Jeolla

The Honam region in southwestern Korea, covering North and South Jeolla and Gwangju, known for the Jeonju Hanok Village and its food, Damyang's bamboo groves, and the seascapes of Yeosu and Suncheon.

This region is what Koreans traditionally call the Honam region, and includes Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province (formerly North Jeolla Province) as well as South Jeolla Province and Gwangju. From 2026, South Jeolla Province and Gwangju Metropolitan City are merging into the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, which is covered here as a whole. The southwest coast has many islands, and archipelagos such as Sinan, Wando and Jindo are all included.

Highlights: Jeonju Hanok Village, Gyeonggijeon Shrine and bibimbap, in a city celebrated as a food capital of Korea; the May 18 Memorial Park and the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju; Damyang's Juknokwon bamboo garden and Metasequoia Road; Yeosu's Night Sea, Odongdo Island and marine cable car, and in Suncheon, the Suncheon Bay wetlands (part of the UNESCO-listed Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats) and Suncheon Bay National Garden; Gwanghallu Pavilion in Namwon and Jirisan; Mokpo's modern historic district and Yudalsan; the Boseong green tea fields; Cheongsando Slow City on Wando, Daeheungsa Temple and Tumal (Land's End) in Haenam; autumn color at Naejangsan; the Baekje sites in Iksan; and the modern historic district of Gunsan.

Classic itinerary: 1–2 days in Jeonju plus 1–2 days in Gwangju and Damyang; 2–3 days for Yeosu–Suncheon–Boseong; 2–3 days on the southwest island route, Mokpo–Sinan or Wando; about 6–8 days for the whole region.

Getting around: the KTX Honam Line runs from Seoul's Yongsan to Gwangju Songjeong in about 2 hours and continues to Mokpo; the Jeolla Line goes via Jeonju, Namwon and Suncheon to Yeosu EXPO Station in about 3 hours; Gwangju and Yeosu airports have domestic flights; islands are reached by ferry, and rural sights mainly by bus or car.

Good to know: island ferries are easily suspended by bad weather; Naejangsan in foliage season and Jeonju on weekends are extremely crowded; local meals come in large portions with many side dishes, so you can order fewer main dishes.

Destinations

Itineraries