History of Jeonju

Ancient Times and the Three Kingdoms Period

Before the Three Kingdoms period, small countries of Mahan were in this area. Later, the land became part of Baekje, and it was called Wansan or Wonsanseong.

After that, during the Silla Kingdom, Jeonju became an important administrative city. During the reign of King Gyeongdeok, the city was given the name Jeonju.

In 900, Gyeon Hwon made Jeonju the capital of Later Baekje. For about 37 years, Jeonju was an important political and military center.

Joseon Dynasty

Jeonju was very important during the Joseon Dynasty because the royal family came from the Jeonju Yi clan. For this reason, Jeonju was treated as a special and honorable city.

Many important historical sites were built in Jeonju. One of them is Gyeonggijeon Shrine, where the portrait of King Taejo, the founder of Joseon, is kept. Another is the Jeonju Archive, where the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were once stored.

Jeonju was also the home of the Jeolla Gamyeong, the provincial government office for the Jeolla region. Because of this, Jeonju became an important center of administration, economy, and culture in southwestern Korea.

Modern Times

During the Japanese colonial period and after Korea’s independence, Jeonju changed from a traditional city into a modern administrative and commercial city.

Today, Jeonju is famous as a cultural and tourist city. With its many historical sites and traditional culture, it is best known for Jeonju Hanok Village and its strong tradition of Korean art and culture.