Jeonju, the provincial government seat of the North Jeolla region, was the capital of the Later Baekje Dynasty. The city has been an administrative centre of the greater Honam region since the Joseon era as well. Today, Jeonju abounds with historic sites and cultural assets, where visitors can experience aspects of traditional culture, making it one of the most authentic Korean cities in the country.

Jeonju is famous for preserving many traditional Korean houses, or hanok. The Jeonju Hanok Village, located in the Wansan district of Jeonju, was established in 1930 and currently contains 600 hanok with 1,300 residents. Notable sites in the village include the Gyeonggijeon (the birthplace of the Joseon Kingdom), the Jeonju Hyanggyo (a Confucian temple that doubled as a school), and the Omokdae (an elevated pavilion from which the entire Hanok Village can be observed).

In an interesting juxtaposition, a Romanesque cathedral completed in 1931, known as the Jeondong Cathedral, stands near the entrance of the Hanok Village. It is one of three Catholic cathedrals in Korea along with the Myungdong Cathedral in Seoul and the Gyesan Cathetral in Daegu.

Jeonju is more than just a historic site. The Jeolla region, of which Jeonju is the capital, is renowned for its plentiful culinary options. Representative dishes include bean sprouts, hwangpomuk (a jelly made from mung beans), Jeonju bibimbap (famous across all of Korea), bean sprout and rice soup boiled in earthen pots, and omogaritang (a spicy freshwater fish soup).

Jeonju holds the annual International Sori Festival, where Korean traditional music (gugak) and diverse styles of music from all over the world are showcased. Since 2000, Jeonju has also hosted an annual International Film Festival, where innovative local, international, and alternative films are screened.

Football The Jeonju World Cup Stadium hosted two group-stage matches and one Round of 16 match during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™. The opening match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2017 Korea Republic will kick off at this stadium, where the home team will play two of its three Group A matches.

Representing Jeonju in the K-League Classic are the new powerhouses of Korean football, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC. The city is also home to Jeonju Citizen FC, a team composed entirely of Jeonju University students that plays in the K3-League.