Holiday in Gwangju

About Gwangju

Gwangju is the cultural capital of South Korea and a city that stands out for democracy, art, and culinary excellence. The sixth-largest city in the country is located in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula in the province of Jeollanam-do, which has been regarded for centuries as Korea's granary and gourmet region. The Gwangju Uprising of May 1980 (5.18 Democracy Movement) is the defining historical event of the city: citizens rose up against the military dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan, and the brutal suppression, resulting in hundreds of deaths, became a turning point in the South Korean democracy movement. The 5.18 National Cemetery and the 5.18 Memorial Cultural Center document this painful yet crucial episode. The May 18th Memorial Park in the city center is a place of remembrance and reflection. The Gwangju Biennale, founded in 1995, is the oldest and most significant biennale for contemporary art in Asia. Every two years, the biennale grounds and numerous galleries in the city transform into an international art platform that attracts artists and visitors from around the world. The Asia Culture Center (ACC) is an architecturally impressive cultural center that opened in 2015 at the former site of the provincial government — exactly where the decisive events took place in 1980. The partially underground building houses exhibitions, theaters, libraries, and artist studios. The cuisine of the Jeolla province is considered the best in Korea: a typical Gwangju meal includes up to 20 Banchan (side dishes) alongside the main dish — pickled vegetables, fermented soybean paste, fish cakes, and seasonal specialties. Yangnim Chicken Street is famous for fried chicken with sweet and spicy sauce.