Most people tend to only visit Seoul on their trip to South Korea, but there’s more to the country than the capital. One of these places is Jeollanam-do (the South Jeolla Province) located at the bottom of the country.
Many cities in the province are quite rural so they offer a distinct atmosphere to the dynamic and fast-paced life of Seoul. However, this is where the province’s charm lies.
But where should you go? Here are the top 10 places to visit in this gorgeous province.
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10. Mokpo
Mokpo is a seaside city, located at the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula. Its location made it a key city in Korean history due to it being a major trade port.
Unsurprisingly, Mokpo is famous for tasty seafood, fish in particular. So make sure to check out seafood restaurants when in the city. Popular tourist sites to visit in the city include Yudulsan, Gatbawi Rock and Mokpo Modern History Museum.
9. Maehwa (Seomjin) Village in Gwangyang
Although this village is relatively normal looking throughout the majority of the year, it becomes majestic when the plum blossoms (Maehwa) start to bloom. They appear right before the cherry blossoms arrive. During this time, Seomjin Village hosts theMaehwa festival.
The views of the plum blossoms are beautiful. There are also other events you can attend at the festival like musical performances. You can buy food there too.
Bear in mind that the village is quite difficult to get to from Gwangyang, as the buses run infrequently and the timetables are not always clear. So, you may end up taking a taxi to get there and back.
8. Gurye county
Gurye is steeped in natural beauty as it’s very rural. In fact, the nearest city to it is Suncheon, which is an hour’s drive away. The county is most-known for the Sansuyu (Cornus Fruit) Flower Festival in the spring, so this would be a great time to visit.
The festival specifically takes place around mid-March near Mount Jiri and features a wide variety of programs such as performances, hands-on events (including exhibitions of local products made from sansuyu) and fireworks.
Tourists can also visit other locations such as Hwaeomsa and Saeseongnam Temples in Gurye.
7. Jindo county
Jindo county consists of an island which can be reached by a mix of transportation such as car or bus and train from cities such as Mokpo, Seoul, and Gwangju. It’s also the birthplace of Jindo dogs. However, it’s famous for the Jindo Sea Parting Festival, too.
Each year, thousands of tourists and locals flock to Jindo for this festival. The main event is walking the 2.9 km path from Jindo Island to Mudo Island after sea level drops to clear a pathway. It’s truly amazing to walk on a path that was once a seabed.
You’ll have to bring or buy wellies though because there’s quite a bit of mud on the path. The sea parting happens twice a day so there are also events in between such as performances to keep visitors occupied.
6. Seomjin River Train Village in Gokseong
This village, also known as Gokseong Train Village, is located in Gokseong county. It’s very picturesque and looks like something you’d find on a postcard.
The villages main attraction is an out of commission steam train used in the past. A great time to visit is when the flowers are in bloom. Other nearby places in the county you can visit are the gorgeous Taeansa Temple, Neungpa Tower and Dongli Mountain valley.
5. Damyang County
Damyang, just north of Gwangju, is famous for its bamboo forest Juknokwon. In fact, some K-dramas even have been filmed here, so visiting it is a must.
Juknokwon is the perfect place to get lost in nature and soak up the fresh air. There are many paths for visitors to explore named after the sensations you get from having walked the trails. Furthermore, there’s an art museum in the forest, which has a shop where you can buy bamboo ice cream.
You can also visit other places in Damyang such as Korea Bamboo Museum, Gwangbangjerim forest, Geumseongsanseong Fortress, the Metasequoia-lined Road, and the Meta Provence.
4. Gwangju
Gwangju is the sixth-largest city in South Korea, which makes it the biggest and only Metropolitan city on this list. It’s the hometown of BTS’s main dancer J-hope and many other K-pop idols but its charms don’t end there.
The city has something for all types of tourists. Football fans can visit the World Cup Stadium in the city. Foodies can try a plethora of Korean dishes while exploring the dozens of food streets the city has to offer. And tourists interested in learning more about the history of Jeollanam-do can visit Gwangju National Museum and the May 18th National Cemetery.
The latter place serves as a memorial for those who participated in the Gwangju Uprising, so this site acts as a symbol of liberty and democracy. There are several educational sites at the cemetery such as the memorial hall, the May 18th Memorial Monument and the Portrait Enshrinement Tower.
3. Boseong
Boseong is most known for its green tea fields, namely Daehan Dawon. CNN even ranked it as the 18th most beautiful place to visit in Korea in 2019. K-dramas, such as The Legend of the Blue Sea and Summer Scent, have also been filmed here.
You really feel at one with nature at Daehan Dawon as the tea fields are so peaceful, even when there are other tourists there. At Boseong Daehun Dawon, there are not only wonderful sites to see but also tasty items to buy at the tea field’s shop. My personal favourite is the Green Tea Ice Cream.
2. Suncheon
Suncheon may not be as big as Gwangju, but it’s still a great place to visit. In fact, it’s one of my favourite South Korean cities mainly because of Suncheon Bay National Garden and Wetland Reserve.
You can spend hours getting lost in the beautiful nature of these places. This city has more gorgeous gems like Nagan Eupsong Hanok Village and Seonamsa Temple
1. Yeosu
Yeosu is a gorgeous coastal city near Suncheon. It became a major tourist destination after hosting the 2012 World Expo, which introduced sites like Hanhwa Aqua Planet Yeosu to the city.
There are tons of other great things to do in Yeosu. You can see picturesque views of the city and sea while riding in a Yeosu Maritime Cable Car. It’s also great to see the cable cars moving back and forth from Yun Shin square below.
Odongo Island and Hyangiram Hermitage are also fantastic sites to see when visiting Yeosu.
For more information about some of these cities check the itineraries below:
