Jeolla Archives | Discovering Korea

The Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

Two dolls, both dressed in blue outfits, one standing, one kneeling, holding up a sign with Korean lettering, on a dark, soft focus background.

The Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage is a small Buddhist temple set dramatically into a wall of exposed granite on Korea’s sacred Jirisan mountain.

Nagan Fortress Folk Village in Korea

Entrance to Nagan Fortress Folk Village, a large stone wall, with flags in front of a traditional building of red wooden pillars, turquoise paintings and a dark roof. In front is a stone courtyard with small stone statues and a woman sweeping the ground.

Korea’s Nagan Fortress Folk Village is notable for the 1,400-meter-long wall that was built in the late 14th century to ward against foreign invasions.

Songgwangsa Temple is Korea’s Buddhist Jewel

Looking across a stone courtyard at the ornate Songgwangsa temple, with turquoise shutters on the windows, ornate painted wood carving under the roof eaves and the traditional curved roof. Korean lettering in gold above the entrance door.

Located deep in South Jeolla Province, Songgwangsa temple is one of Korean Buddhism’s “Three Jewels,” or most important temples.

Hiking in Wolchulsan Mountain National Park

A view across a red footbridge towards soft focus mountains at Wolchulsan National Park.

Hiking in Wolchulsan Mountain National Park is a great activity for visitors to South Jeolla Province in search of dramatic views.

The Hampyeong Butterfly Festival in Korea

A painting of a yellow butterfly with black tipped wings on a background of a red flower, with a light blue center.

A small town has become famous for getting buggy as hosts of the annual Hampyeong Butterfly Festival in Korea, a giant expo dedicated to insects.

Jeolla’s Beautiful Seonyudo Island

A blue and white boat, out of the water at low tide, on a shingle beach at Seonyudo Island, Jeolla.

Located off Korea’s west coast, the beautiful Seonyudo island is a tranquil place to ride a bike, walk the beach and admire the scenery.

Korea’s Rolling Hills of Green Tea in Boseong

Rolling green fields of tea plantation with trees in the background at Boseong.

Korea’s rolling hills of green tea in Boseong are among the its most famous. In fact, some say that Boseong is Korea’s tea growing capital.

Jeonju Hanok Village

View towards the cathedral at Jeonju, in the background the cathedral has three dome shaped spires and arched windows. In the foreground are the traditional dark tile curved roofs of the hanok houses.

The Jeonju Hanok Village in North Jeolla Province is a wonderful place to sample Korea’s traditional food, tea, paper-making and unique hanok architecture.

The Gwangju Biennale Festival of Art

A large billboard, in white with red and black writing, and a red and orange picture, with pedestrians walking in the foreground.

The Gwangju Biennale Festival of Art is recognized as one of the world’s leading large-scale global contemporary art exhibitions.

Geumsansa Gold Mountain Temple

Gold statues of Buddhist monks praying, at Geumsansa temple, with green, purple, red and gold paint effects on the walls and the ceiling.

The Geumsansa Gold Mountain Temple is among Korea’s finest Buddhist temples. It is best known for the magnificent three-story Maitreya Hall.