Gwangju Wongaksa Temple (원각사(광주))

2.8Km 2025-08-06

197 Jungang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju

Gwangju Wongaksa Temple, a branch temple of Suncheon Seonggwangsa Temple, is part of the Jogye order of Korean Buddhism in Gwangju. Bustling with visitors, the temple offers various events, cultural activities, and Buddhist ceremonies for visitors.

S-Market - Gwangju Chungjang-ro Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (에스마켓 광주충장로)

2.8Km 2024-04-18

73, Chungjang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju

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Zara - Chungjang-ro Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (자라 충장로점)

2.8Km 2024-04-23

67, Chungjang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju

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Chungjang-ro Street (충장로)

2.8Km 2023-11-17

Jungjang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-608-2221

Chungjang-ro Street is Gwangju’s major fashion district, comparable with Myeongdong Street of Seoul. The streets of Chungjang-ro are lined with shopping malls, clothing stores, restaurants, cafes, movie theaters and various other attractions, providing the ultimate experience of modern culture in Gwangju. It is the city's hub of fashion, both trendy and traditional, as well as venue for diverse performances.

Uijae Museum of Korean Art (광주 의재미술관)

2.8Km 2024-11-14

155 Jeungsimsa-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-222-3040

The Uijae Museum of Korean Art was established in memory of the famous Korean artist Heo Baekryeon. Construction of the museum ended in December, 1999, but the museum wasn’t officially opened until November 17, 2001. Built to mimic the curve of a gently sloping road, the museum’s unique design earned architect Jo Seongryong the 10th Korean Architecture Award the same year as the museum’s opening. Measuring 6,000㎡ (B1-2F) in size, the museum is comprised of two exhibition rooms, a storage facility, a seminar room, and a tea ceremony room for visitors. Since its opening, the Uijae Museum of Korean Art has hosted notable exhibitions and seminars such as the 2002 Biennale Project 2 International Symposium.

Arie-ne guesthouse (아리네 게스트하우스)

2.9Km 2024-12-13

6 , Cheonbyeonjwa-ro 428beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-10-2104-8899

Ariene Guesthouse is an integrated cultural platform located in Yangrim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju. The accomodation is located in the downtown area of Gwangju, making it both easily accessible and affordable. On the first basement floor, there is Yanglim Culture Hall, a lounge cafe on the first floor, and a rooftop party room on the fourth floor. The guesthouse has nine rooms on the second and third floors, including double rooms, twin rooms, ondol rooms, and separate dormitory rooms for men and women. Each room is equipped with a bathroom for guests' convenience, and breakfast is provided at no charge. A fee is charged for laundry services. There are modern cultural and historic sites nearby.

Palace Tourist Hotel (파레스 관광호텔)

2.9Km 2025-08-18

13, Jungang-ro 160beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-222-2525

Palace Tourist Hotel is located only a six-minute walk from Geumnamro 4(sa)-ga Station on Gwangju Subway Line 1. Nearby attractions within walking distance include Gwangju Art Street and Yangdong Market.

Yangnim-dong Penguin Village Craft Street (양림동 펭귄마을공예거리)

2.9Km 2025-10-24

92-8 Baekseo-ro, 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.

Owen Memorial Hall (오웬기념각)

3.0Km 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.

Yangnim History & Culture Village (양림역사문화마을)

3.0Km 2023-11-28

7 Seoseopyeong-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-676-4486

Yangnim History & Culture Village is located in the area where Western items and ideas first entered Gwangju over 100 years ago. As such, the neighborhood has a unique collection of Western architecture mixed with traditional hanok houses. There are also many houses of Christian missionaries, who facilitated the advancement of medicine and education in Gwangju. Some areas, such as Penguin Village, have been decorated with murals and outdoor exhibitions to promote art and tourism, helping the elderly locals to make a living.

Gwangju Wongaksa Temple (원각사(광주)) - Area information - Korea travel information