May 18 Democracy Square (5.18 민주광장)

8.6Km 10078 2020-06-09

38, Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-613-2082

Stretching from the former Jeollanam-do Provincial Government Office to the Geumnam-ro area, this famous plaza is where the landmark May 18th Democratic Uprising took place. In May 1980, the Jeollanam-do Provincial Government office building was the headquarters of the civil resistance movement and the scene of a number of rallies. The plaza has been officially known as the May 18 Democracy Square since 1996.

Gwangju Art Street (광주 예술의 거리)

8.7Km 32132 2020-06-19

24, Yesul-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-942-6160

Gwangju Art Street is aimed at developing Gwangju’s traditional art scene through exhibition of local work. The street is 300m long and located behind Jungang Elementary School, nearby Gwangju Dongbu Police Station. Items commonly found here include Korean fine art such as paintings, ceramics, writings, and industrial art.

Every Saturday, an art flea market famous for its unique pieces is held here. People from all over the nation gather to display items that include old calligraphy materials, collector coins, stone hairbrushes, Chinaware, wooden sculptures, folk drawings, classic books, ink, and incense burners. Part of the attraction is the stories the collectors share with each part of their collection. Enjoy the many shows and exhibitions that draw regular crowds to this famous road.

The Mudeung art exhibit operates according to districts, and functions as a cultural festival as well. The outdoor exhibition was built in February 1995, and is open throughout the day. The large exhibition space has 32 booths and regularly holds special exhibits. Many regional cultural treasures are also on display here. Every Saturday, the Street of Fine Arts is blocked from traffic, and people gather to share and enjoy art culture. Gwangju Summer Universiade will be held this summer, 2015.

Gwangju Culture Night (광주문화재야행)

8.7Km 0 2023-11-22

38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-229-3070

Experience the history of Gwangju under the moonlight at Gwangju Culture Night. This cutural tourism festival offers a range of programs in the eight themes of nightscape, history tour, experience, exhibition, performance, food, marketplace, and accommodation.

ACC World Music Festival (ACC 월드뮤직페스티벌)

8.7Km 11489 2024-08-09

38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-601-4692

A world music festival hosted by the Asian Culture Center (ACC) that goes beyond borders. This year marks the 15th anniversary and features a wide array of impressive lineup, including notable Korean musicians like Kim Chang-wan Band and one of Persian's greatest musicians Kayhan Kalhor Trio.

Gwangju Busking World Cup (광주 버스킹 월드컵)

8.8Km 0 2024-09-27

B56 Seoseok-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-70-4400-6554

The Gwangju Busking World Cup is a grand-scale event inviting musicians from around the world to perform at this busking competion. Busking is a signature of street culture, with the event taking place around the 5.18 Democracy Square, where the May 18 Democracy Movement took place.

Namgwangju Market (남광주시장)

8.8Km 112 2023-11-20

117 Yangnim-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-226-1101

Namgwangju Market formed naturally in the area around the old Namgwangju Station, selling everything from seafood and fresh produce to household items. The market suffered a lot when the train station was closed, but it is still very famous for fresh fish, which comes in every morning between 2 and 5 AM. Due to this, there are many raw fish restaurants in the area, with fresh fish and very affordable prices.

Asia Culture Center (국립아시아문화전당)

8.8Km 4908 2024-07-11

38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-1899-5566

The Asia Culture Center (ACC) is an international arts and cultural exchange organization aimed to promote Gwangju as Asia's central hub through the integration of past and present-day cultural arts as well as the development of futuristic and progressive arts. The center consists of ACC Culture Exchange, ACC Children, ACC Archive & Research, ACC Theater, and other facilities to support and foster innovation.

BANANA HOTEL [Korea Quality] / 바나나호텔 [한국관광 품질인증]

8.9Km 1780 2023-05-02

22-13 , Imbangul-daero 825beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-973-0774

Banana Hotel in Gwangju offers guest rooms with laptop lines and Wi-Fi and friendly room service 24 hours a day, with foreign languages also catered for. The hotel is 10 minutes away from the Gwangju Biennale venue and Mudeungsan National Park, so many hikers visit. And Damyang with its famously beautiful bamboo and redwood trees is only about 20 minutes away.

Geumsoojang Tourist Hotel (금수장관광호텔)

8.9Km 10417 2020-04-24

2, Mudeung-ro 321beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-525-2111

Geumsoojang Tourist Hotel is located in the old downtown center, just a seven-minute walk from Gwangju Station. It is known as the best "business hotel with expert Korean cuisine.” It has clean and comfortable guestrooms, other convenient facilities, an organized-customer management system, economic rates, and excellent service.

Arirang House (아리랑하우스)

8.9Km 22142 2016-10-18

2, Mudeung-ro 321 Beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-525-2111~5

With a proud 20-year history, Arirang House is famous for its kimchi, which won a prize at the first Kimchi Festival. In 2003, the restaurant collaborated with Shilla Hotel and Paradise Hotel and successfully hosted a royal cuisine demonstration event, contributing to the promotion of Korean cuisine.

Arirang House serves delicious Korean cuisine in an elegant style. The food is carefully prepared by 11 chefs, including the chef who has thirty years of experience. The kitchen is divided into the side dish team, the special dish team, and the main course team to prepare a total of thirty or so specialized dishes. The flavors are enhanced by using only the freshest natural ingredients and not using any artificial seasonings. Prices vary by course, and each course comes with raw beef, samhap (a combination of three special foods), assorted raw fish, and steamed short ribs. The bossam kimchi (kimchi with slices of steamed pork) is also one of their specialties.

May 18 Democracy Square (5.18 민주광장) - Area information - Korea travel information