Yangnim-dong Penguin Village Craft Street (양림동 펭귄마을공예거리)

16.2Km 2024-12-06

20-13 Ogiwon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Yangnim-dong Penguin Village Craft Street is a narrow alleyway located behind the Yangnim-dong Community Center. The village, named because of the way the elderly residents appear to waddle like penguins, has become an exhibition space of life in the 70s and 80s. Villagers cleaned up empty houses that had been burnt down and left unattended in the past, brought discarded items, and began displaying them on the village walls. "Let's be thankful for living at that time" was engraved on the village wall. It also has historical culture, such as the House of Choe Seunghyo, the House of Missionary Uilsa, and Owen Memorial Hall. The Penguin Jumak in the middle of the village was the residents' gathering place, selling small but necessary items. Various workshops, such as leather workshops, textile workshops, and carpentry workshops, are located on Craft Street, so you can purchase pretty crafts or experience upcycling crafts with a retro vibe in which the historical and the modern coexist.

Maru-o / 마루오(MARU-O)

16.2Km 2025-03-05

5-8 , Baemet 3-gil, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-331-0700

The Maru O Hotel is a business hotel in the heart of Naju Innovation City, Jeollanam-do, that has good facilities and is popular with both business travellers and tourists. The underground parking lot has an electric vehicle charging station, and both mobile phone chargers and tourist information for Naju and Jeonam is available at the front desk. Right in front of the hotel is Bitgaram Lake Park where visitors can take a pleasant walk. Naju KTX station and the Intercity Bus Terminal are 15 minutes away by car, and Naju’s Yeongsanpo Hongeo Street and Gomtang Street (famous for its restaurants!) are also nearby.

Geumsoojang Tourist Hotel (금수장관광호텔)

16.2Km 2020-04-24

2, Mudeung-ro 321beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-525-2111

Geumsoojang Tourist Hotel is located in the old downtown center, just a seven-minute walk from Gwangju Station. It is known as the best "business hotel with expert Korean cuisine.” It has clean and comfortable guestrooms, other convenient facilities, an organized-customer management system, economic rates, and excellent service.

Arirang House (아리랑하우스)

16.2Km 2016-10-18

2, Mudeung-ro 321 Beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-525-2111~5

With a proud 20-year history, Arirang House is famous for its kimchi, which won a prize at the first Kimchi Festival. In 2003, the restaurant collaborated with Shilla Hotel and Paradise Hotel and successfully hosted a royal cuisine demonstration event, contributing to the promotion of Korean cuisine.

Arirang House serves delicious Korean cuisine in an elegant style. The food is carefully prepared by 11 chefs, including the chef who has thirty years of experience. The kitchen is divided into the side dish team, the special dish team, and the main course team to prepare a total of thirty or so specialized dishes. The flavors are enhanced by using only the freshest natural ingredients and not using any artificial seasonings. Prices vary by course, and each course comes with raw beef, samhap (a combination of three special foods), assorted raw fish, and steamed short ribs. The bossam kimchi (kimchi with slices of steamed pork) is also one of their specialties.

May 18 Democracy Square (5.18 민주광장)

16.2Km 2020-06-09

38, Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-613-2082

Stretching from the former Jeollanam-do Provincial Government Office to the Geumnam-ro area, this famous plaza is where the landmark May 18th Democratic Uprising took place. In May 1980, the Jeollanam-do Provincial Government office building was the headquarters of the civil resistance movement and the scene of a number of rallies. The plaza has been officially known as the May 18 Democracy Square since 1996.

Gwangju Art Street (광주 예술의 거리)

16.3Km 2020-06-19

24, Yesul-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-942-6160

Gwangju Art Street is aimed at developing Gwangju’s traditional art scene through exhibition of local work. The street is 300m long and located behind Jungang Elementary School, nearby Gwangju Dongbu Police Station. Items commonly found here include Korean fine art such as paintings, ceramics, writings, and industrial art.

Every Saturday, an art flea market famous for its unique pieces is held here. People from all over the nation gather to display items that include old calligraphy materials, collector coins, stone hairbrushes, Chinaware, wooden sculptures, folk drawings, classic books, ink, and incense burners. Part of the attraction is the stories the collectors share with each part of their collection. Enjoy the many shows and exhibitions that draw regular crowds to this famous road.

The Mudeung art exhibit operates according to districts, and functions as a cultural festival as well. The outdoor exhibition was built in February 1995, and is open throughout the day. The large exhibition space has 32 booths and regularly holds special exhibits. Many regional cultural treasures are also on display here. Every Saturday, the Street of Fine Arts is blocked from traffic, and people gather to share and enjoy art culture. Gwangju Summer Universiade will be held this summer, 2015.

Chungjang Street Festival of Recollection (광주 추억의 충장축제)

16.3Km 2025-01-07

Geumnamno 1(il)-ga, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-608-4672

Every October, the Chungjang Street Festival of Recollection is held on the streets of Chungjang-ro and Geumnam-ro in the city center with the theme of memories. The themed streets exactly replicate the old Chungjang-ro with the theme of "memories of night," allowing visitors to enjoy different types of songs from the olden days. This festival, held in the heart of Gwangju, offers a wide array of events, such as nostalgic concerts, flour games, parades, and random dance performances, making it a popular attraction with plenty to see and do.

◎ Chungjang-ro, Gwangju
Chungjang-ro is so famous as a fashion street that it is nicknamed the “Myeongdong Street of Gwangju.” The name “Chungjang” comes from the military title of General Kim Deok-ryeong, known for his valiant acts in the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592.

Gwangju Culture Night (광주문화재야행)

16.4Km 2023-11-22

38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-229-3070

Experience the history of Gwangju under the moonlight at Gwangju Culture Night. This cutural tourism festival offers a range of programs in the eight themes of nightscape, history tour, experience, exhibition, performance, food, marketplace, and accommodation.

ACC World Music Festival (ACC 월드뮤직페스티벌)

16.4Km 2024-08-09

38 Munhwajeondang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-601-4692

A world music festival hosted by the Asian Culture Center (ACC) that goes beyond borders. This year marks the 15th anniversary and features a wide array of impressive lineup, including notable Korean musicians like Kim Chang-wan Band and one of Persian's greatest musicians Kayhan Kalhor Trio.

Chireunsibill (치른시빌)

16.4Km 2024-10-10

10 Seoseok-ro 85beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju

Chireunsibill was founded in 2022, offering educational programs and art kits with young artists both online and offline. The educational programs are open to all , and cover a wide genre of art types, from painting to music. It is a popular attraction for travelers with children.

Yangnim-dong Penguin Village Craft Street (양림동 펭귄마을공예거리) - Area information - Korea travel information