Gwanghallu pavilion in Namwon, North Jeolla Province (Korea Tourism Organization)

In time for 2012 Yeosu Expo, regions in North Jeolla Province offer various tourism packages


For those who have never visited North Jeolla Province before, now is the perfect time to visit the warm, southwestern region of the country.

In celebration of 2012 as the Visit North Jeolla Province Year and the three-month 2012 Yeosu Expo which will soon kick off on May 12, in nearby South Jeolla Province, various regions of the province are offering interesting festivals and attractive tourism packages.

Korea Tourism Organization announced on Tuesday 23 new tourism packages that invite tourists to explore the Expo, North Jeolla Province and also traditional markets throughout South Korea.

Four among the packages are focused on the Expo. Until the Expo begins, tourists participating in the package can look around the promotional booths for the event.

The most anticipated offers by KTO are the nine packages that feature picturesque views of North Jeolla Province in spring, the traditional villages and cruise trips. The packages are sponsored by the province throughout the year, so tourists can enjoy the trip for notably low prices.

For only 29,000 won per person, tourists can fully enjoy a guided tour through “hanok,” or Korean traditional house, villages in Jeonju. Also included are tours to Mount Mai which is known for its mystical stone towers.

The package is available throughout the year. For more information, call (02) 1688-3372 or visit www.soltour.co.kr. 

For a guided tour with the emphasis on the historical value of the province’s traditional culture, join Tour Sketch’s tour. It will take visitors to historical sites holding the legacies of the Baekje Kingdom in Iksan as well as the Jeonju hanok village, and also the Gwanghanru pavilion, which is well-known as the background for the love story of Chunhyang. A visit to the herb valley is a nice addition.

The tour departs every Saturday, Sunday and on holidays. It costs 129,000 won. For more information, call (02) 701-2406 or visit www.toursketch.co.kr.

To focus more on the picturesque landscape away from the hustle and bustle of a city, Arum Tour’s package leading to Deokyu Mountain and the Gucheon-dong valley in Muju is a good choice.

The package is available throughout the year. It costs 45,000 won for adults and 41,000 for children. For more information, call (02) 722-0419 or visit www.arumtr.co.kr.

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)