals in this area, namely Damyang Bus Terminal, Sunchang Bus Terminal, and Gochang Jeonbuk Cultural Terminal.

Aside from buses, the journey to Gwangju can take about 2 hours by train from Seoul, heading to Songjeong Gwangju Station, Mokpo Station, or Jeonju Station. Travel to this area can also be done in about 1 hour using domestic flights from Seoul, through Muan International Airport, Gwangju Airport, Yeosu Airport, and Gunsan Airport.

Here are 10 unique tourist spots in Jeolla that can be visited during Eid holiday:

1. Jeonju Hanok Village (Jeonju, North Jeolla)

If Seoul has Bukchon Hanok Village, in North Jeolla there is Jeonju Hanok Village. This traditional Korean residential complex is the largest in Korea. In addition to staying in Hanok, tourists are encouraged to enjoy Jeonju's specialty, Jeonju Bibimbap, at several restaurants located here.

2. Jeonju Nambu Market (Jeonju, North Jeolla)

A traditional market is the perfect place to taste local culinary delights such as Bibimmyeon, Pajeon, and so on. Tourists can visit the 2nd floor of Jeonju Nambu Market which houses food stalls. Every Friday and Saturday, the market offers a variety of special menus and unique creations different from usual. Meanwhile, on the 1st floor, there are various kiosks selling daily necessities and raw food ingredients.

Jirisan National Park, Hadong, South Gyeongsang, North Jeolla, and South Jeolla. Doc. Korea Tourism Organization

3. Imsil Cheese Theme Park (Imsil, North Jeolla)

The Imsil Cheese Theme Park is a themed park about food, especially for cheese lovers who want to get to know or learn more about cheese. There are various programs offered such as making Imsil cheese, and preparing food with cheese as the main ingredient. In addition, there are many cute photo spots and playgrounds suitable for children here.

4. Sunchang Fermentation Theme Park (Sunchang, North Jeolla)

This park with a fermentation food theme offers unique experiences and knowledge related to Korean fermentation food. This includes the Gochujang (Korean Sauce) traditional village complex, where tourists can make their own Korean sauces. In addition, there is a Fermentation Sauce Cave which is a place to store various types of sauces from around the world. There are also the Food Science Museum and other food storage places.

Indonesian tourists interested in the culinary world or wanting to try new recipes after fasting for a full month, can visit this park to learn the latest recipes during the Eid holiday.

5. Jirisan National Park (Hadong, South Gyeongsang, North Jeolla & South Jeolla)

This national park is the first national park in Korea, spanning across the entire Jirisan mountain range and connecting various provinces from South Gyeongsang, North Jeolla to South Jeolla. Of course, this national park has various peaks that can be visited by mountain hiking enthusiasts.

In addition, this national park is rich in biodiversity with a collection of more than 1600 plant species and serves as a habitat for the Asian black bear. This tourist spot is suitable for Indonesian tourists who want to hike mountains and enjoy various plant species.

6. Juknokwon (Damyang, South Jeolla)

If you want to experience Forest Bathing surrounded by bamboo tree plants, visit Juknokwon. This 310,000 square meter garden contains 8 forest paths that can be surrounded by tourists, replica pavilions from the Joseon Dynasty era, and an observation deck that offers stunning views of Damyang, South Jeolla. A unique thing to try at this tourist spot is to try coffee and ice cream made from bamboo leaves at Hanok Caf.

7. Metasequoia Road (Damyang, South Jeolla)

This tourist spot is a neat and beautiful 8.5-kilometer road lined with metasequoia (Dawn Redwood) trees native to East Asia. This is one of the most beautiful roads in Korea, often appearing in dramas and other commercial broadcasts in Korea.

8. Suncheon Filming Location (Suncheon, South Jeolla)

This shooting location recreated the atmosphere of Korea in the 60s-80s. There is a music room to play old-school K-pop songs, a cinema that also has hand-painted film posters, a photo studio that also rents retro school uniforms for a more unique experience in Korea.

Several famous dramas and films such as "A Werewolf Boy" starring Song Joong Ki, and the drama "Youth of May" starring Go Min Si and Lee Do Hyun have filmed scenes at this location.

Purple Island, Shinan, South Jeolla. Doc. Korea Tourism Organization

9. Purple Island (Shinan, South Jeolla)

The Banwoldo and Bakjido islands in South Jeolla Province can be called the 'Purple Island' which is the result of local government revitalization. Almost all buildings, roofs, fences, signboards, and even bridges on this island are painted in purple. In 2021, this tourist spot was included in the "Best Tourism Village" list by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

During the Lebaran holiday, it is estimated that visitors can see some plants that grow in spring and purple-colored plants, such as Lavender and Hydrangeas. Indonesian tourists wearing purple clothes or accessories can also get free admission tickets.

10. Yeosu Artland Resort (Yeosu, South Jeolla)

This tourist complex is located overlooking the Emerald Green Sea of Yeosu. Here, there is a landmark with a hand-shaped statue with a circular staircase on it, an outdoor garden, a 3D museum, and other exciting activities such as go-kart, zip wire, extreme swings, and ocean skywalk. This place can be the right tourist spot for families during the Eid holiday season.

Editor's Choice: Starbucks Opens Branch Near Korean Demilitarized Zone, Visitors Can See North Korea

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News