tourism city

Gwangju

South Korea · Asia

Score

135

Difficulty

1.00

Lit count

Verified count

Loading map…

Top travelers for this city

No verified travelers yet. Be the first to light Gwangju.

Scarcity

0 travelers have lit this city.

0 are strongly verified.

Selected city attractions

No selected P0 attractions are linked to this city yet. Admins can correct city links after import.

Former city in South Korea

About Gwangju

Gwangju, formerly romanized as Kwangju, was a city in South Korea. In July 2026, the city was merged with South Jeolla Province into a new provincial-level city called Jeonnam-Gwangju.

History

The city was established in 57 BC. It was one of the administrative centers of Baekje during the Three Kingdoms period. During the Imperial Japanese rule, the city was known as Kōshū. In 1929, a confrontation between Korean and Japanese students in the city turned into the Gwangju Student Independence Movement, a regional demonstration that culminated in one of the major nationwide uprisings against Imperial Japanese cruelty during the colonial period. Modern industry was established in Gwangju, and a railway to Seoul was constructed. Some industries that took hold include cotton textiles, rice mills, and breweries. The construction of a designated industrial zone in 1967 encouraged growth in industry, especially in the sectors linked to the automobile industry. …

Climate

Gwangju has a cooler version of the humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa/Cwa) with four distinct seasons and rainfall year-round but particularly during the East Asian Monsoon Season in the summer months. Winters, while still somewhat cold, are milder than in Seoul and cities further north due to the city's southwesterly position in the Korean peninsula. Summers are hot and humid with abundant precipitation, particularly in the form of thunderstorms. Gwangju is one of the warmest cities in Korea in the summer due to its geographic location.

Sport and culture

It is the home of Kia Tigers of the Korea Professional Baseball League (KBO). 2002 FIFA World Cup – Gwangju World Cup Stadium was one of the venues used for the World Cup and was where the South Korea national football team advanced to the semi-finals for the first time in its history by defeating Spain. It is the home of Gwangju FC of the K League. Universiade – It was the venue for the 2015 Summer Universiade games. The 3rd Asia Song Festival an annual Asian pop music festival hosted by the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, in 2006, was held at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium. The International Design Alliance (IDA) appointed Gwangju as the host destination of the 2015 IDA Congress. Festivals are held in Gwangju. …

Content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA. Read the full article →

Tourism

Asia Culture Center – The Asia Culture Center (also known as the ACC) is a facility in downtown Gwangju designed to celebrate and explore Gwangju's artistic and democratic culture and history, as well as provide space to host exhibits, experiences, and events from international artists. It is built primarily below street level, though its design incorporates large amounts of natural lighting. There are five facilities: ACC Exchange, ACC Theater, ACC Creation, ACC Archive & Research, and ACC Children Gwangju Biennale – This is a modern art festival that is held every two years. It was first launched in 1995. The Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall is at the Jung-oe Park Culture Center and the Science Center. Gwangju Culture & Art Center – The center regularly hosts events. Gwangju Hyanggyo (Confucian School) – Gwangju Hyanggyo is in the Gwangju Park in Sa-dong. …

Transportation

The city is served by the Gwangju Subway. An extension was completed in April 2008, with the remainder being completed in 2012. The first phase of a second line, which, when completed, will be an orbital loop line, will open in 2026. There are two KTX stations in the city: Gwangju station and Gwangju Songjeong Station. Gwangju Songjeong Station connects to the Gwangju Subway and the local bus system. Now, the Songjeong station is mainly used. Gwangju has an extensive system of public buses that traverse the city. Bus stops and buses themselves contain stop information in Korean and English. Local buses, but not the subway or KTX, connect to the intercity Gwangju Bus Terminal known as U-Square. Gwangju is also served by the Gwangju Airport.

Demographics

According to the census of 2015, 9.5% of the population followed Buddhism and 28.7% followed Christianity (20% Protestantism and 8.7% Catholicism). 61% of the population is irreligious. One of the largest ethnic enclaves of Koryo-saram (ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union) in South Korea is located in Gwangju: the Gwangju Koryoin Village. Schools in the vicinity of the village, such as Ha-nam Jung-ang Elementary School, have significant proportions of Russian speakers as a result.