Buyeo vs Jeonju – Which Offers Korea’s Most Authentic Slow Travel Experience?
When it comes to slow travel Korea, most travelers head to Jeonju.
Known for its Hanok Village, street food, and traditional art, Jeonju has long been praised as a must-visit destination for local experiences in Korea.
But what if I told you there’s a place even more authentic, more untouched, and more soulful?
A place where Korea’s royal past meets the quietest skies?
That place is Buyeo, the forgotten capital of Baekje Kingdom Korea, and my home as a local hot air balloon pilot.
Today, let’s explore why Buyeo may offer the most authentic slow travel experience in Korea, even compared to Jeonju.
Jeonju – Korea’s Famous Slow City
There’s no denying that Jeonju is beautiful:
- The charming Hanok Village, lined with cafes, craft shops, and street food stalls.
- The colorful murals of Jeonju’s art streets, perfect for photos.
- Delicious local dishes like Jeonju bibimbap and makgeolli (rice wine).
But Jeonju is now a well-known destination, and with fame comes:
- Crowded streets, especially on weekends.
- Touristy shops and long lines.
- A fast-paced “slow city” experience.
Buyeo – Korea’s Quiet Heart Still Beating in Silence
Buyeo, on the other hand, is Korea’s off the beaten path Korea at its finest.
- No crowds, no lines, no selfie sticks.
- Just rivers, temples, fortresses, and skies that feel untouched.
- Local markets where the sellers know your name and smile comes naturally.
Buyeo is where slow travel Korea becomes not a theme, but a way of life.
✨ What makes Buyeo different?
- It’s the only place in Korea where you can float over a UNESCO World Heritage Site Korea in a hot air balloon.
- The Buyeo hot air balloon isn’t just an activity – it’s an emotional journey over Baekje’s royal past.
- Every corner of Buyeo is filled with stories that the crowds in Jeonju never hear.
For slow travel Korea beyond the crowds, Buyeo’s skies offer stories no street in Jeonju can tell.
Korea travel blog favorite: Compare Jeonju’s rooftops with Buyeo’s hot air balloon views – where history floats into your heart.
Off the beaten path Korea begins in Buyeo, where the sky embraces you in ways no busy Hanok street can.
Buyeo’s hot air balloon is more than sightseeing – it’s Korea’s lost kingdom lifting your soul above golden rivers.
Jeonju shows Korea’s charm from the ground, but Buyeo’s sky reveals the kingdom’s forgotten spirit in the clouds.
Experience Korea’s softest, slowest side in Buyeo, where Baekje Kingdom Korea whispers through sunrise flights.
Hidden gems in Seoul can’t compare to Buyeo’s quiet skies, where UNESCO World Heritage Site Korea becomes your personal painting.
Buyeo hot air balloon is Korea’s most emotional slow travel escape – a story written across the sky at golden hour.
In Buyeo, local places in Korea are untouched by crowds, where slow travel feels real, not curated.
Let Buyeo show you Korea’s face beyond tourism – where the skies write the stories of Baekje Kingdom into your heart.
Buyeo’s Hot Air Balloon vs Jeonju’s Hanok Village
While Jeonju’s Hanok rooftops look beautiful from the ground,
Buyeo’s sky offers a view from above, over ancient kingdoms, rivers, and endless golden fields.
Visitors often say:
- In Jeonju, they walk through history.
- In Buyeo, they float through it.
That’s the difference.
How to Make Buyeo Your Next Slow Travel Destination
🚍 From Seoul
- Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Buyeo Terminal (2 hours)
- Taxi or walk to Baekmagang Leisure Park
🚗 By Car
- Seohaean Expressway → Seocheon IC → Buyeo
- About 2 hours
🚍 From Incheon Airport
- Airport Limousine → Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Buyeo Bus
✨ Pilot’s Tip:
Arrive early for the sunrise or golden hour flight, then spend the rest of the day slowly exploring Buyeo’s local markets, temples, and riverside paths.
📍 Baekmagang Leisure Park Google Maps
https://www.google.com/maps/place/백마강레저파크/@36.264183,126.912607,17z
Final Thoughts – Buyeo or Jeonju? My Heart Chooses Buyeo
Jeonju is beautiful.
But Buyeo is poetry.
If you want a slow travel Korea experience beyond the crowds,
If you want to feel Korea’s forgotten heartbeat in the quiet of the skies,
If you want off the beaten path Korea that touches your soul,
Come to Buyeo.
Let the Baekje Kingdom skies show you Korea’s softest face,
where the past isn’t in museums – it’s floating above you.
