Into Beautiful Gwangju, Full of Vitality and a Passionate Spirit!

From Mudeungsan Mountain to the May 18 Democratic Uprising Archives! Spend your first day visiting Mudeungsan Jisan Recreation Area, Penguin Village, Jeonil Building 245, and the May 18 Democratic Uprising Archives. The next day, visit Mugaksa Temple and Kimdaejung Convention Center, embracing the warm and pleasant nature of Gwangju while reflecting on the fierce tears and history of the past!

Along the way

1. 1
   Jisan Recreation Area

   지산유원지

   Jisan Recreation Area reopened around December 2016, resuming its monorail service after an 11-year hiatus. The unique rattling of the monorail running on a single rail offers passengers an exciting thrill. Riding the monorail provides a panoramic view of downtown Gwangju and the peak of Mudeungsan Mountain. Starting midway up the mountain, 50 meters along a forest path from the chairlift terminal, the monorail runs a round-trip route to the mountain summit of Jisan Recreation Area, where an octagonal pavilion stands. Since its reopening, it has gained great popularity on social media, especially among younger generations, as a unique attraction offering thrilling experiences on Mudeungsan Mountain in Gwangju.MoreLess

   

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2. 2
   Yangnim-dong Penguin Village

   양림동 펭귄마을

   Following the penguin-shaped signs behind the Yangnim-dong Community Service Center into the narrow alleys reveals a 1970s and 1980s village transformed into an open exhibition space. The village was named after the waddling gait of elderly residents with knee pain, which resembled penguins. Residents cleared out abandoned houses damaged by past fires and began displaying discarded items on neighborhood walls. Inscribed on one wall is the phrase, 'Let us be grateful for being alive back in those days.' The Penguin Tavern at the center of the village serves as a community gathering space, stocked with daily essentials despite its small size. Village newsletters are also posted in front of the craft workshop.MoreLess

   

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3. 3

   Jeonil Building 245

   전일빌딩245

   Jeonil Building 245 reflects on the historical significance of the building by symbolizing its architectural form and space as a historic site with '245', carrying storytelling into the future. The circle in the center of 245 represents the clear bullet marks left by helicopter gunfire during the May 18 Democratic Uprising, while the four-color composition symbolizes the building's content spaces.MoreLess

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4. 4
   Mugaksa Temple

   무각사

   Located on Yeouisan Mountain in Gwangju, Mugaksa Temple is an urban meditation temple often compared to Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul. The temple houses cultural spaces such as a book café, the Lotus Gallery, and a traditional tea house called Sarangchae, serving as a venue for culture, art, gatherings, and relaxation beyond religious boundaries. Since 2009, the temple has hosted 'Treasure Island,' a recycling flea market where religious and civic organizations sell recycled goods, upcycled products, accessories, and various items.MoreLess

   

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5. 5
   Kimdaejung Convention Center

   김대중컨벤션센터

   Kimdaejung Convention Center is a top-tier exhibition and convention center built in the scenic tourist city of Gwangju. Construction began in November 2003 under the name Gwangju Exhibition & Convention Center, and after being renamed Kimdaejung Convention Center in May 2005, it opened on September 6 of the same year. It strives to boost the local economy by fostering Gwangju as a trade hub in Northeast Asia to enhance national competitiveness and driving the growth of regional specialized industries, including tourism. It also strengthens regional capabilities as a venue for international exchanges of goods, technology, information, and culture, equipped with highly skilled professionals, top-level services, and diverse convenience facilities.MoreLess

   

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