Daegwang Sikdang (대광식당)

6.3Km 2025-01-22

15 Sangmu-daero 695beon-gil, Seo-gu, Gwangju

Originally famous for its yukjeon (Pan-fried Battered Beef) in Chungjang-ro, this restaurant has since expanded and relocated to the Sangmu district. It boasts an impressive, upscale interior and is known for preparing all of its side dishes in-house. For a complementary dish to pair with yukjeon, the maesaengi tteokguk comes highly recommended.

Owen Memorial Hall (오웬기념각)

6.3Km 2025-10-23

6 Baekseo-ro 70beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-650-7647

The Owen Monument and Memorial Hall is located inside the Christian College of Nursing. The monument was erected in 1914 in memory of missionary Clement Owen who, together with Priest Bae Yoo-ji, was the first missionary to come to Jeollanam-do. The monument was built using the 4,200 dollars collected by Owen’s relatives in the USA after Owen died as a martyr in Gwangju.

Clement Owen came to Yangnim-dong, Gwangju in the 1900s and served as a missionary and medical volunteer with his wife, who was a nurse, before dying of exhaustion and overwork in 1909. Owen had hoped to build a memorial hospital in honor of his grandfather, but died before his plan was materialized. The plaque hanging in the hall honors both men in English and Chinese, reading, “In Memory of William L. and Clement C. Owen.”

A Western-style building with a total footage of around 1,435 meters squared (including the annex building), the monument is said to have been used as chapel and assembly room. Today, the building serves as the auditorium of the Christian College of Nursing. The white, two-story building features a lectern in one corner, with two columns of pews facing the lectern. The second floor balcony stretches along the two walls opposite the lectern.

◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu’s charm – movie “Love, Lies,”
In the film, So-yul and Yeon-hee come here to see the renowned singer Lee Nan-young perform. Owen Memorial Hall has a history as a venue for Christian gatherings, lectures, concerts, graduation ceremonies, and various cultural events in the region. Today, it continues to serve as a space for both religious and cultural gatherings.

LEEKANGHA Art Museum (이강하미술관)

6.5Km 2024-11-14

6 3·1manseundong-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

The LEEKANGHA Art Museum, opened in 2018, offers a range of exhibitions, educational programs, and a research center. Visitors can explore the life and art world of Lee Kang-ha in different eras through various exhibitions and gain a deeper understanding of art with performances and educational programs. The museum aims to foster empathy and communication to enrich cultural knowledge by using diverse art-culture experience programs.

HOTEL OHU (호텔 오후)

6.5Km 2024-12-09

4-33 Geumhwa-ro 85beon-gil, Seo-gu, Gwangju

HOTEL OHU uses disposable bedding to protect guests for maximum hygiene. Breakfast includes Hangang ramyeon, Taiwan-style sandwich, and drinks. There are plenty of parking spaces. Every room has various OTT service available and guests can also order room service. Each room has unique style for a different feel every time guests visit.

Bitgoeul Korea Traditional Classical Music Instruction Hall (빛고을국악전수관)

6.7Km 2024-12-17

182 Punggeum-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju

Bitgoeul Korea Traditional Classical Music Instruction Hall offers various programs throughout the year. Since 2002, classes on traditional instruments are available, as well as separate children gugak classes. Special exhibition on the second floor has various instruments that visitors can actually try. The permanent exhibition on the third floor has 45 different gugak instruments as well as videos to further provide detailed information. The main area is the performance hall on B1-B2F, with 137 seats, that offers performances every Thursday for free from traditional gugak to fusion music.

Damyang Bamboo Forest (Damyang Marsh) (담양대나무숲 - 담양습지)

6.8Km 2025-01-13

656-2, Taemok-ri, Daejeon-myeon, Damnyang-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-380-3114

Situated between Damyang-gun and Gwangju Metropolitan City, Damyang Wetland is one of the best places to experience the ecology of Yeongsangang River. It is a habitat for the hawk, wildcat, Boreal digging frog (endangered species), and kestrel. It became the first river wetland to be designated as a wetland reserve in 2004.

Innisfree - Gwangju Wolgok Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (이니스프리 광주 월곡점)

7.0Km 2024-04-23

256, Saam-ro, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju

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Mudeungsan Lift Monorail (Jisan Park) (무등산 리프트모노레일 (지산유원지))

7.2Km 2025-08-12

14-10 Jiho-ro 164beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju

To use the lift and monorail located at Jisan Park in Gwangju, visitors can purchase a ticket at the ticket office in the convenience store on the first floor and go up to the boarding area on the second floor. Get on the lift with a track length of 745 meters and an operating speed of 12 m/sec and climb for about 20 minutes while enjoying the scenery of Mudeungsan Mountain to arrive at Bitgoeul Station. From here, visitors can transfer to the monorail. Passengers can feel the thrill of riding toward the top on a monorail which can accommodate about 20 people at a time. A spectacular view of Mudeungsan Mountain will unfold in all directions. The view of Gwangju from Palgakjeong Observatory at the end of the monorail is a beautiful sight that visitors to Gwangju must see at least once as it is a famous attraction to enjoy the view of Gwangju.

May 18th National Cemetery (국립 5·18 민주묘지)

7.2Km 2024-07-11

200 Minju-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-268-0518

The May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju is a symbol of freedom and democracy. The cemetery holds the graves of 764 victims of the May 18th Democratic Uprising in 1980, seven structures, and many monuments.

Jisan Recreation Area (지산유원지)

7.3Km 2023-01-25

35-1, Jiho-ro 164beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-221-2760

Jisan Recreation Area reopened around December 2016, resuming monorail operation after 11 years. The unique rattle of a monorail running on one rail gives passengers a thrill. If you ride the monorail, you can see the panoramic view of Gwangju and the top of Mudeungsan Mountain at a glance. The monorail starts on the mountainside, 50 meters away from the end point of the lift, along the forest road, and runs to and from the top of the mountain in Jisan Recreation Area, where the octagonal pavilion is located. After reopening, it became popular among the younger generation through social media and word of mouth as a unique amusement facility where you can enjoy thrills on Mudeungsan Mountain in Gwangju.

Daegwang Sikdang (대광식당) - Area information - Korea travel information