Hanok Village in Jeonju hosts 1593 test on 21 November
Published on 10/31/2026 at 16:33 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSExamination programme and village setting
- The ninth 1593 Jeonju Byeolsi takes place at the Jeonju Traditional Culture Training Centre and Hanok Village on 21 November 2026.
- Visitors can see examinations, taekkyeon, a poetry contest, craft activities and a traditional procession reaching Gyeonggijeon.
- The historical event recalls 1593, when Crown Prince Gwanghae recruited officials in Jeonju during the Imjin War.
- Jeonju Station connects with the village by city bus routes including 79, 112, 508 and 536.
Hanok Village in Jeonju hosts the ninth 1593 Jeonju Byeolsi special examination on 21 November 2026, bringing a historical reenactment to the traditional quarter. The programme recalls a 1593 examination held in Jeonju during the Imjin War, when Crown Prince Gwanghae recruited people for official roles.
1593 Jeonju Byeolsi returns on 21 November
Jeonju City announced the event on 27 October 2026. The programme is scheduled for the Jeonju Traditional Culture Training Centre and the surrounding Hanok Village in Jeonju, placing the public activities among the quarter's historic lanes rather than at a separate festival ground. The date falls within the current autumn travel period for visitors from the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Western Europe.
The event combines the examination itself with an awards ceremony and a traditional procession. A children's drawing contest begins at 10am in the village, while taekkyeon contests are divided into seven categories. A classical Chinese poetry contest uses the theme Exploring Jeolla Gamyeong, and participants submit their work before the event for judging.
After the examinations, successful candidates receive awards in the bangbangrye ceremony. The procession then leaves the training centre, follows Eunyeong-ro and Taejo-ro, and proceeds to Gyeonggijeon. At the shrine, the ceremony includes a formal report of the results to the portrait of King Taejo. Details of the 21 November programme were reported by Yonhap News Agency.
The 1593 story meets Jeonju's traditional streets
The historical model for the event dates to 1593, the year after the Imjin War began. Yonhap describes the original examination as a special recruitment test held in Jeonju while Crown Prince Gwanghae led a temporary court. The historical account gives the reenactment a direct link to the places used for its modern procession.
Gyeonggijeon is one of the named destinations in that route, while the village provides the setting for the drawing contest, craft activities and parts of the examination programme. The quarter is a living urban area of traditional Korean houses, cultural venues and narrow streets. Its official visitor map identifies the Jeonju Traditional Culture Training Centre, Gyeonggijeon and the main village roads as connected visitor points. The official village site also lists cultural performances, exhibitions and seasonal programmes.
The setting changes the practical meaning of the reenactment. Visitors are not only watching a stage performance: the announced procession crosses the roads between the training centre and Gyeonggijeon, while the associated activities occupy several parts of the village. The programme therefore links the 1593 story to the quarter's existing heritage route.
What the November programme includes
Alongside the examinations and procession, the announcement lists craft experiences, traditional snack making and traditional tea activities. These supporting activities are available as part of the public programme, while the drawing contest and taekkyeon events have their own participation arrangements.
Applications for the poetry contest close on 6 November 2026. Applications for the taekkyeon competition and children's drawing contest close on 13 November 2026. The announcement states that the event's additional craft, snack and tea activities can be enjoyed without an admission charge.
Visiting Hanok Village in Jeonju: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The 1593 Jeonju Byeolsi takes place on 21 November 2026 at the Jeonju Traditional Culture Training Centre and in Hanok Village in Jeonju.
- The programme includes a procession from the training centre along Eunyeong-ro and Taejo-ro to Gyeonggijeon, so visitors should expect activities at more than one named site.
- Jeonju Station connects with the village by city buses including routes 79, 112, 508 and 536; the official visitor map directs passengers to the stop in front of Jeondong Catholic Church.
- South Korea's official language is Korean and its national currency is the won.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Hanok Village in Jeonju
When does the 1593 Jeonju Byeolsi take place at Hanok Village in Jeonju?
The ninth reenactment takes place on 21 November 2026 at the Jeonju Traditional Culture Training Centre and in the surrounding village.
What is the 1593 Jeonju Byeolsi?
It is a reenactment of a special examination held in Jeonju in 1593, when Crown Prince Gwanghae recruited officials during the Imjin War.
Where is Hanok Village in Jeonju and how do you get there?
The quarter is in Jeonju, South Korea. City buses including routes 79, 112, 508 and 536 run from Jeonju Station towards the village.
