Gwangju

Gwangju 광주시
Metropolitan City
Gwangju Metropolitan City
transcription(s)
• Hangul	광주광역시
• Hanja	光州廣域市
• Revised Romanization	Gwangju-gwangyeoksi
• McCune-Reischauer	Kwangju-kwangyŏksi
Downtown Gwangju from city hall
Flag Slogan of Gwangju
Map of South Korea with Gwangju highlighted
Country	South Korea
Region	Honam
Districts	5
Government
• Mayor	Yoon Jang-hyeon[1]
Area
• Total	501.24 km2 (193.53 sq mi)
Population (October, 2014[2])
• Total	1,477,780
• Density	2,900/km2 (7,600/sq mi)
• Dialect	Jeolla
Flower	Royal Azalea
Tree	Ginkgo
Bird	Dove
GDP	US$ 36.7 billion [3]
GDP per capita	US$ 24,520 [3]
Website	gwangju.go.kr

Gwangju (Korean pronunciation: [kwaŋdʑu]) is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister. The city was also the capital of South Jeolla Province until the provincial office moved to the southern village of Namak in Muan County in 2005.

Gwang (광, Chinese letter: 光) means "light" and Ju (주, Chinese letter: 州) means "province." Areas of scenery along the outskirts of the city gave birth to gasa, a form of Korean classical poetry. Located in the center of the agricultural Jeolla region, the city is also famous for its rich and diverse cuisine.

History

The city was established in 57 BC. It was one of the administrative centres of Baekje during the Three Kingdoms Period.^[4]

In 1929, during the period of Japanese rule, a confrontation between Korean and Japanese students in the city turned into a regional demonstration, which culminated in one of the major nationwide uprisings against Japanese rule during the colonial period.

Modern industry was established in Gwangju with the construction of a railway to Seoul. Some of the industries that took hold include cotton textiles, rice mills and breweries. Construction of a designated industrial zone in 1967 encouraged growth in industry, especially in the sectors linked to the automobile industry.

In May 1980, peaceful demonstrations took place in Gwangju against the newly installed military government of Chun Doo-hwan. The demonstrations were suppressed by military forces, including elite units of the Special Operations Command. The situation escalated after a violent crackdown, resulting in the Gwangju Uprising, where the civilians raided armories and armed themselves. By the time that the uprising was suppressed, many hundred civilians and several policemen / soldiers were dead. After civilian rule was reinstated, a national cemetery was established honouring the victims of the incident.^[5]

In 1986, Gwangju separated from Jeollanam-do to become a Directly Governed City (Jikhalsi), and then became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi) in 1995.^[6]

Gwangju is the main campaign capital of the liberal Democratic United Party, and its predecessors.

Administrative divisions

Gwangju is divided into 5 districts ("Gu").

Religion

Religion in Gwangju (2005)^[7]

  Not religious (52.9%)

  Protestantism (19.7%)

  Buddhism (14.4%)

  Catholicism (13%)

According to the census of 2005, of the people of Gwangju 32.7% follow Christianity (19.7% Protestantism and 13% Catholicism) and 14.4% follow Buddhism.^[7] 52.9% of the population is mostly not religious or follow Muism and other indigenous religions.

Population

The population model of Gwangju is as follows;^[8]

Climate

Education

Chonnam National University is a public university in Gwangju.

Honam Univ, Gwangju University, Gwangshin University, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju Education University, Gwangju Women's University, Nambu University, Chosun University, and Honam Christian University are private universities.

Gwangju Health University is a private community college offering associate degrees in humanities and social sciences, healthcare sciences, and a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Gwangju has 593 schools, consisting of 234 kindergartens, 145 elementary schools, 84 middle schools, 65 high schools, 1 science high school (Gwangju science academy), 7 junior colleges, 9 universities, 38 graduate schools, and 11 others (as of 1 May 2009) with a total of 406,669 students, or 28.5% of the total city population. The average number of students per household is 0.8.

Transportation

The city is served by the Gwangju Subway. An extension was completed in April 2008 with another due for completion in 2012. There are two KTX (high-speed rail) stations in the city: Gwangju Station and Gwangju Songjeong Station. Gwangju Songjeong station connects to the Gwangju Subway and local bus system.

Gwangju has an extensive system of public buses that traverse the city.^[10] Bus stops and buses themselves contain stop information in Korean and in English. Local buses, but not the subway or KTX, connect to the intercity Gwangju Bus Terminal known as U-Square.^[11]

Gwangju public transport fares can be paid with cash, some Korean bank cards, or via reloadable public transport cards, or small accessories attachable to phones or keychains, such as Hanpay, T-Money, and CashBee which are available at convenience stores.^[12] A small discount is provided when using non-cash fare.^[12] Reduced fares are available for youth (13 to 18) and children (7 to 12).^[12] As of August 1, 2016 Gwangju transportation fares, in KRW, are:^[13]

Transfers can be made for free between local bus routes and the subway when using non-cash fare, provided that the user taps off when changing between modes of transportation, is going in the same direction, and, in the case of bus-to-bus transfers, is taking a bus with a different route number.^[12][14] Free transfers between buses can be taken within one hour of tapping off; transfers from bus to subway must occur within half an hour.^[15]

Most local taxis accept local and foreign cards in addition to cash and public transportation cards such as Hanpay.^[16]

Gwangju is also served by the Gwangju Airport.

Tourism

• Gwangju Asia Culture Center - The Asia Culture Center (also known as the ACC or Asian Culture Complex) is a facility located 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. ^[17]
  • Facilities
    • ACC Exchange includes May 18th Memorial Halls 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the Ticket Office and Visitor Centre, and the Exchange and Cooperation centre. It is the only facility located on street level and incorporates buildings that survived the May 18th democratic uprising. The May 18th Democracy Square and a public use plaza are also located on street level. ACC Exchange has no charge for admission to the May 18 Memorial.
    • ACC Archive and Research, located in basement levels one through four includes a lecture room, conference hall, the Asian Culture Research Institute, Asian Culture Academy, Library Park, a Theater, a Reading Room, the Asian Culture Resource Archives, and the Culture Archive Storage. The Archives are free to the public.
    • ACC Creation, located in basement levels two through four contains six spaces for exhibits and installations and the ACT Studio. General admission to the exhibits is 20,000 won, 14,000 won for students, and 5,000 won for elementary aged students.
    • ACC Theater, located in basement levels three and four, includes two theaters with convertible seating, one of which can open to connect with the Outdoor Space to form an Outdoor Theater with open-air seating. Pricing for theater events varies.
    • ACC Children, located in basement levels one and two, comprises the Culture Adventure centre, Children's Content R&D Center, the Play Culture, Play Kids, Playhouse, and Play Library centres, a Cafeteria and Lunch Lounge, and a Children's Event Hall.^[18] Prices vary between areas of 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 located at the Jung-oe Park Culture Center and the Science Center.
• Gwangju Culture & Art Center – The Center regularly hosts events.Gwangju Culture & Art Center Official Website
• Gwangju Hyanggyo (Confucian School) – Gwangju Hyanggyo is located in the Gwangju Park in Sa-dong. There are traditional houses here estimated as built during the 1st year of the Joseon Dynasty in 1392. This school continues to hold memorial ceremonies for Confucius twice a year. Admission is free. More about Gwangju Hyanggyo
• Gwangju National Museum – The museum houses a permanent collection of historical art and cultural relics that date back to the old Joseon and Goryeo periods of Korean history. The museum also organizes exhibitions and cultural learning activities that are open to the public.
• Gwangju 5.18Road – 5.18 Road is the course about the Democratisation Movement in 1980. The courses include the historical places. More about 5.18Road
• May 18th National Cemetery
• 8 Scenes and 5 Flavours of Gwangju
• Food Streets
  • Gwangju has numerous designated Food Streets where multiple restaurants serving dishes renowned to Gwangju can be found. These include Mudeungsan Boribap Street (a meal of barley with a variety of side dishes), Duck Cook Street (oritang, a duck stew, and grilled duck), Folk Tteokgalbi Street (a meal of grilled minced pork or beef patties eaten wrapped in lettuce and served with ox bone soup and a variety of side dishes) and Kotgejang Baekban Street (a meal of crabs preserved in soy sauce served with a variety of side dishes).

Sport and culture

• It is the home of KIA Tigers of the Korea Professional Baseball League (KBO)
  

  Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, home field of Kia Tigers.
• 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 Korea Professional Soccer League (K-League)^[19]
• Universiade – It was the venue for the 2015 Summer Universiade games.
• The 3rd Asia Song Festival, organised by Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, in 2006, was held at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium.^[20]
• The International Design Alliance (IDA) appointed Gwangju as the host destination of the 2015 IDA Congress.
• Festivals are held in Gwangju (ko:광주광역시의 축제 목록)
• 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships
• 2014 Gwangju ACE Fair (Asia Content & Entertainment Fair)^[21]

Gwangju Sangmu Gymnasium

Cityscape

• Mudeungsan – It is a mountain which is a part of Mudeungsan National Park.^[22]

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Gwangju is twinned with:^[23]

Partnerships and Cooperations

Other forms of partnership and city friendship similar to the twin city programmes exist:

• Turin, Italy^[27]

See also

About Gwangju

• Gwangju massacre

General lists

• List of Korea-related topics
• List of cities in South Korea

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gwangju.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Gwangju.

• Official website of Gwangju
• Gwangju News Online: the latest news and views about life around town
• The 18 May Memorial Foundation
• Gwangju :Official Site of Korea Tourism Org
• Gwangju International Center
• Gwangju Guidebook
• Gwangju Foreign Network – Radio Station in English for Gwangju
• Local events guide for Gwangju

Regions and administrative divisions of South Korea
Regions	Sudogwon (Capital area) Gwandong Yeongdong Yeongseo Hoseo Daejeon-Sejong-Chungnam Chungbuk Honam Yeongnam Daegu-Gyeongbuk Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Southeastern MIR Jeju
Provinces	North Chungcheong South Chungcheong Gangwon Gyeonggi North Gyeongsang South Gyeongsang North Jeolla South Jeolla
Special self-governing province	Jeju
Special city	Seoul
Special self-governing city	Sejong
Metropolitan cities	Busan Daegu Daejeon Gwangju Incheon Ulsan
The Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces	North Hamgyeong South Hamgyeong Hwanghae North Pyeongan South Pyeongan

Coordinates: 35°10′N 126°55′E / 35.167°N 126.917°E / 35.167; 126.917