Gwangju walking tour & city guide
A city of democracy, art and the best food in Korea.
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Gwangju, the largest city in Korea's southwest, holds a special place in the country's history as the site of the May 18 Democratic Uprising of 1980. Today it is a vibrant center of art and culture, and the surrounding Jeolla region is widely considered to have the finest food in Korea.
History and democracy
In May 1980, citizens of Gwangju rose up against military rule, and the uprising was violently suppressed. It is now recognized as a turning point in Korea's path to democracy. The May 18th National Cemetery and the 5.18 Memorial Park honor the victims, and the old Jeonnam Provincial Office in the city center was at the heart of the events.
The archives of the uprising are listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World register.
Art and culture
Gwangju is home to the Gwangju Biennale, Asia's first contemporary art biennale, founded in 1995. The Asia Culture Center, a vast complex partly underground in the city center, hosts exhibitions and performances.
Yangnim-dong Penguin Village is a quirky neighborhood decorated with old clocks, recycled objects and artwork, and the Yangnim-dong area also preserves early 20th-century missionary houses. The Chungjang-ro shopping street is the city's lively downtown.
Nature and tips
Mudeungsan National Park, on the city's edge, offers hiking trails to rocky summit formations. Gwangju is under two hours from Seoul by KTX, and a good base for visiting Damyang's bamboo forests and the coastal regions of South Jeolla.
Top sights in Gwangju
- 1
May 18th National Cemetery
A memorial to the victims of the 1980 uprising.
- 2
Asia Culture Center
A major arts complex in the city center.
- 3
Yangnim-dong Penguin Village
A quirky village of recycled art.
- 4
Mudeungsan National Park
Mountain trails with dramatic rock formations.
- 5
Chungjang-ro
The main downtown shopping street.
- 6
Gwangju Biennale Hall
Home of Asia's first contemporary art biennale.
Food markets & where to eat in Gwangju
Songjeong tteokgalbi street
Restaurants serving grilled minced beef patties.
Daein Market
A traditional market with a night market and art projects.
Yangdong Market
One of the largest traditional markets in the region.
Chungjang-ro cafés
Cafés and dessert shops downtown.
Food to try in Gwangju
Tteokgalbi
Grilled patties of minced beef short rib.
Jeolla-style hanjeongsik
A feast of many small side dishes.
Oritang
A rich duck soup, a Gwangju specialty.
Mudeungsan watermelon
A prized local watermelon variety.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Gwangju
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- Hotels in GwangjuCompare places to stay and prices.
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