Ten Things To Do in Gwangju

It’s no surprise when I say my favorite city in Korea is Gwangju. I even wrote a whole ode to it a few months ago! But I realized I have yet to talk about what specific things make Gwangju so special. Since Gwangju is not a popular tourist city, I hope this blog post will inspire some to travel down south to this lively and interesting city whether they are on vacation or living in Korea and need an idea for a fun weekend trip! Without further ado, here are the top 10 things to do in Gwangju.

Explore the ACC

In the middle of downtown is the Asia Culture Center, ACC. It is not one building but many large buildings surrounding a plaza. The ACC was built to be a window to Asian culture. True to its mission, the ACC does an excellent job at showing not only Korean culture but cultures and art from across Asia. Exhibits, performances, and events are constantly happening here. That means no matter when you come, there will be something new to see! If you come in summer or winter, you can check out indoor art exhibits at the design spaces. New exhibits usually change out every couple of months. If you want to enjoy the outside weather in spring and fall, head outside to see a festival or two. Also in the warmer months, there is a big lawn called Haneul Madang where you can have a nice picnic in the city center.

Check out the ACC website to see what’s happening right now.

Shop in Chungjangro

Right across the street from the ACC is the shopping district of Gwangju, Chungjangro. And if you come here, you’re going to want to have some empty space in your suitcase. Blocks and blocks of stores await you. Trendy and affordable clothes, jewelry, stationery, and more are all available here. There are many small boutiques but if you want something name-brand like North Face or Fila, you can find that too. But if you wanted even more unique finds, head down to the underground. The underground shopping mall below Chungjangro has many thrift stores with super cheap and cool items. Some of my favorite purchases came from here.

What is awesome about Chungjangro is its resilience through the pandemic. Most people come to Korea thinking Myeongdong in Seoul is the shopping place to be. But after being there many times, you can tell the pandemic did not treat it kindly. Myeongdong relied heavily on tourism, and without it for two years, it’s become quite dead. So, if you were to ask me which has better shopping, I would hands down say Chungjangro!

Tip: Chungjangro is also where you will find some of the best nightlife in Gwangju if you want to spend the night dancing away!

Walk around the penguin village

As the name would suggest, the penguin village is a village that is penguin themed. While it is very adorable, the origin of the village is quite emotional. About 100 years ago, the yangrim village had many burned and abandoned houses due to the country’s turbulent history. The elders of the village wanted to rebuild. Due to their stature as elderly, it was said they resembled waddling penguins and thus the penguin village was born. One of them collected various items and made their house into a makeshift museum of sorts. Others began to follow and what we have today is a giant art exhibit that showcases items throughout history and modern times. Each alley has a unique charm. You may find shoes nailed to the wall or an old TV set in the middle of a garden. No matter what, you are bound to find something new each time you visit. You can stop by the retro snack shop or pick up some penguin-shaped bread if you’re hungry. In recent years, the village has added many craft stores where artists can sell their handmade products. The hours are difficult to figure out for these shops but even if you come on a day when most stores are closed, it is still a lot of fun.

Bonus: If you walk 15 minutes from the Penguin Village you can get to the Sajik Observatory Tower. This tower sits on a hill overlooking Gwangju. The view is breathtaking as you get to see a large city surrounded by green mountains. I didn’t realize how big the city was till I came here for the first time!

Café and pub hop in Dongmyeongdong

Gwangju is a very walkable city since many attractions downtown are next to each other. But all that walking will make you tired and hungry. If it’s daytime, you might want a coffee for a pick-me-up and if it’s night, you probably want a hearty meal and maybe a drink to wind down. There is no better place for both activities than Dongmyeongdong. Located right next to the ACC, Dongmyeongdong is a cute neighborhood filled with adorable cafes and lively bars. New places with the trendiest themes constantly pop up. You can find a sleek modern café or a rustic teahouse right next to each other. Whether you’re craving curry, sushi, or Korean barbecue, it’ll all be here. Most of my favorite cafes and restaurants in all Korea are in this area. There is something that fits anyone’s taste. If you’re not hungry or thirsty, there are also many cute stores to shop in while you stroll around also! I have been here for over a year, and I still find a new place to try every weekend!

Learn about the Gwangju Uprising

As I’ve talked about in this blog post, Gwangju is a city with a very important history. The student-led uprising in 1980 is ultimately what led to democracy in Korea. For many years, some politicians tried to cover up the reality of what happened that spring in Gwangju. However, brave survivors and families of the victims have fought to have their stories told. Today, there are a plethora of places in Gwangju where you can learn these stories. I believe a great place to start is the 5.18 archives. Here, you can walk through a chronological retelling of the events and see documents and items from the time. I have been several times and am brought to tears every time. If you want to see even more memorials for 5.18, the archives have pamphlets that show you where all the places are in Gwangju to go. The cemetery and 5.18 park are also beautiful and historically important. If you come to Gwangju, I cannot recommend enough to go to some of these places. It is a sad history but also one of hope and the product of resilience.

See a show at the Culture & Arts center

Around a 20-minute bus ride outside of downtown will take you to the Culture and Arts Center. With many theaters and performance halls, you can get your entertainment here. Ballets, orchestral concerts, musicals, and more are put on here almost every day. My personal favorite show is the traditional drumming shows. Korean traditional music, pansori, is lively and beautiful to listen to. You can check the Culture and Arts website to see the schedule for the coming months if you are curious about what will be playing when you come. Also, at the Culture and Arts Center is the Biennale Art Hall and Folk Museum. The Biennale has an exhibit every two years and the Folk Museum is great for learning more about Korean history. Bonus: If you come in Spring, the blossoms around the Culture and Arts Center are some of the prettiest in Gwangju. Definitely a must-see in May!

See what events are happening at their website!

Try street food at the 1913 Songjeong Station Market

Originally built in 1913, the Songjeong Station market opened alongside the station itself. In 2016 the market was redesigned to increase popularity. It now is right across the street from Songjeong station, the only KTX station in Gwangju. Which makes it a perfect place to start or end your Gwangju trip if you take the KTX. While many of the shops have been rebuilt, you can still read up on some of the histories as you walk through the market. The best part is, of course, the food. You can start with fish cake skewers as an appetizer, fried rice as a main dish, and finish with hotteok (pancakes filled with syrup and nuts) as a dessert! There are also many bars and restaurants if you wish to sit inside somewhere. As a heads up, it is closed on the second and fourth Mondays of every month!

Watch a home run at Kia Champions Field.

Whether or not you are a baseball fan, seeing a Korean baseball game is an awesome experience. When I first came to Korea, I had zero interest in baseball but by now I’ve been to around ten games at Kia Champions Field and I have a Kia Tigers jersey, plushie, socks, and more. What makes these games so special is the crowd. Every starting player has a chant that the entire crowd sings when they are on bat. It is such a fun and unique way to enjoy a game. The baseball season here runs from April to October. Tickets are cheap if you want seats in the upper areas and can be reserved either through the app or bought ahead of time at the stadium. Another major pro of Korean baseball games is outside food and drink are allowed inside. No need to worry about an overpriced hot dog, simply do as the Koreans do and buy a box of fried chicken or pizza on the way and bring it to your seats! Convenience stores are also located inside the stadium if you want to buy beer or drinks! Go Tigers!

Get some fresh air at Mudeungsan

On the edge of Gwangju is the city’s most famous mountain, Mudeungsan. People from all over Korea come to hike some of the peaks. It has a gradual slope making it great for beginners or casual hikers. Every season is great for viewing Mudeungsan. The summer is lush and green, fall has bright leaves, winter creates gorgeous ice castles, and spring showcases blooms. If you want to simply hike, I recommend the all trails app since there are many different trails from different locations. If you want to eat some great food before, I recommend starting at 수자타. This buffet is Buddhist meaning everything is vegetarian. It is cheap and will fuel you for your hike. Outside the restaurant, there are some beautiful temples to explore.

If you want an unexpected thrill, here is a hidden gem. On the other side of Mudeungsan is the Jisan Recreation center. At the bottom, there is a convenience store. Here, you can buy tickets for a chair lift and a monorail. The chair lift will take you up a steep incline to the peak of Hyangnobong. While the chair lift is a little high up, nothing compares to the monorail. Let me tell you, I went in expecting a nice scenic monorail ride through the mountains, but I was not expecting the adrenaline rush as well. This monorail is tall, and a little rickety. If you have a fear of heights, maybe cross this off. However, it is really an awesome experience. It is very tucked away and does give you some gorgeous views…just don’t look down!

Take a day trip outside of Gwangju

While Gwangju is lovely and has numerous ways to spend your time, there are also amazing places just a short bus ride outside the city. The great thing about Gwangju is its central location in the south of Korea gives it easy access to so many underrated treasures! I have already written several blog posts on these places so I will link them along with how long it takes by bus to get there. Starting from closest to furthest from the Gwangju bus terminal (not the Gwangju KTX station!):

Hampyeong: Either take a 40-minute express bus or you can take a city bus. This scenic route on the 500 bus will take an hour and a half but you do get to see some nice views. You will need to buy the tickets at the terminal if you take the express bus.

Mokpo: The express bus from Gwangju to Mokpo takes 50 minutes. You will need to buy the tickets at the terminal.

Naju: You can take the 160 bus to get to Naju in under an hour but it does not go from the bus terminal so Naver maps will be your best friend to get you to the closest bus stop!

Damyang: From the Gwangju bus terminal, take the 311 bus. It will get you to the Damyand bus terminal in 1 hour.

Boseong: The express bus from Gwangju to Boseong takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. You will need to buy the tickets at the terminal.

Suncheon: The express bus from Gwangju to Suncheon takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. You will need to buy the tickets at the terminal.

Gurye: The express bus from Gwangju to Gurye takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. You will need to buy the tickets at the terminal.

Jeonju: The express bus from Gwangju to Jeonju takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. You will need to buy the tickets at the terminal.

Yeosu: The express bus from Gwangju to Yeosu takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. You will need to buy the tickets at the terminal.