JBNU's annual U.S. Department of State-sponsored CLS program has played an important role as a channel for introducing the true character of Jeonju to audiences in the United States and abroad.

Last year, a U.S. student who studied Korean language and culture at JBNU through the CLS program helped bring significant attention to Jeonju after the city was recently featured in The New York Times as a global tourist destination.

Jeonju's appearance in The New York Times resulted from a valuable connection between the Office of International Affairs’ Korean Language Institute and Gregory Pabon, a student at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Gregory, who visited JBNU for eight weeks under last year’s CLS program, formed a close relationship with the Korean Language Institute and maintained contact after returning to the United States.

Recently, Seth Kugel, a New York Times reporter and the son of a professor at Harvard's Kennedy School, sought to cover global tourist destinations in Korea. Jeonju was recommended to him by Gregory, who had returned deeply impressed after his visit to Jeonju last summer, and the reporting was arranged.

As a result, Kugel visited Jeonju from February 6–8, toured the city, and Researcher Kim acted as his guide, highlighting Jeonju's culinary delights and cultural attractions.

After traveling in Jeonju, Kugel wrote in his February 20 article that "Jeonju is a paradise for lovers of Korean cuisine — from bean-sprout soup that cures hangovers at affordable prices, to Jeonju bibimbap piled with fresh ingredients, to baekban (set-meal) restaurants where side dishes are endlessly refilled." He added that "kind service makes stays in hanok guesthouses possible, and the city is full of attractions, such as Gyeonggijeon, where the portrait of Taejo Yi Seong-gye is enshrined, marking Jeonju as the ancestral home of the Joseon dynasty."

Kim Min-ho, Director of the Office of International Affairs, stated, "By hosting the U.S. Department of State's CLS program every year, the valuable connections forged with many students from leading U.S. universities have become an important channel for introducing Jeonju to the world. This year as well, we will welcome international students with improved Korean culture experience programs and strive to showcase the true character of JBNU and Jeonju."