Jinju travel info
Jinju is a small city in western South Gyeongsang, wrapped around the Nam River. Jinju Fortress sits in the middle of town, the site of major battles in the Imjin War, with Chokseongnu Pavilion perched on a bluff above the water. A lap of the walls takes about an hour, and the National Museum is inside.
The food has a name of its own. Jinju bibimbap is topped with raw beef, Jinju naengmyeon uses a seafood-based broth, and heotjesabap is a spread of seasoned vegetables and soup. Lunch is a bowl of bibimbap, dinner is cold noodles or grilled eel, and the old restaurants cluster in the lanes near the fortress.
In early October thousands of lanterns float on the river for the Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival, which runs October 3 to 18 this year. That is the best time to see lit lanterns against the dark fortress walls. Seoul is about four hours away by KTX or express bus, but the centre is small and almost everything is on foot once you arrive.
From Seoul (KTX)
- Express bus (Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Jinju): About 3h50–4h · ₩34,500 premium / ₩41,200 first class
- KTX (Gwangmyeong to Jinju Station): About 3h–3h20 · Standard class around ₩50,000
From Busan and other cities (BUS)
- Intercity bus (Busan Seobu Sasang to Jinju): About 1h30–1h45 · ₩10,000 standard / ₩13,100 premium
- Mugunghwa train (Gupo to Jinju Station): About 1h55 · ₩7,400
From the airport (HIN)
- Flight (Gimpo to Sacheon): About 1 hour · Return from the ₩120,000s
- Sacheon Airport to Jinju Intercity Bus Terminal: About 30 minutes · ₩2,100
- From Seoul: Bus ~4h, KTX ~3h
- Best time to go: October lanterns; April–May
- Transit card & payment: Transit card for buses; cash at markets
- SIM & Wi-Fi: LTE/5G in town; Wi-Fi at lodgings
- Emergency: 119 · 112 · tourist line 1330
- Budget: Fortress ₩1,000; bibimbap ~₩10,000
- Tourist info: Little English; call 1330