Jeonju Hanok Village was created to counter Japanese commercial expansion

There is a historical background to Jeonju's representative tourist attraction, Hanok Village, that many are unaware of. Interest has surged following a broadcast explaining that the area was originally established during the Japanese colonial period to counter the expansion of Japanese commercial districts.

In the KBS2 variety program 'Boss in the Mirror' aired on the 16th, the historical origins of Jeonju Hanok Village were revealed alongside a field mentoring session by announcer Uhm Ji-in, who visited Jeonju.

During the visit, Uhm Ji-in went to the KBS Jeonju Bureau to monitor a news rehearsal by her junior, announcer Lee Sang-chul. After watching his news presentation for the Jeonbuk region, she offered sharp feedback, saying, "You don't watch the Seoul news, do you? Why are you so old-fashioned?" She further advised, "You need to monitor many other news programs as well."

Watching from the studio, Jun Hyun-moo analyzed Lee's style, noting, "Since he comes from a news channel and has been doing news for so long, he has developed certain habits."

Lee Sang-chul immediately applied his senior's advice, showing improvements in the actual broadcast. Uhm Ji-in also encouraged him, saying, "Sang-chul is someone who knows his stuff. I just reminded him of something he had briefly forgotten, and he caught on immediately."

Laughter-filled episodes continued during their outing through the streets of Jeonju. Lee, who introduced himself as a 'trend-sensitive man,' faced rebukes while trying to liven up the atmosphere, and an unexpected situation involving his stingy image also occurred.

He confidently told his seniors he would buy them ice cream, but at the moment of payment, he realized he had left his card behind, exclaiming, "I don't have my wallet." Ultimately, Uhm Ji-in had to foot the bill.

Seeing this, Yang Joon-hyuk brought laughter by calling out Jun Hyun-moo, saying, "Even that part resembles Jun Hyun-moo," adding, "I haven't even been able to get ice cream from you once all this time."

The scene that drew even more attention during the broadcast was the historical context of Jeonju Hanok Village.

Broadcaster Sun Kim, appearing as a special mentor, explained that the village was not created solely to preserve traditional architecture. He stated that there was also a strategic purpose to check the expansion of Japanese commercial interests during the colonial era.

This reveals a deeper historical layer to a space that is currently celebrated as a symbol of traditional Korean culture and a premier destination in Jeonju.

Listening in the studio, Jun Hyun-moo nodded and added, "I believe Bukchon Hanok Village was also created in that way."

While tourists remember Jeonju Hanok Village as a beautiful street of traditional houses, its formation was shaped by the complex landscape of modern history and the struggle for dominance over urban spaces.

The episode featured various segments, including palm reading and physiognomy analysis for Lee Sang-chul and Uhm Ji-in's mentoring. KBS2's 'Boss in the Mirror' is a variety program following the self-reflection of bosses in the Republic of Korea to create better workplaces; its 369th episode recorded a viewership rating of 3.4% (provided by Nielsen Korea).