Chonju

Jeonju 전주
—  Municipal City  —
Korean transcription(s)
- Hangul	전주시
- Hanja	全州市
- Revised Romanization	Jeonju-si
- McCune-Reischauer	Chŏnju-si
Jeonju Gaeksa
Emblem of Jeonju
Jeonju Location in South Korea
Coordinates: 35°49′N 127°09′E / 35.817°N 127.15°E / 35.817; 127.15
Country	South Korea
Region	Honam
Administrative divisions	2 gu, 40 dong
Area
- Total	206.22 km2 (79.6 sq mi)
Population (2008)
- Total	635,707
- Density	3,082.7/km2 (7,984.2/sq mi)
- Dialect	Jeolla

Jeonju is a city in South Korea, and the capital of Jeollabuk-do, or North Jeolla Province. It is an important tourist center famous for Korean food, historic buildings, sports activities and innovative festivals.

History

Located in the fertile Honam plain, famous for strawberries and exceptional produce, Jeonju has been an important regional center in the province for centuries. Once, the city was capital of Hubaekje, which was founded by Gyeon Hwon. The city was regarded as the spiritual capital of the Joseon Dynasty because the Yi royal family originated there.

The town was occupied by the Donghak peasants' movement in 1894. Jeonju was given metropolitan status in 1935, and the city was founded in 1949.^{[citation needed]}

Culture

• Jeonju bibimbap 비빔밥 , a traditional local food, is well-known across South Korea. There are also several very popular vegetarian restaurants serving Jeonju style food and pine wine.
• The National Jeonju Museum exhibits ancient relics from the Baekje days.
• There are extensive royal museums, temples, a castle fortress on a hillside, and a well-known paper museum, as well as an annual paper fashion show highlighting both the latest style and traditional Korean clothing made of paper.
• The Jeonju International Film Festival draws about 50,000 visitors annually.
• Jeonju is the hometown of the breakdancing crew Last for One, international Battle of the Year champion.

People and everyday life

Jeonbuk FC

Education is a major industry in the city, but it does not have the manufacturing or heavy industries found in other Korean cities. Given its rural location, the local mountains and parks are popular for outdoor recreation. There are also various historical sites in the area. The city also has a zoo, a large park, and the Samsung Sound and Culture Hall, a large, modern concert complex on the Chonbuk National University campus.

Administrative districts

Chonju Highway Bus Terminal.

Jeonju is divided into 2 wards, Deokjin-gu (덕진구) and Wansan-gu (완산구), which in turn are divided into approximately 40 neighbourhoods.

Sister cities

• San Diego, California, USA
• Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
• Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

Gallery

Pungnammun, the last surviving section of Jeonju's old city wall.

Jeonju Gyeonggi-jeon

Jeondong Catholic Church.

Sori Art Center of Jeollabuk-do.

See also

• List of cities in South Korea
• Joseon Dynasty

External links

• Jeonju city government home page

• English website aimed at the expatriate community in Jeonju

References

v • d • e North Jeolla Capital Jeonju Cities Jeonju · Gimje · Gunsan · Iksan · Jeongeup · Namwon Counties Buan · Gochang · Imsil · Jangsu · Jinan · Muju · Sunchang · Wanju

Coordinates: 35°49′N 127°09′E / 35.817°N 127.15°E / 35.817; 127.15