Sajik Forest of Light (사직 빛의 숲)

9.5Km 2024-12-11

49 Sajik-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Located within Sajik Park, the Forest of Light is a popular night view spot with a fantastic media art that incorporates historical themes of Gwangju. The space features a combination of lighting, video, and music to create multimedia contents, offering a variety of experiences and attractions through interactive art that responds to people's movements. The observation tower hosts a light show, and visitors can enjoy video contents through an AR telescope.

Gwangjuhyanggyo Confucian School (광주향교)

9.6Km 2025-02-04

5 Jungang-ro 107beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju-si

Hyanggyo was a national educational institution during the Joseon dynasty, where the tablets of distinguished Confucian scholars were enshrined, and rituals were held in their honor. In spring and fall, it hosts Seokjeon, a ritual honoring Confucius, along with Seodang (traditional Confucian school) experiences and traditional weddings, offering opportunities to immerse in Confucian culture. In summer, crape myrtle flowers bloom, and in fall, the old ginkgo tree turns golden yellow, beautifully contrasting with the traditional Joseon-style hanok architecture.

CU - Yongbong Sarang Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (cu용봉사랑점)

9.6Km 2024-06-28

42, Yongju-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju

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Yangnim-dong Missionary Cemetery (양림동 선교사 묘지)

9.6Km 2021-05-28

77, Jejung-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-607-2333

The Yangnim-dong Missionary Cemetery is the final resting place of 23 missionaries who brought Christianity to Gwangju and led the movement to free the nation from under Japanese colonial rule. Yangnim-dong in Gwangju Metropolitan City was the main area in which Priest Bae Yu-ji and Dr. Clement Owen carried out their work as the first missionaries to Jeollanam-do.

Located nearby is a monument dedicated to Priest Bae Yu-ji and the Owen Memorial Building, built in honor of Dr. Owen and his grandfather. Both memorials are cultural assets and particularly prized by locals of the Christian faith.

Missionary Wilson's House (우일선 선교사 사택)

9.7Km 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.

◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu’s charm - TV series "Hymn of Death"
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.

Art Polygon Horanggassinamu (호랑가시나무 아트폴리곤)

9.7Km 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.

Damyang Songgangjeong Pavilion (담양 송강정)

9.9Km 2021-05-14

232, Songgangjeong-ro, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-380-2811

Songgangjeong pavilion is located in Wongang-ri, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do. It was registered as Jeollanam-do Provincial Monument No. 1 on January 29, 1972.

Joseon dynasty poet Jeong Cheol (pen name, Songgang) composed his famed poem “Samiingok” from this pavilion. Next to it presently stands the Samingok memorial stone. The two structures at this site, Hwanbyeonkdang and Sigyeongjeong, are collectively referred to as the “Relics of Jeong Songgang.”

Gwangju Yangdong Market (광주 양동시장)

9.9Km 2025-08-13

238 Cheonbyeonjwa-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju

Yangdong Market started in the 1910s as a traditional market held on dates ending in 2 and 7 of every month on the white sand beach under Gwangjugyo Bridge. The market has a long history and local citizens have many sayings referring to the multitude of items available here. During the May 18th Democratic Uprising, both Yangdong and Daein Markets were a grand venue where the citizens of Gwangju gathered together to rally for democratization of the nation. Merchants of the markets provided food, beverages, and medicine to the protestors and participated in the movement alongside their fellow citizens.

Yangdong Market is an outstanding traditional market among all markets throughout the nation. The market has upgraded with the times to include modern conveniences, including a consolidated market logo, online shopping mall, and merchant education classes.

Olive Young - Gwangju Maegok Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 광주매곡)

10.1Km 2024-04-18

319, Seoljuk-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju

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Traditional Tea House Punggyeong (전통찻집 풍경)

10.1Km 2023-12-22

96 Unyong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju

Traditional Tea House Punggyeong in Gwangju specializes in serving rich and savory traditional Korean tea. The interior is decorated in white and wood tones, creating a cozy atmosphere. From the entrance to every corner of the room, there are plants that have been cared for by the store owner, allowing visitors to feel more at ease as they enter the tea house. The drinks are served in a neat tea cup, and their most recommended tea is the house-brewed ssanghwacha (medicinal herb tea). Furthermore, it sells a variety of traditional teas that are great to savor leisurely while resting such as daechu cha (jujube tea), a unique tea with a sweet aftertaste and is known to help treat insomnia; and saenggang cha (ginger tea) with an addition of honey or malt syrup, among others.

Sajik Forest of Light (사직 빛의 숲) - Area information - Korea travel information