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Gwangju (광주, 光州), also known as Kwangju, is in South Jeolla, South Korea.

Introduction

Gwangju is best known for the Gwangju Massacre of May 1980, in which at least 207 (the number is disputed) students were killed by army forces suppressing a pro-democracy demonstration.

In Korea, Gwangju is famous for its local cuisine as is the province of Jeolla.

Get in

By plane

Gwangju Airport (IATA: KWJ) has flights to Seoul, Jeju and Shanghai.

Most travellers find it easier and cheaper to take a direct bus from Incheon International Airport instead (3-4 hours). There are 1-2 departures hourly and the cost ranges from 28,000 to 36,000 won.

By train

Korail and KTX trains run from Seoul multiple times a day and are the quickest option for travellers wanting to go to Gwangju from Seoul. The trip takes 3 hours and the cost is 33,000-39,000 won. Note that non-KTX services depart from Yongsan Station in Seoul, not the main Seoul Station.

By bus

Buses from major cities throughout the country arrive and depart from Gwangju Bus Terminal, a large and very new bus station which every taxi driver in Gwangju will know as "bus terminal".

Get around

Getting around in Gwangju is really quite easy. You have the two basic options of Buses and Taxis, and if you're a local or just visiting and know your areas, there is also a partially completed subway line.

By subway

The Subway is very cheap, approx. 1000Won, to get from Downtown Kumnamno to a few other stops, Sangmu-Jigu being the most prominent. An extension to the airport is under construction.

By bus

Buses run frequently. Each area has its best way to get downtown or too other areas (dongs) but for the most part, a general rule of thumb is Number 1 Buses go downtown, the most common destination and the best stop would be the YMCA as its the most recognisable stop for a first time user(its where everyone else gets off). Jumping to the other side of the road is the pick up point for buses leaving downtown; either wait a while to cross at the lights, or go underground and walk under the roads. you will also find the underground shopping market with this route and experience a variety of cheaper items, and a newly opened Foreign Food Market at store J20, which stocks foods not easy to find in the typical korean supermarkets.

By taxi

Taxis are incredibly cheap (by Western standards at least) you can get across the city for around 10,000Won, or $10 approx. US. which can take as long as an hour depending where you start and where your going, or more depending on traffic,but often if you have a few people sharing a taxi splitting a $10 taxi fair between 3 or 4 people is only $1 or $2 more than the bus, and you have the comfort of a taxi. Black taxis run on distance and for this reason they have a higher surcharge 2,100Won, as apposed to White or Silver Taxis surcharge 1,800Won, but also don't drive slower, and are seen as the luxury alternative to weaving in and out of busy traffic.

See

Travellers coming to Gwangju can experience a slower paced experience than Seoul, whilst still getting the bali bali (hurry hurry) lifestyle of Korea. It's also a good hub for touring the surrounding province of South Jeolla.

• Mudeung Mountain (Mudeungsan), to the south east of the city. It is a common occurrence to see photos of Mudeung 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 Mudeung.

GwangJu is most known for its democratic uprising; and as such has two memorials, one in the above mentioned area SangMu-JiGu, the other the Cemetery which is north east of the city and is a very large memorial with detailed museums and educational facilities to enlighten visitors of the events that lead to the uprising.

• Art Street. A back street spanning approximately three blocks. It is full of artists works in galleries and nicely decorate the streets glass cases at different times throughout the year. For artists seeking supplies, many of the stores also carry very affordable materials.

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 south eastly direction. Along the river edge you can see a giant circle which is beautifully lit at night, as well as many other coloured lights which are becoming a symbol of GwangJu which as its slogan is promoted as the City of Light and Hope, and which has a large photonics district in its most northern dong Cheomdan.

Cheomdan also hosted a light festival in 2007, running from April 27th till June 24th; included in the festival were many exhibits and replicas of famous locations, and a performing circus.

Cheomdan is also home to the GIST(GwangJu Institute of Science and Technology), the area has also many foreign students studying abroad.

Do

World Cup Stadium

Ice Skating is available at the Pung-Am World Cup Stadium athletics center for approximately 6500 Won.

The city-center (Shinae/시내) is full with ground level shopping, cafés, bars and restaurants. Cars rarely enter the city center, so it is a pedestrian haven. It is, however, very small.

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