Cheongju Food
“Soak thick slices of raw pork meat in soy sauce lightly before grilling, then eat them with a combination of foods that the locals recommend. A mouthful of grilled pork belly, topped with seasoned green onions and fermented Kimchi, is very tasty.”
Samgyeopsal Street of Seomun Market
As soon as you enter Seomun Market, you will notice the strong smell of grilling meat from Samgyeopsal Street. The grilled pork belly with soy sauce in the Cheongju style tastes different due to the fact that the raw meat has been soaked in soy sauce infused with medicinal herbs. Discover the joy of the savory juices and the flavor from this gently seasoned pork belly meat.
Medicinal Whole Duck Soup
Medicinal Whole Duck Soup
As a restorative food for the summer, duck soup will supplement your energy just like Korean chicken soup (Samgyetang). This dish is cooked by boiling trimmed duck, ginseng, jujube, garlic, and ginkgo nuts together in water with medicinal herbs (such as milk vetch root, angelica, and kalopanax). The thick soup’s herbal aroma and the chewy texture of the duck meat co-exist in one dish. If you boil sticky rice in the soup after eating the dish, you can enjoy an additional taste of porridge.
Loach soup (Chueotang)
Chueotang is a restorative dish that many Koreans have in all seasons. Boil the loaches thoroughly and filter them to get a thick soup, then heat various vegetables (dried radish greens, perilla leaf, etc.) in the soup with a soybean paste seasoning, and the dish is complete. Because the whole loach is cooked entirely, including the bones and internal organs, the soup contains richer amounts of protein and calcium.
Pork back-bone stew
Pork back-bones are thoroughly boiled with potatoes, dried radish greens, and cabbage leaves. That’s how this stew gets its bold, superb taste. After eating all the pork meat that can be picked from the bones, it’s recommended to heat the remaining soup one more time along with rice / noodle / dough pieces to enjoy a bonus dish that is similar to fried rice.
Korean set meal (Hanjeongsik) in the Cheongju style
Hanjeongsik in Cheongju includes not only steamed organic rice harvested in the region, but also 20 sorts of courses cooked with local specialties. Steamed beef ribs with seasoning, three-colored vegetable pancakes (Samsaekjeon), seasoned acorn jelly salad, grilled deodeok root, and other wild herb / vegetable dishes deliver the taste of nature.
Set meal with boiled duck meat & hot pot rice
Boiling the duck reduces its fat and increases the soft texture of the meat. In this set meal, the boiled duck meat is served with seasoned chives, wrapping greens, hot pot rice, rich soybean paste soup with tofu (Cheonggukjang), and many more diverse side dishes.
Cheongju Festival
MAY. – JUN.
King Sejong and Chojeong Mineral Spring Festival
This festival was created based on the story of the Chojeong mineral water and King Sejong, who stayed in the Chojeong Temporary Palace and used the world’s best mineral spring water to cure his eyes. It includes a parade that reenacts King Sejong’s royal journey, as well as more than 30 experience programs in the festival venue, where the appearance of Chosuri Village in the Joseon Era is recreated.
Address
Chojeong Culture Park, 851, Chojeongyaksu-ro Naesu-eup, Cheongwon-gu
Tel
043-201-2093
Admission
chojeong.cjsisul.or.kr
AUG.
Cheongju Cultural Heritage Night Trip
This nighttime cultural program introduces a sort of time travel to the Joseon Era in the present time, by visiting the cultural heritage sites in original downtown city of Cheongju. Every year, the program introduces new events like a stamp mission or a Joseon traditional clothes (Hanbok) experience.
Address
Seongan-ro, Sangdang-gu
TIP
Jungang Park » Cheoldanggan » Cheongnyeonggak » Seongangil Street » Bukmon-ro » Youth Square » Old Cheongju History Park
Tel
043-219-1015
Time
18:00–23:00
Website
www.cjculturenight.org
AUG.
Jazztonic Festival at Cheongnamdae
Jazzy melodies freely resonate through the beautiful Cheongnamdae landscape. In an effort to encourage the coexistence of diverse art forms, this music festival invites Korean/foreign jazz musicians to give wonderful performances, and also provides artwork exhibitions and talks with special themes.
Address
46, Cheongnamdae-gil Munui-myeon, Sangdang-gu
Tel
043-279-3756
Website
www.jazztonicfestival.com
SEP.
Jikji Korea International Festival
This biannual worldwide festival is held to spread the recognition of Jikji (the oldest existing metal type print) and reveal its value to the world. In 2020, under the theme “Jikji, imagination beyond memories,” a special exhibition “Joseon, the nation of types” will be held to display how Joseon surpassed Goyeo’s printing technology. Metal type casting/typesetting experience programs will be provided as well.
Address
Cheongju Early Printing Museum 713, Jikji-daero, Heungdeok-gu
Cheongju Art Center 69, Heungdeok-ro, Seowon-gu
Tel
043-201-4382
Website
www.jikjikorea.com
SEP.
Cheongjueupseong Fortress Festival
This festival commemorates the victory by the righteous armies and monk soldiers in 1592: they were united to fight the Japanese military during the Japanese Invasion of Korea (Imjin War) and won back the Cheongju Fortress. Citizens participate in a street parade led by the Chwitadae (a military musical band from the Joseon Era), while a performance that recreates scenes from the battle to reclaim the Cheongju Fortress is among the most remarkable attractions. In addition, a traditional wedding performance and Madanggeuk (traditional outdoor play) titled “The story of Apgaksu, the ginkgo tree” are interesting for visitors to attend.
Address
Jungang Park
33, Sangdang-ro 55beon-gil, Sangdang-gu
Tel
043-265-3624
OCT.
Cheongnamdae Chrysanthemum Festival
If you would like to encounter the gentle scent of chrysanthemums carried on the autumn wind, go to Cheongnamdae, the former presidential villa. The charming chrysanthemum flowers bloom in diverse colors and play the leading role at this festival venue, where chrysanthemum-themed artworks naturally provide photo opportunities for visitors. Chrysanthemum tea tasting and a woodcraft experience program are also provided.
Address
Cheongnamdae
646, Cheongnamdae-gil, Munui-myeon, Sangdang-gu (all the districts of Cheongnamdae)
Tel
043-257-5080
Cheongju Hotel
“Many tourist / boutique hotels are found around the Cheong ju Express Bus Terminal, which enables visitors to travel downtown in a more leisurely fashion. If you drop by Chojeong Temporary Palace, try the carbonated water sauna to relieve your fatigue.”
Grand Plaza Cheongju Hotel
This is the only 5-star level hotel in the midlands region, equipped with 328 rooms in a 21-story building. Guests can access a large banquet room, 4 restaurants, bars, indoor swimming pool, sauna, and a duty-free shop. Its location is a 15-minute drive from Suamgol Mural Village.
Address
114, Chungcheong-daero, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
Tel
043-290-1000
Website
www.grandplaza.co.kr
Cheongju Namu Hotel
Positioned in the clean air near Gutdaesan Mountain, this hotel has several unique healing spaces: some of the 47 rooms are equipped with an Ondol, the traditional Korean floor heating system. Its location is close to the Cheongju Land and Cheongju National Museum, and it is also convenient to walk along the old trail at Sangdangsanseong Fortress.
Hotel Gallery
The location of this hotel is close not only to SK Hynix (a semiconductor manufacturing company) and the Cheongju Industry Complex, but also to Chungbuk National University in the downtown of Cheongju. The room options are wide (the Gallery Suite with a separate reception space, cozy Ondol rooms, etc.), and a fitness/business center has been prepared for the use of guests.
The Mark Hotel
This hotel has pleasant facilities thanks to the recent renovation that was completed in 2019, and its location is convenient (a 5-minute drive from the Cheongju Express Bus Terminal) as well. Five types of rooms are available – from standard rooms to VVIP rooms – and each room has an air purifier, a clothes care system, and a 75-inch television.
Chojeong Yaksu Sejong Spatel
Sauna facilities with one of the Top 3 carbonated mineral waters have been raised this hotel’s popularity. As well as staying in Western/Korean style rooms, visitors can experience both a normal sauna with mineral water and a Korean-style sauna with red clay and an oak charcoal kiln. An open-air hot spring and a healing café are available as well.
Hotel Museo
This 3-star boutique hotel stands out with to its classical/modern appearance. The interior design with an art gallery concept provides a unique look to the guest rooms, and the hotel’s restaurant provides trendy dining services. Guests can access an outdoor swimming pool on the hotel’s roof. Its location is a 5-minute walk from the Cheongju Express Bus Terminal.
Newvera Tourist Hotel
Located by the Cheongju Express Bus Terminal, this hotel is equipped with 51 smoking-prohibited rooms, and serves an American-style breakfast. A free pick-up service at the bus terminal is operated for the convenience of guests, and the front desk is open 24 hours a day. Heungdeok Temple Site and the Cheongju Early Printing Museum are nearby tourist attractions for guests of the hotel.
