Missionary Wilson's House (우일선 선교사 사택)

6.2Km 2024-12-04

20 Jejung-ro 47beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-607-2333

Missionary Wilson’s House is a two-story brick building that sits upon the eastern foothills of Yangnimsan Mountain. Known as the oldest surviving Western-style house in Gwangju, the house is an icon of modern culture and architecture in Korea. The house was built by an American missionary named Wilson in the 1920s (exact date unknown) and was the home of the Wilson family while they stayed in Korea. When the family completed their work in Korea, they sold the house for a very cheap price with the stipulation that the house continued to be used for missionary purposes. The house fell into the possession of the General Assembly of Chonnam Presbyterian Church of Korea in 1986 and now serves as the home office for the Presbyterian Church of Korea.

The square-shaped house consists of a living room, a family room, a kitchen, and a bathroom (1F), several bedrooms (2F), and storage areas and a boiler room (B1). The fact that the entrance of the house faces east is said to be a result of the prevailing architectural culture of Korea at that time. A Netherland-style house built with 55-milimeter thick, gray bricks, the first and second stories are delineated on the exterior with an eye-catching band of bricks.

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Here, Woo-jin (played by Lee Jong Suk), Sim-deok (played by Shin Hye-sun), and their troupe rehearsed for their play in "Hymn of Death." The Western-style building, framed by a lush forest backdrop, offers an exotic and picturesque setting.

Gwangju World Cup Stadium (광주월드컵경기장)

6.2Km 2021-06-11

240, Geumhwa-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-604-2002

Gwangju World Cup Stadium is a major symbol of Gwangju. Designed to reflect the notion of ‘spreading far and wide’ the exterior is shaped like spokes of a wheel. When lit up, the stadium looks like a glowing dome. The ceiling and large ‘Y’-shaped pillars resemble a ‘Go,’ an instrument used in a traditional game from Gwangju, Gossaumnori. These architectural features were designed to capture and reflect the traditional aspects of Gwangju. The soccer stadium can accommodate up to 40,000 people at once and has many subsidiary facilities, including media center, athlete waiting room, medical care facilities, and more.

Chonnam National University Medical Museum (전남대학교 의학박물관 (전남대학교 의과대학 구 본관))

6.2Km 2024-10-10

160 Baekseo-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju

Chonnam National University Medical Museum opened in 2021 at the previous main building for the university's medical education department, used from 1952 to 1957. It is the oldest building within the university campus, while featuring modern design elements over the exterior.

Yangnim-dong Penguin Village Craft Street (양림동 펭귄마을공예거리)

6.2Km 2024-12-06

20-13 Ogiwon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Yangnim-dong Penguin Village Craft Street is a narrow alleyway located behind the Yangnim-dong Community Center. The village, named because of the way the elderly residents appear to waddle like penguins, has become an exhibition space of life in the 70s and 80s. Villagers cleaned up empty houses that had been burnt down and left unattended in the past, brought discarded items, and began displaying them on the village walls. "Let's be thankful for living at that time" was engraved on the village wall. It also has historical culture, such as the House of Choe Seunghyo, the House of Missionary Uilsa, and Owen Memorial Hall. The Penguin Jumak in the middle of the village was the residents' gathering place, selling small but necessary items. Various workshops, such as leather workshops, textile workshops, and carpentry workshops, are located on Craft Street, so you can purchase pretty crafts or experience upcycling crafts with a retro vibe in which the historical and the modern coexist.

Lotte Outlets - Gwangju World Cup Branch (롯데아울렛 광주월드컵점)

6.2Km 2020-05-20

240, Geumhwa-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-606-2500

Lotte Outlets - Gwangju Worldcup Branch is the first Lotte shopping outlet to provide famous local fashion brands at a lower price. It is connected to Lotte Mart - Worldcup Branch, so one can shop for both fashion and groceries at the same time. There are sports facilities near the store, including Gwangju World Cup Stadium and a swimming pool.

Art Polygon Horanggassinamu (호랑가시나무 아트폴리곤)

6.2Km 2025-02-04

22 Jejung-ro 47beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Located in Yangnim-dong, Art Polygon Horanggasinamu is a multi-purpose cultural space that hosts various programs such as exhibitions, lectures, and performances. In 2021, it was used as one of the venues for the Gwangju Biennale. The space was created by preserving and expanding the original structure of a missionary's garage. Yangnim-dong is home to many modern historical cultural heritage sites and art galleries that connects the past and the present.

Chosun University Museum of Art (조선대학교 미술관)

6.2Km 2025-01-02

308 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju

The Chosun University Museum of Art was established to serve as a window to convey the flow of local and international art. It plays an important role in discovering, collecting, and preserving regional artwork, while providing artist with a stage to display their work. The museum has significantly contributed to the regional culture. Through special annual exhibitions, it discovers young artists, educates students and promotes local art. To provide an exhibition experience to students, the museum also holds exhibitions featuring work created by students.

10y Ground (10년후그라운드)

6.2Km 2024-11-14

1 Yangchon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Originally a sports complex, the 10y Ground has transformed into a dynamic cultural hub offering educational opportunities, community programs, and a range of unique initiatives. It also provides space for diverse services, including food, beverages, and lifestyle options. Visitors can enjoy various cultural and art programs and shop for locally produced goods and souvenirs.

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 2024-11-12

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.

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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.

Missionary Wilson's House (우일선 선교사 사택) - Area information - Korea travel information