Korea

Korea, also known as the "Land of the Morning Calm", is located at a strategically important seaway of Northeast Asia at the Eastern end of the Asian continent neighboring with Japan and China. South Korea’s land area is 100,329km2 with a population of 50 million, a relatively high population density. Korea was in total ruins only six decades ago after the Korean War, but achieved "The Miracle of the Han River" by experiencing remarkable economic growth in a very short period of time.

Korea has four distinctive seasons with a continental monsoon climate. In particular, autumn, when the IFAA 2024 is scheduled, is the best season to visit Korea, offering clear cool and crisp weather and the beautiful autumn foliage.

An increasing number of foreign tourists visit Korea every year despite the global economic downturn, attributed to Korea's globally recognized safety and security as well as the abundant tourist attractions of Korea where 5,000 year-long history of traditional culture is well mixed with cutting-edge contemporary culture.

The Korean Peninsula is located in North-East Asia. It is surrounded by the ocean on three sides, making it a unique geographical location. With Seoul as its capital city, the landsite is roughly 1,030 km (612 miles) long and 175 km (105 miles) wide at its narrowest point. Korea's total land area is 100,033 square km, neighboring Japan to the east, China to the west, and sharing a northern border with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea).

Gwangju

A Sacred Land of Democratization, Righteous City, Gwangju

Gwangju city’s righteous history spans the army movement at the end of the Joseon Dynasty, the Gwangju Students Independence Movement during the Japanese colonial period, and the 1980 May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, making Gwangju a city of democracy, human rights, and peace. The May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, which protested against the tyranny of the military regime, had a profound impact on democratization movements in Asian nations craving freedom and justice from dictatorships. The Records of the May 18 Democratization Movement were listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register on May 25, 2011, and are recognized for their world historical value. In May 2020, May 18 was designated as a local public holiday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Democratization Movement.

Asian Culture Center City, Elegant City, Gwangju

Gwangju, the city of art, has produced numerous artists, including Pansori master Gukchang Im Bang-ul, Oriental painter Eui-jae Heo Baek-ryeon, Chinese contemporary musician Jung Yul-seong and poet Park Yong-cheol. Following this tradition, Gwangju has been reborn as a cultural capital of Korea and a cultural hub of Asia, hosting the Gwangju Biennale and Design Biennale, a world-class festival in the field of contemporary art and design. The Asia Cultural Center opened in November 2015, and the nation's longest project (2003-2023) is underway to firmly establish Gwangju as an Asian cultural hub. The city also hosted the Universiade Gwangju 2015, which was a low-cost, high-efficiency event and a cultural festival with youths from around the world. Based on this experience, the city then successfully held the 2019 Gwangju World Swimming Championships, where 12,800 athletes from 191 countries participated. Key aspects of Gwangju's unique identity are being developed as unique tourism products through commercialization, branding, and industrialization, including representative foods such as rice balls, a symbol of the sharing and solidarity of the Gwangju spirit, as well as Gwangju's representative communities (cultural and ecological) and representative performances (Sangseol Gugak).

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[Attractions in and near Gwangju]

More about Gwangju Tourist Attractions 8 Views of Gwangju

Cultural Tour

Asian Cultural Center

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The "Former Jeollanam-do Provincial Government Main Building" is a globally recognized multifaceted cultural institution, operating sessions daily at 20:00, 21:00, and 22:00, each lasting 20 minutes. It serves as a hub for cultural exchange in Asia, research and collection of cultural resources, content creation and production, exhibitions, performances, archives, and distribution all taking place in one location. With diverse cultural facilities such as the Democracy and Peace Exchange Center, Cultural Information Center, Art Theater, Asia Culture Square, Open Square, and Asia Creation Studio, visitors can create, experience, and enjoy the distinctive culture unique to the National Asian Cultural Center.

Dongmyeong-dong Cafe Street

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“Dongmyeong-dong Cafe Street" is a unique street located in Dongmyeong-dong, which used to be the downtown area of Gwangju. With the introduction of the Asia Culture Center, this area has become a home to charming and distinctive cafes, each with its own character. Recognized as a 'Hidden Tourist Spot' by the Korea Tourism Organization, this street offers a delightful blend of individuality and coziness.

Yangrim Historical and Cultural Village Area Tour

Leejangwoo House

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Yangrim-dong is gaining recognition as a popular filming location for movies and dramas. In particular, the Ijangwoo House has become a sought-after site for film shoots, representing a typical upper-class residence from the modern era in the southern part of the country. It boasts a neat yet picturesque landscape, serving as the backdrop for films such as 'Dangerous Meeting' (2011) and 'The Last Princess' (2016).

Owen Memorial Hall

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This memorial building was the largest structure in Jeollanam-do and attracted many people as it was the first two-story building in the region. In addition to hosting vocal music performances that contributed to the local culture, it played a pioneering role as an educational space. During the period of the U.S. military government before the Korean War on June 25, 1950, the U.S. Army used this place as a military government office. They installed steel-barred windows on the flat platform to use it as a jail for holding communism suspects. While Yangnim Church once used it as a student worship room, it is now simply managed.

Penguin Village

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Follow the penguin-shaped sign behind Yangrim-dong Community Center, and you'll enter a narrow alley where the village has transformed into an exhibition space, showcasing the atmosphere of the 70s and 80s. The village got its name because the sight of elderly people with uncomfortable knees walking slowly resembled penguins. Residents of the village started clearing neglected vacant houses and bringing abandoned items to exhibit on the neighborhood walls

Nature Healing Tour

Gwangjuho Lake Eco Park

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• Address: 905 Chung-hyo-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju

Near Gwangjuho Lake, there is an ecological park designed with themed areas such as a nature observatory, natural learning center, grassy relaxation square, and waterfront wetlands. Overall, it provides a quiet and refreshing atmosphere, allowing visitors to directly observe ecological data of flowers, animals, and plants, provided the weather is not too cold.

Damyang Juknokwon

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The Daenamu Bamboo Garden, created by Damyang County in the Seongin-san area, opened in May 2003. This bamboo garden offers walking paths for bamboo forest therapy, including eight themed trails like the Lucky Road, Bamboo Horse Road, and Philosopher's Road. From the observation deck, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Damyang's famous landmarks, including the Gwanbangje Forest with trees over 300 years old and the Metasequoia-lined street. The site features an eco-exhibition hall, artificial waterfalls, an eco-pond, and an outdoor performance venue. Additionally, the forest is illuminated, providing an opportunity for evening strolls.

Boseong Green Tea Fields

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Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation produces high-quality green tea and is a popular tourist attraction year-round thanks to the vast rows of tea trees that line the hillside like a deep green carpet. Despite being located on a small peak at just 350 meters above sea level, the observation deck at the summit offers views of the sea on clear days. The entrance to the tea plantation is also lined with tall cedar trees, adding a unique aspect to this plantation.

Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve

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Suncheonman Bay's reed field starts from the confluence of Dongcheon and Isacheon Streams and stretches along both sides of the stream for approximately 3 kilometers until it reaches the main reed colony at Suncheonman Bay. The reed fields in Suncheonman Bay are thickly covered with reeds taller than a full-grown man. The scene of the entire field swaying in the wind is like watching waves on the sea. Suncheonman Bay Wetland Reserve is a natural habitat for birds of over 140 species, including endangered bird species as well as birds designated as natural treasures.