Chucheondae Pavilion, Jeonju

In Palbok-dong, in the north of Jeonju, a painted pavilion stands on the rocks beside a broad stretch of the Jeonjucheon stream. Chucheondae marks the spot where Yi Gyeong-dong, who served King Seongjong as Vice-Minister of War and Inspector-General, spent his last years fishing in the stream in front of his home, known as Chucheon. The city is close by, with apartment blocks and roads nearby, but the waterside pavilion and its stele make a quiet stop on a riverside walk or bike ride.

History: a high official's fishing spot

Yi Gyeong-dong passed the state examination in 1462 and rose under King Seongjong to Vice-Minister of War and then Inspector-General, head of the office that kept watch over officials' conduct. When his career was over he came home and, as the story goes, spent the rest of his life fishing in the Chucheon.

More than 400 years later, in 1899, his descendant Yi Jeong-ho built a pavilion here to commemorate him and named it Chucheondae. The building dates only from the Korean Empire period, but it carries the story of a 15th-century figure. It was listed as North Jeolla provincial heritage in 1984.

What to see

• The pavilion: a hip-and-gable building with red pillars and painted eaves, with a "楸川臺" name board under the roof. It sits on a stone platform with an open view over the water.
• The stele: a small stone with a roof-shaped cap stands by the water next to the pavilion, honouring Yi Gyeong-dong. It is easy to miss, so walk all the way round.
• The waterside: a wide channel and the opposite bank open out in front of the pavilion, and the surroundings have been tidied with stone steps and terraces.

Nearby, Chucheondae Bridge, named after the pavilion, crosses the Jeonjucheon; the old Jeolla Line railway once ran right beside it, which is fun to picture beneath today's roads and embankments. Here the stream is in its lower reaches on the way to the Mangyeong River, so the channel is wide, with separate cycling and walking paths along the banks.

Tripto tips

• Access: it is an open-air pavilion that you can see from outside at any time. Follow the signs on site about whether you may step up into it.
• Time needed: 15–30 minutes, or about an hour with a waterside walk.
• Location: around 26 Palbok-dong 3-ga, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, about 5–6 km northwest of Jeonju Hanok Village in a straight line. It is easy to reach by city bus or taxi.
• Combine with: Palbok Art Factory, a former factory turned arts space in the same neighbourhood.
• Best time of day: late afternoon, when the light softens on the water and the painted eaves.
• Best season: in spring, cherry blossoms line the banks from Chucheondae Bridge towards Samnye Bridge, a popular walking and cycling route. There is no parking along the riverside, so come by public transport or bike.
• Cycling: the riverside path is part of the Mangyeong River Trail, a Jeonju cycle route of about 18.8 km, and there is a bike rental station along the way.