Jeonju Mural Village

[Anchor Lead]

On today's close up, we take you to Jeonju in Jeollabuk-do Province. The city is famous for its village of traditional Korean homes known as hanok. But, Jeonju is also home to a village of beautiful murals, unique cuisine and more. Let’s check it out.

[Pkg]

Jaman Mural Village is just across the street from a village of hanok houses. A desolate and impoverished village has been transformed into an open art scene since 2012, when some murals were first painted. The entire village is a museum.

[Soundbite] Kwon Kyung-seop(Head, Jaman Village Community) : "Jaman Mural Village is a destitute village in Jeonju. It is also home to historical relics of Changam Lee Sang-man and King Mokjo Lee Ahn-sa from the Joseon Dynasty era."

With paintings drawn on each of the walls, every photo looks like artwork.

[Soundbite] Jeong Min-sun(Visitor) : "This is a good place to date and take pictures with my family. There are lots of things to eat. It is very good."

Touring through uphill alleys requires a lot of energy. There is a local delicacy that cannot be found anywhere else.

[Soundbite] "One bibimbap waffle, please."

The combination of mixed rice bimbimbap and waffles arouses curiosity. First, add red pepper paste into rice and mix them well. This is bibimbap, the mixed rice. Make balls with this rice and bake them in a waffle iron. Then you have the bibimbap waffle.

[Soundbite] Choi Jeong-yoon(Owner, Bibimbap Waffle Store) : "Bimbimbap is a representative dish of Jeonju I was seeking a way to reinvent bibimbap into a new dish and came up with the idea of bibimbap waffle."

This not the end of the bibimbap variations. Make rice paper rolls with vegetables, bulgogi and cabbage. And it is again rolled in a waffle and sliced in half. This is another version of the bibimbap waffle, full of nutrients and health benefits. Now, it's time to take a big bite from the chunky but delicious snack.

[Soundbite] Yoo Ji-yeon(Customer) : "Bibimbap looks like waffle. It is unique and more delicious than I expected."

This is a roof-top park, a famous tourist destination in the mural village. The resting place is offered free for anyone who visits Jaman Mural Village. It is possible to play some simple games and purchase fun souvenirs from the stores. Your own caricature drawn on a post card would be a good one.

[Soundbite] "You look too handsome."

[Soundbite] "We look really cute."

[Soundbite] "I feel awkward, since this is my first time. But it's fun."

There is a section where visitors can have their caricatures drawn as a person from the Joseon Dynasty era. She must have looked like this. She looks elegant. During their tour, visitors also come across a beautiful tune played from a roof top. They stop to get immersed in a musical moment.

[Soundbite] Lee Dae-han(Visitor) : "I like the performance and songs. I want to come again."

[Soundbite] Seo Ji-hye(Visitor) : "I felt burdened while studying every day. While being here, I feel refreshed and light-hearted with the nice views."

Jaman Mural Village is fascinating tourists with special charms created by the murals, music and the local delicacies.