Welcome To The ‘Slow City' Of Korea

Kancheong spiders, take it easy in Jeonju. In Korea’s charmingly quaint ‘Slow City’, harried urbanites can press the pause button and pretend they’re in a historical K-drama.

- Jasmine Teo

Oh, high there! Omokdae is the best vantage point for a bird’s eye view of the Hanok Village. Your bibimbap-induced food baby will thank you for the five-minute uphill hike, as will your Instagram followers.

I didn’t think I’d survive Jeonju. My blood pressure rises when an Uber driver’s just five minutes late, so how could I possibly endure days in what’s been minted a Slow City? City signs with pictures of snails are everywhere — dawdling is serious business here in the hometown of K-hunk Kim Woo Bin and Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon. As it turns out, life in slow-mo ain’t half bad... if you have mobile wifi. (Rent a router from Seoul’s Incheon Airport; ensure it’s one with wider coverage as you’ll be travelling three hours by bus away from the airport.) No one said you had to go slow and disconnect, right? Here’s how you can Instagram and Snapchat your way through quaint traditional houses, IG-worthy palaces and #foodporn galore in Jeonju.

Pretend you’re a jewel in a palace.