Gwangju.
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Overview

Gwangju (광주, 光州) (means city of light), formerly romanized as Kwangju, is a metropolitan city in the center of South Jeolla province, South Korea. Gwangju has a thriving youth and arts culture and even a glance down the streets of 'Geumnam-ro' will note a generally more fashion-conscious populace. Further to this, the city has numerous art galleries and hosts a biennial Biennale.

Understand

The city has an interesting claim to fame as having the largest and most modern bus terminal (called U-Square) and possibly the largest single pedestrian drinking, dining and clubbing district in the country. This is reflective of the city in general, which holds a much more modern and cleaner appearance than anywhere else in the country, save perhaps Busan.

In Korea, Gwangju is famous for its cuisine as is the province of Jeolla. The entire area had been considered the breadbasket of Korea historically. On the practical side, food is generally tastier and easier on the wallet throughout this province.

Gwangju is well known in South Korea for the Gwangju Massacre (aka the Gwangju Uprising, the May 18 Democratic Uprising or the Gwangju Democratization Movement) of May 18, 1980, in which at least 207 (or far higher depending on whom you ask) demonstrators were killed by the army in the course of suppressing a pro-democracy demonstration. Gwangju was seen as the forefront of the democracy movement in South Korea. The people of the city are proud of the uprising and tend to be at the forefront of any political upheaval in the country.

Climate Gwangju lies between a subtropical and humid continental climate zones. November to April tend to be more continental, while warmer months are more subtropical with hot, humid summers. There are monsoon conditions in June and July and an average of nonheavy snow during winter.

Orientation Gwangju sits roughly 267 km (165 miles) the south of Seoul and about 202 km (125 miles) the west of Busan.

Chungjang-ro and Geumnam-ro streets to the center are Gwangju's conventional shopping and entertainment downtown and the main office building area. U-Square (Gwangju Bus Terminal) area, Chonnam National University Back Gate Area, and Cheomdan & Suwan & Pungam Districts are transportation nodes, comparatively new shopping areas and entertainment downtowns, while Sangmu district is the new office building area.

Mudeungsan National Park lies to the east, and Daechon-dong Countryside is in the south of Gwangju. To the west is Songjeong town where the Gwangju International Airport and Gwangju Songjeong Station are.

The district of Chungjang-ro and Geumnam-ro streets, which is the old urban core, is the most accessible area for foreigners, and many of Gwangju's attractions can be found here, making it a good base to start exploring the city.

Tourist information To pick up a map you can visit the information desk in stations or landmarks. Information is provided by interpreters in English, Japanese, and Chinese. For tourist information dial (with no prefix number) from within Gwangju. For district tourism offices please see

Gwangju Airport Tourist Information Center.

Songjeong Station Tourist Information Center.

Gwangju Bus Terminal Tourist Information Center (U-Square Tourist Information Center).

Asian Culture Complex Tourist Information Center (1F).

Get in

Muan Int’l Airport is in the west Jeolla province area, near Gwangju. There is the only one flight from Jeju per day.

Some travelers find it easier and cheaper to take a direct bus from Incheon International Airport instead (about 4 hours), Gimhae International Airport in Busan (under 3 hours), and Muan Int’l Airport (about 35 min) as well.

Gwangju Airport is a military airport, so taking photos and videos is strictly prohibited.

By train Korail's KTX trains or SR, Inc.'s SRT run from Seoul 20~23 times a day and are the quickest option for travelers wanting to go to Gwangju from Seoul.

There are several stations to go to Gwangju from Seoul metropolitan city areas, such as Incheon Int’l Airport Station, Yongsan Station, Seoul station, Suseo Station, and Gwangmyeong Station. Incheon Int’l Airport operates Airport Railroad and Airport Limousine Bus from Incheon Int’l Airport to these stations.

The homepage of SRT (SR, Inc) is not supported for other languages yet (May 2017) For foreigners, the tickets can be purchased on site or use Korail trains.

Trains mainly depart from Yongsan or Suseo Station in Seoul, not the main Seoul Station.

The KTX Honam line takes you from Seoul to Gwangju in 90 minutes.

For more details about SRT, check Koject's article out.

By bus Gwangju has a highly developed bus network because of Kumho Express, which is headquartered in Gwangju. Express buses between Seoul and Gwangju depart every 5 to 15 minutes all day long.

Buses from major cities throughout the country arrive and depart from “U-Square” (Gwangju Bus Terminal), a large, fancy bus terminal near the geographic center of the city. The largest and fanciest in the country to be precise: this place looks like an airport. Every taxi driver in Gwangju knows the bus terminal as 버스 터미널, "Beosuh Teo-mee-nal", or “U-Square”. Seoul Gangnam to Gwangju prices are ₩17,600 or ₩37,200 (May 2017) for the standard bus and premium limousine buses, respectively, and the trip takes about 3 or 4 hours. Prices to other cities are comparable; late night buses tend to be a little more expensive.

Get around

Getting around in Gwangju is really quite easy, though rush hour significantly adds to travel time. There are two basic options: buses and taxis. Taxis are generally cheap but buses are frequent and more or less comfortable. Gwangju Subway line stretches from the southeast near downtown to the west-southwest, forming an arc with the northernmost point being near the bus terminal at Nongseong Station (농성역 - Nongseong Yeok). The subway line is not spread over the city, but the trains go through some busy streets. Moreover, Gwangju subway is never overcrowded as much as Seoul.

The four main stops on the subway (though there are 20 in total) are the Culture Center (Munhwajeondang, former Provincial Office), Geumnamno-4 & 5 (pedestrian downtown), and Sangmu (the unofficial commercial center and western-style downtown area). To get to the bus terminal, exit at Nongseong Station (농성역 - Nongseong Yeok) and walk straight north (10 minutes) past E-Mart and Shinsegae department store. The bus terminal is juxtaposed to those two buildings. To take a train, take the subway to Songjeong-ni station and follow the signs for the train station. The second subway line, a circular route connecting major hubs, is under construction as of 2026.

Buses are arranged by colors. Red buses are express buses, running often, making very few stops, and covering large parts of the city. Bus number 순환01 (Sunhwan01) connects Sangmu area to the train station to Chosun University. Buses 풍암06 (Pungam06), 진월07 (Jinwol07), and 첨단09 (Cheomdan09) cover the rest of the city making large squares that intersect in important locations. 좌석02 (Jwaseok02) connects Jeungsimsa Temple to Asia Culture Center to Gwangju & Jeonnam Joint Innovation City and passes through Gwangju's main commercial areas, such as Geumnamno street, Songjeong Station, and Sangmu district. 좌석02 is a little bit expensive than the other buses: ₩1800 in cash and ₩1700 in transportation card. Yellow buses are standard buses that run every 10 – 20 minutes. Green buses are village buses that connect smaller communities and rural areas to transfer points. Purple buses are district circulator buses, generally going to the outskirts of the city. Every neighborhood (동 - dong) to main locations around the city.

Especially during peak hours, bus drivers might not let you ride with big luggage. So be prepared to try your chances with a couple of buses or walk to the subway.

By taxi Taxis are incredibly cheap (by western standards). Late-night surcharges apply between 23:00 and 04:00.

On a traffic-free night, you can get across the city for around ₩10,000. Black taxis have a higher surcharge than white or silver taxis but due to the fact they charge on distances only, tend to drive more unpredictably.

By car Driving and parking in Gwangju are easier than other big cities in Korea. The roads are wide and drivers tend to be pretty inoffensive. The parking chaos seldom emerges except for busy streets. If you are willing to pay for commercial lots in the downtown, parking problem would be no trouble at all.

The reason why Gwangju has been prospered in modern times is, the city was constructed as a central part of South Jeolla. Thereby, if you are coming to explore the area around Gwangju (such as going down to Boseong) then the flexibility of driving yourself will help you enjoy it more.

By bicycle The topography of Gwangju is flat widely, so moving somewhere in the city by bike is quite agreeable. However, South Korean do not tend to have a bicycle culture commonly, the bikeways in the city are not well-kept except for some areas. There are two places that have fine bike lanes in the urban area; one is Gwangju stream embankment and the other one is Pu-reun-gil park.

Gwangju City established a system of renting bikes for free. They will hand you a key and a bike that you can use throughout the day. You will have to leave your passport or ID at the station and you will get it back when you bring back the bike.

If you are looking for the bike rental shop, there are two stores in Gwangju.

You may, however, need a Korean-speaking friend to help you with registration or troubleshooting. Once you want to borrow a bike, the rental shop may ask you to leave your passport or something precious thing as a guaranty.

When it comes to Gwangju's district, there are major areas suitable for pedestrians such as the downtown (Geumnam-ro and Chungjang-ro Streets), the neighborhood of Chonnam National Univ. (mostly around the back gate), Sangmu district, U-square, and so forth. These districts are the commercial and public transit hub of the city and clustered together in a way that makes walking around them possible.

Wherever you are in the city, you can see a huge mountain, Mt. Mudeungsan, on the east side. Choose the direction depends on the mountain's location.

There's usually a bus stop within a five- to ten-minute walk in any direction.

Gwangju is mostly flatlands, walking around the city is quite easy.

Numerous mountains and parks with hiking trails can be found in the city.

Talk

English in Gwangju is not quite as widely understood as it is in Seoul, although people would still know enough to help you out. Taxi drivers are unlikely to have much English knowledge, although there is a translation service the taxi driver can call up if needed. Gwangju also has a distinct dialect different to Seoul. Even if you are pretty good at Korean, understanding conversation between natives would be difficult. They will use standard Korean dialect with foreigners.

See

Travelers coming to Gwangju can experience a slower paced experience than Seoul, despite still feeling the Ppalli Ppalli (빨리 빨리 - hurry hurry) lifestyle of Korea. Gwangju also serves well as a good hub for touring the surrounding province of South Jeolla.

Asia Culture Center. You can see art exhibitions and musical performances at this national art complex. It's one of the largest museums in South Korea, but most of the facilities are built in the basement. Old South Jeolla Provincial Hall, where the Gwangju Uprising started in 1980, is involved in this area. You can also buy Korean-style souvenirs here.It is a place with a very beautiful night view. For this reason, it becomes a popular walking place, dating course, and friendship street for Gwangju citizens at night. However, the location in charge of the city is similar to that of the National Theater + Sejong Center for the Performing Arts + Seoul Arts Center, so there are not many people interested in culture and art, so it is lame during the day.However, as the Gwangju Fringe Festival, which has been promoted since late 2015, was held in connection with the Cultural Center, it quickly emerged as Gwangju's first landmark as many people began to flock as the Cultural Center succeeded in promoting it. It is the largest cultural theme complex in the country, and it is easy to fall off while walking if you get lost.

Art Street. A back street near downtown spanning approximately three blocks. It is full of artists and their works in galleries and nicely decorated store windows. In the evenings, it is lit up especially beautiful and provides a nice quaint walk a stone's throw from the most hectic pedestrian area in town. For artists seeking supplies, many of the stores also carry very affordable materials.

On every Saturday from April to October, an art party is held in Art Street. The festival features a variety of programs for citizens and children to enjoy, such as puppet show, magic show, bubble show, and more. Over 40 participatory events with free admission include 3D printing, flower art, plaster hand printing, leather crafts, art therapy, music therapy, etc.

Jeungsimsa Temple. Jeungsimsa Temple, one of Gwangju’s main Buddhist temples, is located at the western foot of Mudeungsan Mountain. Important cultural artifacts are preserved on the grounds. Climbing up the temple is quite easy. You can walk along the trail with an atmosphere in a quiet stillness. Jeungsimsa operates temple stay programs for tourists.

Mt. Mudeungsan pillar-shaped joint cliff. The Jusangjeollidae (pillar-shaped joint cliff) Overlook of Mudeungsan Mountain is the product of volcanic activity during the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era. Due to prolonged weathering, it has come to form a beautiful natural landscape that resembles a series of pillars or an extended folding screen. The cliffs set against the surrounding greenery and the rest of Mudeungsan Mountain make for a particularly majestic view.

Gwangju Confucian School. The Gwangju Confucian School, which played a key role in Confucian education during the Joseon Dynasty (1329–1910) and served as a kind of national university at the time, today offers a “Confucian university” program through which participants can experience diverse aspects of traditional culture.

May 18 Archives. The 5.18 Archives systematically preserve and manage photos and images related to the May 18 Democratic Movement, which was listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World on July 27, 2011. The archive is located at the former Gwangju Catholic Center building on Geumnam-ro Street, where the pro-democracy demonstration took place. The collection includes photographs, films, and videos.

The Traditional Culture Center. The center is near the entrance of Jeungsimsa Temple, at the foot of Mudeungsan Mountain. At the center, masters who have been designated as intangible cultural properties teach the public about traditional culture: Pansori (traditional Korean folk opera); Janggu (traditional drumming technique); Gayageum (traditional Korean zither). Performances are also held to demonstrate such elements of traditional Korean art and culture. A free performance of Gugak is held on every Saturday from 15:00.

Daein Market. A night market opens on every Saturday with artists, professional and amateur, showing and selling their creations on moving stands. The eye-catching goods include silver accessories, ceramics, handmade soaps, artisanal cutting boards, wood crafts, and paintings. The best selling items include bowls of hot soup with rice, pancakes made of mung beans or seafood and scallions, and pan-fried seasoned pork. Among the “fusion” options are dessert macaroni, noodles that sell for only ₩1,000 per serving, and skewered octopus.

Yangdong Market. 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.

5.18 Memorial Park. 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.

Gwangju Student Independence Movement Memorial Hall. 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.

Pung-am District. 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.

Kumho World Electronics Market. 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. 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. 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.

Sajik Park & Observatory. 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 Countryside. 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.

Gwangju Kimchi Town. 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.

Gwangju Pochungsa Temple. 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.

Woo Il-Seon Missionary House. 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. 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.

Gwangju National Museum. 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's Back Gate Area. 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.

GWANGJU-KIA CHAMPIONS FIELD. 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.

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

Gwangju Family Land. 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.

Gwangju National Science Museum. 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'.

Gwangsan-Gu (광산구, Gwangsan District)

Cheomdan District. 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 District. 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.

Songjeong dong and Tteok galbi street. 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.

After passing the Gwangsan-gu district office, turn right. On days ending with a 3 or 8 (03, 08, 13, 18, etc.) there is a five-day interval traditional market (송정 시장 - Songjeong shijang) where produce prices are roughly 1/3 of the supermarket prices. Additionally, there is Tteokgalbi street, famous for its Tteokgalbi. In case you're wondering what Tteokgalbi is, it's minced beef ribs made into patties and served in the typical meat and leaves barbecue that embodies much of Korean cuisine. It's a bit on the pricey side for Korean restaurants, ₩11,000-16,000.

1913 Songjeoung Station Market. 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.

For more details, check Gwangju Tourism Info Center out.

Do

Geumnam-ro and Chungjang-ro Streets. 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 & Design Biennale. 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. Ice skating is available at the Pungam World Cup Stadium athletics center for approximately ₩6500.

Baseball. 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. 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.

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

Walk Gwangju River. 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.

Cinema. 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.

Gwangju Kimchi Cultural Festival. 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.

Gwangju Fringe Festival. 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. 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.

Mudeungsan National Park. 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.

To get to mount Mt. Mudeungsan, take the subway east to Hakdong and follow the signs. Additionally, cleverly labeled bus 1187 (the height of meters of Mudeungsan) goes straight there. Catch 1187 from the bus terminal, among other places and hold on tight: the road may be twisty and thin but that doesn't mean it'll be a slow ride.

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

Eat

As the nickname, ‘The City of Gourmets’, Gwangju features numerous special cuisines for visitors. The reason why there are no 'King' restaurants in Gwangju is all of them are well known in the country and placed higher than standard quality basically.

There are dishes you should try in Gwangju that is not typically available in other parts of Korea.

Songjeong Tteokgal-bi. Tteok-galbi is a local specialty with an area dedicated to it near Songjeong-ri subway station. Tteok-galbi is minced beef ribs made into patties and served in the typical meat and leaves barbecue that embodies much of Korean cuisine. It's a bit on the pricey side for Korean restaurants.

You can find occasionally restaurants dealing in Tteok-galbi in downtown, but mainly located in the front of Songjeoung Station. It is quite close to the stores from the station but can be a little bit hard to find to a first-time visitor. The phrase “Tteok-galbi-jip eodie is-seoyo? (떡갈비집 어디에 있어요?)”, means “Where is the Tteok-galbi store?”, or alternatively 'Tteok-galbi-jip chat-go-is-seoyo. (떡갈비집 찾고 있어요.)' has the same meaning. The pedestrian will help you gladly.

Ori-tang. Gwangju duck stew is a special cuisine which is not easy to taste in the other parts of South Korea. Gwangju and Jeolla Province’s duck stew contains chili pepper powder, water parsley, and roasted perilla seeds to thicken the dish. It served with a rice porridge made with jujube, glutinous rice, ginseng, chestnut, and so forth. It contains chili pepper powder, but it is the right amount of spicy because roasted perilla seeds neutralize its hot taste. You will find dedicated restaurants for this at the front area of Gwangju station (Not Gwangju Songjeoung Station).

Sangchu-Twigim. It is an unused concept. It is pretty similar to Ssam (eat something wrapped in leaves of lettuce), but the contents are deep-fried food or something like fritters. Pick the fried food, dipped in soy sauce, wrapped in leaves of lettuce, and devour it. It sounds weird but, the leaves of lettuce help to get rid of greasiness of fried food, and it is a sublime combination of flavors. The dedicated stores are located in central Sangmu district; at the front intersection of Sejeong Outlet (세정 아울렛).

Yuk-jeon. They slice the beef thinly, dip it in an egg mixture and wheat flour and sear it lightly. You can eat it wrapped in leaves of lettuce or mixed with green onion salad. It is somewhat expensive but worth a splurge.

Han-jeongsik (한정식; Korean Table d'hote)

Han-jeongsik is derived from Joseon dynasty's royal table. Gwagnju-Jeolla province has been regarded as the top-flight of it. The Gwangju table d’hote features all sorts of seafood, selected ingredients and, plentiful side dishes.

Mid-range - Haengbok-han-Imgeumnim (행복한 임금님; Happy King restaurant) The restaurant offers two main choices of 임금님 수라상 (Imgeumnim sura-sang) and the 떡갈비 수라상 (Tteokgalbi sura-sang). Along with the main course, more than 18 side dishes are served together with restaurant's signature red yeast steamed rice. Guests can order add-ons such as a steamed pork dish served with kimchi, spicy seafood, and steamed pork, or smoked duck. Meals from ₩12,000

Splurge - Myeongseon-heon About (명선헌) The course comes with 30 dishes or so, including Gulbi-gui (grilled corvina), Hongeo-hoe (raw skewed skate), Galchi-jorim (braised cutlassfish), Bossam-kimchi (wrapped kimchi with steamed pork), Jeotgal (salted seafood), and so forth. A kilometer to the right from the main entrance of Mudeung Park Hotel (무등파크호텔).

Hwangsolchon. (ex-Minsokcheon franchise) Very famous franchise specialized in Samgyeopsal (Korean barbecue) in Gwangju. There are three branch stores in the city: Sangmu district, Suwan district, and Chungjang-ro brunch.

Gwagn-ga. Gwan-ga is quite a large restaurant. It is famous for roasted duck dishes made by stuffing a duck with medicinal herbs and grains and cooked under very high temperature.

Nolboo Bossam. Famous franchise specialized in bossam (boiled pork eaten with a salty sauce and wrapped in greens) in S. Korea. Several locations in the downtown district.

Wang Bbyeo Sarang. You can try Korean soup and rice (Gukbab or Haejanguk).

International food The international food in Gwangju is somewhat expensive than the other cities. You can choose only mid-range option or more.

First Alleyway. American/Canadian style

Phobay. Vietnamese style. There are 7 branches in Gwangju.

Black Stone. Western style. There are 2 more branches in Gwangju (Sangmu and Suwan district).

Saemi's Kitchen. Greek-Turkish style

Outback Steak House. Western style. There are 2 branches in Gwangju.

Vegetarian diet & halal food (pork free)

Drink

There are several major "Good-to-Carouse" areas in Gwangju.

In Gu-sicheong (구시청; next to ACC and Chungjang district) you can hang out with young people, mostly early to mid-twenties. However, the place is regarded as a meat-market. You should not expect to speak in English in that area. Some pubs or bars are “clean”, but it will take some pains to find out.

Sangmu district is also considered as a meat-market, but Friday night and weekend only. Late 20s to early 30s office workers are the main users.

Chonnam National University's back gate is a bendering & amusement place. The users consist of students mainly. The back gate of Chosun Univ. is almost the same, but the scale of the former one is bigger.

Suwan, Cheomdan, and Yongbong district are entertainment districts as well, but that are somewhat far from the downtown.

The following are several popular foreigner-friendly bars (though all will cater to foreign customers) in Gwangju.

Speakeasy. - Visit the website for a map and details of events.

LOFT28. (House party & club style) The owner and staff are foreigners.

Coboc & Reboot. Cozy chairs and a good view.

Kkotpineun-Chunsamwol. Traditional Korean style cafe. The cafe is on the outskirts of the city. Using public transit would be uncomfortable.

Amble. 1950s style in Western, coffee & beer with snacks.

Sleep

The cheapest place to sleep anywhere in Korea is at the local Jjimjil-bang (찜질방; Korean dry sauna). This is a kind of public bathhouse that has a communal room for sleeping on the heated floor. There's a bare possibility that is robbed by the thief when you're sleeping but, Be Vigilant at least.

Welbing Geongang Laendeu. With both Jjimjil-bangs in the Geumnamno shut down, this is the closest one left. Unique in that it truly embodies the rebellious spirit of Gwangju by daring to provide a sufficient number of sleeping mats. Your eyes are not deceiving you! On the flip side, it pays lip service to the Korean running-gag by providing an abysmally low number of headrest cubes. They can't all be winners kid.

Oasita Hostel. There is English explanation on the website.

Gaudy motels abound in Korea, and this is no less true in Gwangju. The main concentration of motels is in and around Sangmu district, between the Sangmu and Uncheon subway stops, or at the front of Gwangju station, and Cheomdan district, near the Lotte Mart. Motels can range from ₩30,000-50,000 and tend to be very seedy. One can judge the quality of a "love" motel by the movie selection usually proudly displayed near the cashier and the vending machines located throughout the motel.

If you want ‘Not-bad-Motel’, check 'Goodstay' accommodation lists out that is endorsed by the Korea Tourism Organization.

Windmill Motel. This is a reasonably priced motel right beside the downtown pedestrian area. It can be easily spotted along the river with a large windmill on top. It has a selection of rooms including a large group room which is perfect for a group of friends.

F&T Motel. This is neat and the reputation of a motel in Gwangju.

There are two quite reputable hotels in Gwangju. The other, near Mount Mudeungsan, is the Shinyang Park Hotel . The Sangmu Ramada is more conveniently located for business, whereas the Shinyang Park Hotel offers a more peaceful and quiet stay.

Holiday Inn in Gwangju is located in Sangmu district. The hotel is regarded as the most luxurious accommodation in the city. It has a good view and is known for nice breakfast. From about ₩130,000 a night.

ACC Design Hotel is a hotel in the downtown. It is located in the middle of downtown, right next to Wooribank (우리은행). Rooms from ₩77,800

Misori Guesthouse. Hanok (Traditional Korean-style house) Style. There is English explanation on the website.

Horanggasinamu Hill Guest House. There is English explanation on the website.

Byulbam Guesthouse. There is English explanation on the website.

Sinsiwa Guesthouse. There are two branches in Gwangju.

Learn

Some universities in Gwangju provide Korean language programs for foreigners.

Language Education Center of Chonnam National University.