Gunsan is a west-coast port city with Korea's best-preserved Japanese colonial architecture — a major Japanese trading port from 1899–1945. Old customs houses, colonial banks, Korea's only remaining Japanese-style Buddhist temple, and retro streets along abandoned railway tracks. Also a legendary food city — famous for jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and Lee Seong-dang, Korea's oldest bakery (est. 1945).
🏠 Why Jeonju?
Jeonju is only 30 minutes from Gunsan and is Korea's food capital — the birthplace of bibimbap. The Jeonju Hanok Village is arguably better than Seoul's Bukchon: 700+ traditional houses, more lively, less touristy, and magical at night with lanterns and lit-up eaves. Sleep in a real hanok guesthouse (heated floors, paper doors, courtyard) — one of the most memorable nights of the trip. The famous makgeolli bar street serves unlimited side dishes with every bowl of rice wine.
Arrive SeoulLand at Incheon — Settle In & First DinnerWed, Apr 23
5:30 PM
Incheon Airport (ICN)
Land, clear customs, grab a data SIM (KT or SKT, ~$25/10 days) and T-money card for transit
🚆AREX Express Train · 43 min · ₩9,000
6:30 PM
Hongik University Station → Hotel
Check into Hongdae area (~$80–120/night). Drop bags, freshen up
🚇Subway Line 6 · ~20 min
8:00 PM
Korean BBQ Dinner (Itaewon) Food
First meal: samgyeopsal grill-it-yourself. Soju, perilla leaf wraps. Maple Tree House or any Mapo-gu grill spot
Seoul Day 1Palaces, Hanok Villages & Street MarketsThu, Apr 24
9:00 AM
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Seoul's grandest Joseon-era palace (1395). Rent a hanbok at the gate — free entry + great photos. Guard ceremony at 10am
🚶Walk · 10 min uphill
10:30 AM
Bukchon Hanok Village
600+ preserved traditional houses on a hillside. Go early before tour groups
🚶Walk · 10 min downhill
12:00 PM
Insadong Lunch
Tea houses, calligraphy, galleries. Lunch: ssambap at a courtyard restaurant
🚶Walk · 10 min along stream
2:00 PM
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Restored urban waterway through downtown — willow-lined, peaceful
🚶Walk · 15 min east
5:30 PM
Gwangjang Market Must-Eat
Mayak gimbap, bindaetteok, yukhoe (raw beef + egg), pajeon. Wash down with makgeolli
💡 This entire day is walkable — all sights are within ~2km of each other in central Seoul
Seoul Day 2DMZ Tour, Tech & Namsan SunsetFri, Apr 25
7:30 AM
DMZ / JSA Tour Book Ahead
Tour bus departs central Seoul. Book via USO Tours or Koridoor 1+ week ahead — requires passport details. JSA = stepping into North Korea under UN escort
🚌Tour bus · ~1.5 hrs to DMZ
9:30 AM
DMZ — Dorasan / 3rd Tunnel / Observatory
Last train station before North Korea, infiltration tunnel, Dora Observatory. Once-in-a-lifetime
🚌Tour bus return · ~1.5 hrs
1:30 PM
Return to Seoul — Quick Lunch
Grab something near Seoul Station en route to Gangnam
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in a massive underground mall. Great photo spot
🚇Subway + walk · ~30 min
6:00 PM
Namsan Seoul Tower — Sunset
Hike or cable car up for golden hour views. Late April sunset ~7pm. Forest walk is lovely in spring
🚇Subway · ~15 min
8:00 PM
Tosokchon Samgyetang Food
Legendary ginseng chicken soup near Gyeongbokgung
🚇Subway + walk · ~20 min
9:30 PM
Amazing Brewing Co. Craft Beer
Small-batch taproom in Seongdong-gu. Friday night here is great
Gunsan→ JeonjuColonial Gunsan, Jjamppong → Hanok Village by NightSat, Apr 26
8:30 AM
Seoul Express Bus Terminal
Buses to Gunsan run ~every 30 min. Buy tickets at terminal or via Kobus app
🚌Express Bus · ~2.5 hrs
11:00 AM
Arrive Gunsan — Taxi to Old Town
Leave bags in a locker or carry light — you're only here for the afternoon before heading to Jeonju
🚕Taxi · ~10 min to old town
11:15 AM
Lee Seong-dang Bakery Must-Visit
Korea's oldest bakery, est. 1945. Famous danpatppang (red bean bread) and vegetable bread. The line is part of the experience — grab pastries to snack on during the walk
🚶Walk · 5 min
12:00 PM
Jjamppong Lunch — Binhaewon Must-Eat
Gunsan is THE city for jjamppong — fiery red broth packed with fresh seafood, handmade noodles. Binhaewon or Bokseong are the local legends
🚶Walk · 5 min
1:00 PM
Dongguksa Temple
Korea's only remaining Japanese-style Buddhist temple — built 1909. Striking contrast to Korean temple architecture
🚶Walk · 5 min
1:30 PM
Gunsan Modern History Museum
Covers Gunsan's role as a Japanese trading port — grain exports, colonial life, Korean resistance. Well-curated and moving
🚶Walk · 3 min
2:30 PM
Haemang-gil (Colonial Quarter Walk)
Preserved colonial streetscape — Japanese Customs House (1908), Jangmi Gallery (former Hiroshima Bank), traditional homes. Time-capsule feeling
🚕Taxi · ~10 min
3:30 PM
Gyeongam-dong Railway Village
Retro-themed street along abandoned railway tracks — vintage shops, murals, 1970s–80s Korea nostalgia. Good golden hour photos
🚕Taxi to bus terminal · ~15 min
4:30 PM
Bus to Jeonju
Intercity bus Gunsan → Jeonju, runs frequently. Quick 30 min ride
🚌Intercity Bus · 30 min
5:00 PM
Arrive Jeonju — Hanok Guesthouse Hanok Stay
Check into a traditional hanok guesthouse inside the village — heated ondol floors, paper sliding doors, courtyard. A genuinely special night (~$60–100). Book ahead on Booking.com or Airbnb
🚶Walk · ~5 min into the village
5:30 PM
Jeonju Hanok Village — Evening Walk
700+ traditional houses, winding lanes, craft workshops, street food. At dusk the eaves light up with lanterns and the whole village glows — genuinely magical, much bigger and livelier than Seoul's Bukchon
🚶Walk · 10 min uphill
6:30 PM
Omokdae Viewpoint
Hilltop lookout over the entire Hanok Village — rooftops stretching out below you. Best at golden hour
🚶Walk · 10 min back down
7:30 PM
Makgeolli Bar Street Must-Try
Jeonju's famous makgeolli (rice wine) alley — order a kettle of makgeolli and they bring unlimited side dishes (8–15 plates of pajeon, tofu, kimchi, japchae, etc.). One of the best drinking cultures in Korea. Bring an appetite
💡 Gunsan's old town sights are all within walking distance — you only need taxis to/from the bus terminal and Railway Village. Jeonju Hanok Village is entirely pedestrian
Jeonju→ BusanBibimbap Breakfast, Morning Village → Bus to BusanSun, Apr 27
8:30 AM
Jeonju Bibimbap Breakfast Must-Eat
This is the birthplace of bibimbap — eat it here or regret it forever. Hangukjip or Gajok Hoegwan for the classic stone-bowl version with 30+ toppings. Opens early, expect a short line
🚶Walk · 5 min
9:30 AM
Hanok Village — Morning Walk
The village is quieter in the morning than the evening — different energy, morning light on the rooftops, artisan workshops opening up. Good for photos and souvenir shopping (hanji paper crafts, fans)
🚶Walk · 5 min
10:30 AM
Jeondong Catholic Church
Beautiful Romanesque church (1914) on the edge of the Hanok Village — one of the most striking buildings in Jeonju. Worth a quick look
🚶Walk · 5 min — grab a choco pie from a street vendor
11:00 AM
Street Food Stop Snacks
Before leaving: try Jeonju's PNB choco pie (famous local version), hotteok, or kongguksu (cold soy milk noodles) from a village vendor
🚕Taxi · ~15 min to bus terminal
11:30 AM
Jeonju Bus Terminal → Busan
Express bus to Busan — ~3 hrs. Settle in, nap, enjoy the Korean countryside rolling by
🚌Express Bus · ~3 hrs
2:30 PM
Arrive Busan Bus Terminal
Check into hotel near Haeundae Beach (~$70–110/night)
🚇Subway · ~30 min
4:00 PM
Haeundae Beach
Walk the famous strip. Late April = uncrowded. Marine City skyline across the bay is stunning at dusk
🚶Walk · ~15 min along coast
5:30 PM
Haeundae Blueline Park Sky Capsule
Colorful beach-side cable car pods along the coast. Killer ocean views — fun and photogenic
🚕Taxi · ~25 min
7:30 PM
Galmegi Brewing (Yeongdo) Craft Beer
Busan's best-known craft brewery — waterfront taproom with harbor views. A genuine trip highlight
Busan Day 1Seaside Temple, Culture Village & SeafoodMon, Apr 28
8:00 AM
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Buddhist temple on ocean cliffs — one of the most photogenic spots in Korea. Go at 8am before buses. Hot hotteok from gate vendors
🚕Taxi · ~30 min
10:30 AM
Gamcheon Culture Village
Colorful hillside labyrinth — painted houses, murals, art installations in tiny alleyways. Built by Korean War refugees. Allow 1.5–2 hrs
🚕Taxi · ~10 min
1:00 PM
Jagalchi Fish Market Must-Eat
Korea's largest seafood market. Pick live fish/crab/octopus from tanks downstairs → served as sashimi upstairs. Outstanding lunch
🚶Walk · 10 min
3:00 PM
BIFF Square / Gukje Market
Film festival zone + sprawling market — street snacks, vintage clothes, handicrafts. Try a ssiat hotteok (Busan's seed-filled version)
🚇Subway Line 2 · ~35 min
6:00 PM
Gwangalli Beach & Diamond Bridge Dinner Spot
Busan's other iconic beach — more local than Haeundae. The Gwangan Diamond Bridge lit up at night across the water is spectacular. Excellent seafood restaurants along the strip
Busan Day 2Mountain Temple, Beach & Final NightTue, Apr 29
8:30 AM
Beomeosa Temple
Serene mountain temple at Geumjeongsan — far less touristy than Haedong. Beautiful forested approach, actual monks, prayer bells echoing
🚇Subway Line 1 + walk · ~50 min
11:00 AM
Centum City / Shinsegae
World's largest department store (Guinness record). Multi-floor tech section, rooftop golf range. Pure Korean maximalism
🚶Walk · 5 min
12:30 PM
Dwaeji Gukbap Busan Classic
Busan's iconic pork bone & rice soup. Ssangdung is the classic spot
🚇Subway · ~20 min
2:30 PM
Haeundae Beach — Afternoon
Relaxed afternoon — walk the coastal trail, dip feet in, people-watch. No rush today
🚶Walk · 15 min
5:00 PM
The Bay 101
Waterfront complex — yacht harbor, rooftop bars, sunset views of Marine City skyscrapers
Coastal path with sea views, LED art installations. Nice final evening walk
Departure DayKTX to Seoul → Fly HomeWed, Apr 30
9:00 AM
Busan Station — KTX Book Ahead
Bullet train back to Seoul. Depart ~9am, arrive ~11:15am
🚅KTX Bullet Train · 2 hrs 15 min
11:15 AM
Arrive Seoul Station
Store luggage in station lockers (₩2–3k). ~4 hours before airport
🚇Subway · ~15 min
12:00 PM
Last Meal — Naengmyeon or Dakgalbi Final Meal
Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) at Woo Lae Oak or a last-day wildcard. Pick up snacks: honey butter chips, instant ramen, dried seaweed
🚶Walk · ~10 min
1:30 PM
Gyeongui Line Forest Park (Yeonnam-dong)
Converted rail line → linear park with café strip. Last Korean coffee, final gift shopping. Low-key farewell
🚶Walk · ~10 min to Hongik Univ Stn
3:30 PM
AREX to Incheon Airport
Leave by 4:15 PM latest. AREX = 43 min. Allow 2.5 hrs before departure
🚆AREX Express · 43 min
7:35 PM
✈ Depart Incheon (ICN) → Seattle (SEA)
~11 hr flight, arrive same calendar day
💡 Seoul Station luggage lockers are a lifesaver — don't drag bags around on your last afternoon
🌋 What About Jeju?
Jeju is spectacular — volcanic craters, lava caves, dramatic cliffs, black pork BBQ, abalone sashimi. But it requires a ~1 hr flight and deserves 2+ full days. Save it for a dedicated return trip.
📋 Practical Notes
🔴 Book Before You Leave Home
DMZ / JSA Tour (Apr 25) — passport info, 1+ week out
KTX Busan→Seoul (Apr 30) — departure day, don't chance it
Jeonju hanok guesthouse (Apr 26) — popular on weekends, book early
All other accommodation — 3 nights Seoul, 3 nights Busan
📱 Apps to Download
Naver Maps — essential (Google has gaps)
Kakao Taxi — add payment card
Papago — better than Google Translate for Korean
Kobus — intercity bus booking
Korail — KTX booking
💳 Money
Korea is very card-friendly
Carry ₩ cash for markets, Gunsan/Jeonju stalls
Wise or Schwab debit = no foreign fees
T-money card for all transit
🌸 Weather, Late April
Seoul: 14–19°C (57–66°F)
Gunsan/Jeonju: 15–20°C, mild
Busan: 17–21°C, warmest
Pack layers for cool evenings
🏨 Where to Stay
Seoul (3 nights): Hongdae or Itaewon (~$80–120)
Jeonju (1 night): Hanok guesthouse in the village (~$60–100) 🏠