Gwangju

Since 2005, the river area has been undergoing a surprising facelift, stretching from Gwangju's most famous food, clothing and furniture market, Yangdong Market, all the way out of the city in a southeasterly direction. The river edge is beautifully lit at night, and with its colored lights and shopping areas nearby, is rapidly becoming a symbol of Gwangju - the City of Light and Culture.

Gwangju's claim to fame is for its own Gwangju uprising, May 18, 1980. There are two memorials for this moment in its history. The main one is found in the beautiful 5.18 Park, in central Sangmu district. There is an exhibition hall there that enlightens visitors to the events that exemplify South Koreans' struggle against authoritarian regimes and their fight for democracy. While there, follow the walking path to the top of the hill where you can then climb a three-story pagoda and take in a nice view of the more modern part of Gwangju. The other memorial to this occasion is the 5.18 Cemetery, located in the northeast of the city, about 50 minutes from the bus terminal. Again, more monuments and dedications to this moment in history - but make sure the museum is actually opened because the long travel is not really worth it otherwise. The cemetery is open year-round. The operating hour of the museum is from 08:00 to 18:00.

This monument is in the geographical middle of the city. Not widely known, and requires a taxi ride to get to, this monument is rather large and situated in a very quiet park atop a hill. The monument commemorates the student uprising against Japanese Imperialism in the early 1900s. The Park includes an impressive museum with detailed representations of the time. At times English tours are available.

Within Pungam is the World Cup Stadium (월드컵 경기장), connected to the Lotte Outlet Mall. A short walk from the stadium is the Pungam Reservoir, which has fountains, statues, and a walking path. If you enjoy hiking, you can also take an easy hike around Geumdangsan Mountain, which encircles the Pungam residential area. Starting from an Oriental medicine hospital, Wongwangdae hospital, the hike takes on average 2 hours at a moderate pace.

This market occupies 15 stories of an office building right behind the main U-Square Bus terminal. From the first basement to the seventh floor, electronic markets took occupancy of that, and from the eighth floor, the building is composed of studio apartments. The building is easily recognizable from its arched roof of glass sitting jutting out of the skyline. Each floor specializes in a different electronic genre. As a market, the starting price is not always the set price like as Yongsan Electronics Market in Seoul, with some bargaining being possible. Remember to be polite, but also haggle a little if you like. The phrase 'Kkak-ka-Ju-Se-Yo (깎아 주세요)', means 'Give me a Discount please', or alternatively 'Hal-In-Hae-Joo-Sae-Yo (할인해 주세요)' has the same meaning. Sometimes this will work, sometimes not. Haggling with them is even hard to natives, buying something in this building as a foreigner is usually not recommended.

The neighborhood of Yangnim-dong district has a variety of modern and contemporary architecture and dense groves of massive 100-year-old trees. The establishment of a church, school, and hospital by Christian missionaries during the Japanese occupation earned the neighborhood the nicknames “Jerusalem of Gwangju” and the “Western Village.” There are some traditional Korean houses, including the Choi Seunghyo House and the Lee Jangwoo House, and more attractions, such as ‘Penguin Village’ (but there is no penguin).

Yangrim-dong, Nam-gu (Supia Girls' Middle School/Supia Girls' High School, Woo Il-sun's old house, missionary house, etc.) where modernization sites are located as the birthplace of Christian culture in Gwangju are well established along with the theme of modern history and culture. The oldest Western-style house in Gwangju is Woo Il-sun's house, Owen's memorial hall, Bae Ji-woo's house, Bae Ji-won's memorial hall, Bae Yeong School and Hyangsari Church, Gwangju Sungil High School, and Choi Seung-hyo's house, which offers a glimpse of Hanok during the enlightenment period. If Penguin Village is a place that has become famous by word of mouth due to the voluntary creation of the community, the difference is that the historical and cultural village has been systematically created and became famous by writers who write various magazines and travel journals. However, the location is on the hill right behind Penguin Village, and the top of the hill is Sajik Park. Baeyeong School and Hyangsari Church, which were founded by missionary Bae Ji-ji, are connected to Gwangju Seohyeon Church, and if you cross this Gwangju Seohyeon Church, you will find Chungjang-ro, a busy city in Gwangju.

Gwangju’s Sajik Park was created on the original site of an altar to deities of the state. The restored altar stands inside the park, along with the Monument to the Sacrifice of Police Officers in Yeosu-Suncheon Rebellion and the Korean War, Yangpa-jeong Pavilion, Gwandeokjeong Pavilion, a multi-purpose sports field, and an observatory that offers visitors a panoramic view of the city. The park boasts a variety of trees and flowers, and when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in April, the park is lit at night for evening strolls under the cherry blossom trees, making it a popular springtime attraction.

Daechon-dong (Daechon district) is a rural community which is located on the outskirts of Gwangju, southwest of the city. Daechon-dong village has preserved the rice-farming cultures in Korea well. Some interesting places for experience and understanding it is operating, such as Gwangju Ceramic Culture Center, Daechon Folk Culture Experience Hall (Bitgoeul Craft), Gwangju Bean Center, Gossaum Theme Park, Pochungsa Shrine, and so forth. There are some buses to go Daechon-dong from Gwangju’s downtown but, service intervals is infrequent.

It is a viewing facility established to experience the industrialization and globalization of kimchi, as well as the culture, history, and experience of kimchi in one place. It is also a space created for the development and promotion of kimchi, the food that Koreans love most.

A shrine honoring the loyalty of five righteous army soldiers during the Imjin War, including Go Gyeong-myeong in Wonsan-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju. It was designated as a monument of Gwangju Metropolitan City on May 22, 1974.

The Woo Il-seon Missionary House is said to have been built in the 1920s by American missionary Robert M. Wilson and is the oldest Western-style house remaining in Gwangju.

Jungoe Park is home to the exhibition and performance facilities of such events and institutions as the Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju Children’s Museum, Gwangju Culture Center; Gwangju Folk Museum, Gwangju National Museum, and the Gwangju Culture and Art Center. It also has sports and entertainment facilities, including Gwangju Children’s Grand Park; courts for tennis, gate ball, badminton and basketball; and walking trails. Other points of interest include Rainbow Bridge, the Monument to the March 1st Independence Movement, a fountain, an octagonal pavilion, and Cheon-in Tower.

Built in the traditional Korean style, Gwangju National Museum includes exhibition halls and storage space for artifacts, as well as a garden that serves as a venue for outdoor exhibitions. On display are prehistoric remains from the surrounding Honam region; Buddhist art, pottery and ceramics from the Baekje Kingdom, Unified Silla Kingdom, and the Goryeo and Joseon periods; and undersea remains excavated in the waters off of Sinan in Jeollanam-do.

Chonnam National University is the largest university in Gwangju, home to several thousand students with a sizable foreign student and professor population. A popular hangout nearby is located at its back-gate, though it most certainly is more along the sides. Both the east and the west sides of the university have many cheap restaurants, clubs, bars, etc. To go to the west side, home of the cheaper restaurants, take buses 26, 30, among others. To get to the east side of the University, home to the bars and clubs, take bus 38, among others and get off at the conveniently labeled "Chonnam Back Gate" stop.

The first-team baseball stadium was completed on February 28, 2014. It is the main stadium of Mudeung Stadium, and it is a baseball stadium right next to Mudeung Baseball Stadium. It has been used as the home stadium for the KIA Tigers since the 2014 season. It received great attention because it was the first-tier main stadium in 12 years since the opening of Munhak Baseball Stadium. It has the title of the first open baseball stadium among Korean baseball stadiums, and is actually a professional baseball stadium.

There are no urban railways passing through this place. Although Nongseong Station is close to the straight line, it takes more than 30 minutes to walk 2.2 km, and there is no bus that goes directly to Nongseong Station, walk 1km toward U-Square to take 16 every month, or walk 180m from Nongseong SK View Station Bongseon 37 and walk 800 m more.

Although branch line 1 (City Hall-Kia Gwangju Plant-Yusquare-Champions Field-Gwangju Station) of Gwangju Metro Line 2 was planned, the branch line itself was rejected by the government, and there was no news two years after the construction of the main line, so it will take a considerable amount of years to open the subway station. If a route plan is made to connect U Square and Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, it is likely to be a separate route after Line 3 rather than Line 2.

If you move using Gwangju Metro Line 1, you can get off at Hwajeong Station and transfer to 26 every month, or transfer to Unrim 51 and Advanced 95 at Geumnam-ro 5-ga Station.

Located inside Gwangju Family Land, it is a place where you can see various insects, reptiles, and animals.

Located in Uchi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, it is Honam's largest amusement park with 24 latest rides, the country's tallest Ferris wheel Big Eye, a sledding slope with the longest slope in Honam, a state-of-the-art caravan camping site, and various performances, entertainment and experience facilities.

It was opened on October 15, 2013 to lead the popularization of science and technology in the Honam region and to contribute to fostering scientific talents and spreading science and culture in the region. In connection with local industries, the main themes are 'light, art, and science'.

Cheomdan is also home to the GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology), the area has also many foreign students studying technology and hi-tech subject areas. A huge Lotte Mart is nearby as well.

Suwan is a very new district boarding Cheomdan. It has one of the only Toys "R" Us stores outside of Seoul, located in the Suwan Lotte Mart Complex.

Take the subway west and get off at Songjeong-ri station. From there, exit south and east and walk down past the row of Chinese markets. Songjeong has a large population of Chinese ex-pats, along with other Southeast Asians like Filipinos, Cambodians, Vietnamese, and Indonesians.

Songjeong Station Market has stood next to Songjeong Railway Station since 1913. Visitors can enjoy a variety of food options, such as sugar-filled griddlecake, fish cake, and croquette with the sights of red ginseng yogurt, egg fried rice, and skewers. The hot-selling item in the alley is a calendar or a notebook marked with the Jeolla-do provincial dialect.

The 1913 Songjeong Station Market became very famous thanks to the praise of experts who selected Songjeong Station Market as the best for the perfect taste, market modernization, and most exemplary urban regeneration and market modernization projects.

These two streets form the pedestrian area of downtown, which is large when compared to other downtown areas with the exception of Seoul and Busan. Any given night these streets will be packed, though the crowds die out around midnight. From restaurants to karaoke rooms, to DVD rooms, pool halls, clubs, bars, movie theaters, and shopping can be done here. Several foreign food restaurants have established themselves here too and two foreign grocers (Western products and a Philippine market) are in this area too. Just about neighborhood has a bus that eventually ends here and taxi drivers will understand "Geumnam-ro". The main landmark is the YMCA, which is handy to ask for as well if using a taxi. The subway makes three stops (Geumnamno 4&5 and Asia Culture Center) all within a short distance, covering the two ends and the middle of the downtown district. Don't miss the underground shopping areas, which spans those three subway stops as well.

Gwangju Biennale is one of the famed art exhibitions in the world. The city celebrates art every second year with international pieces on varying themes. The exhibition runs in even-numbered years. The sister festival to this is the Gwangju Design Festival which runs in odd numbered years and focuses on interior and exterior design elements. Even if you are not interested in the arts, you may be captivated by the pieces.

Ice skating is available at the Pungam World Cup Stadium athletics center for approximately ₩6500. In the front of Gwangju city hall, temporary outdoor ice skating rink will be open in winter, with the price only ₩1000.

A modern ballpark (KIA Champion's field) has been constructed next to the former stadium. Gwangju is also one of the baseball-love city, people have big interested in baseball as well. KIA Tigers is the Gwangju-based team and very strong and influential club in S.Korea. If you like baseball, just come and enjoy the energetic atmosphere of the baseball fans. Don’t be afraid about hooligans, they don’t live and die for the games. Regular ticket price is from ₩8,000 to 15,000 and can be purchased on site or online.

The first-team baseball stadium was completed on February 28, 2014. It is the main stadium of Mudeung Stadium, and it is a baseball stadium right next to Mudeung Baseball Stadium. It has been used as the home stadium for the KIA Tigers since the 2014 season. It received great attention because it was the first-tier main stadium in 12 years since the opening of Munhak Baseball Stadium. It has the title of the first open baseball stadium among Korean baseball stadiums, and is actually a professional baseball stadium.

Watch a Gwangju FC soccer game. Because there is Lotte outlet beside of it, you can enjoy shopping too.

The river in Gwangju runs from the southeast to the west of the city with a well-paved footpath along all the parts of the river in the city. It is perfect for a nice walk or cycle with a few park areas spaced out along the banks. At night, the park offers fountain shows and night lighting, making it ideal for family outings or romantic strolls.

There are many cinemas at Gwangju. But CGV Gwangcheon is the best cinema for tourist, because it is at U-square (Gwangju Bus terminal) so you can find it easily.

The Gwangju Kimchi Cultural Festival used to be held annually around October, every year since 1994. Since 2016, the festival has been held in early to mid-November, right before people all around the country begin their traditional winter kimchi-making. The festival consists of diverse programs and events at Gwangju Kimchi Town, a site designed to give domestic and international visitors an experience of kimchi-making and also promote kimchi manufacturing.

The festival is held in Geumnam-ro and Chungjang-ro Streets, and Gwangju Art Street in every Saturday. Like as the other fringe festivals, any amateur artist can show people their own skills off without requirements. The experience booths for citizens operate in the areas as well.

Eoyeoppeuda-Gungdung is an art party held on Art Street on Saturday. The festival features a variety of programs for citizens and children to enjoy, such as puppet show, magic show, bubble show, and more.

For a mountain over 1,000 meters tall to be located close to a population center of over 1 million people is a rare occurrence not only in Korea but also in the world. Furthermore, it takes only 10 minutes by car from the urban area to the mountain. An unparalleled landmark of Gwangju, it appears to enfold the city in grandeur. It is a common occurrence to see photos of Mudeungsan in many stores or restaurants; if you see a snowy scene with jagged rocks that look almost like long blocks of stone, or a windswept yellow grass image in the same pose, that's Mudeungsan.

Located at the Wonhyo valley, at the northern edge of Mudeung Mountain. It was built by Wonhyo, a Buddhist priest during the Silla dynasty.