Owen Memorial Hall (오웬기념각)

367.1M 2025-10-23

6 Baekseo-ro 70beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-650-7647

The Owen Monument and Memorial Hall is located inside the Christian College of Nursing. The monument was erected in 1914 in memory of missionary Clement Owen who, together with Priest Bae Yoo-ji, was the first missionary to come to Jeollanam-do. The monument was built using the 4,200 dollars collected by Owen’s relatives in the USA after Owen died as a martyr in Gwangju.

Clement Owen came to Yangnim-dong, Gwangju in the 1900s and served as a missionary and medical volunteer with his wife, who was a nurse, before dying of exhaustion and overwork in 1909. Owen had hoped to build a memorial hospital in honor of his grandfather, but died before his plan was materialized. The plaque hanging in the hall honors both men in English and Chinese, reading, “In Memory of William L. and Clement C. Owen.”

A Western-style building with a total footage of around 1,435 meters squared (including the annex building), the monument is said to have been used as chapel and assembly room. Today, the building serves as the auditorium of the Christian College of Nursing. The white, two-story building features a lectern in one corner, with two columns of pews facing the lectern. The second floor balcony stretches along the two walls opposite the lectern.

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In the film, So-yul and Yeon-hee come here to see the renowned singer Lee Nan-young perform. Owen Memorial Hall has a history as a venue for Christian gatherings, lectures, concerts, graduation ceremonies, and various cultural events in the region. Today, it continues to serve as a space for both religious and cultural gatherings.

Sajik Forest of Light (사직 빛의 숲)

373.1M 2024-12-11

49 Sajik-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Located within Sajik Park, the Forest of Light is a popular night view spot with a fantastic media art that incorporates historical themes of Gwangju. The space features a combination of lighting, video, and music to create multimedia contents, offering a variety of experiences and attractions through interactive art that responds to people's movements. The observation tower hosts a light show, and visitors can enjoy video contents through an AR telescope.

Yangnim-dong Missionary Cemetery (양림동 선교사 묘지)

424.4M 2021-05-28

77, Jejung-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-607-2333

The Yangnim-dong Missionary Cemetery is the final resting place of 23 missionaries who brought Christianity to Gwangju and led the movement to free the nation from under Japanese colonial rule. Yangnim-dong in Gwangju Metropolitan City was the main area in which Priest Bae Yu-ji and Dr. Clement Owen carried out their work as the first missionaries to Jeollanam-do.

Located nearby is a monument dedicated to Priest Bae Yu-ji and the Owen Memorial Building, built in honor of Dr. Owen and his grandfather. Both memorials are cultural assets and particularly prized by locals of the Christian faith.

Chonnam National University Hospital (전남대학교병원)

440.5M 2025-10-23

42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju

With 114 years of history and tradition, CHONNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL is Korea's best tertiary hospital that has led the development of Korea's medical science and improved public health.
Chonnam National University Hospital is the nation's largest multi-hospital system for each disease, and operates as the main hospital, as well as Chonnam National University Hospital in Hwasun, Chonnam National University Dental Hospital, Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital, and Chonnam National University Children's Hospital.

We are striving to establish our identity as a national university hospital and to build a regionally essential healthcare system as a regional responsible medical institution. We will continue to play a leading role in the medical field by progressively redefining the functions and roles of education, research, and medical treatment. In addition, we will continue to challenge ourselves and do our best to become a reliable hospital that patients can visit at any time, a hospital that leads public healthcare, and a patient-oriented hospital that puts patient safety first.

Yangnim History & Culture Village (양림역사문화마을)

457.4M 2023-11-28

7 Seoseopyeong-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-676-4486

Yangnim History & Culture Village is located in the area where Western items and ideas first entered Gwangju over 100 years ago. As such, the neighborhood has a unique collection of Western architecture mixed with traditional hanok houses. There are also many houses of Christian missionaries, who facilitated the advancement of medicine and education in Gwangju. Some areas, such as Penguin Village, have been decorated with murals and outdoor exhibitions to promote art and tourism, helping the elderly locals to make a living.

Missionary Wilson's House (우일선 선교사 사택)

515.7M 2025-10-23

20 Jejung-ro 47beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-607-2333

Missionary Wilson’s House is a two-story brick building that sits upon the eastern foothills of Yangnimsan Mountain. Known as the oldest surviving Western-style house in Gwangju, the house is an icon of modern culture and architecture in Korea. The house was built by an American missionary named Wilson in the 1920s (exact date unknown) and was the home of the Wilson family while they stayed in Korea. When the family completed their work in Korea, they sold the house for a very cheap price with the stipulation that the house continued to be used for missionary purposes. The house fell into the possession of the General Assembly of Chonnam Presbyterian Church of Korea in 1986 and now serves as the home office for the Presbyterian Church of Korea.

The square-shaped house consists of a living room, a family room, a kitchen, and a bathroom (1F), several bedrooms (2F), and storage areas and a boiler room (B1). The fact that the entrance of the house faces east is said to be a result of the prevailing architectural culture of Korea at that time. A Netherland-style house built with 55-milimeter thick, gray bricks, the first and second stories are delineated on the exterior with an eye-catching band of bricks.

◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu’s charm - TV series "Hymn of Death"
Here, Woo-jin (played by Lee Jong Suk), Sim-deok (played by Shin Hye-sun), and their troupe rehearsed for their play in "Hymn of Death." The Western-style building, framed by a lush forest backdrop, offers an exotic and picturesque setting.

LEEKANGHA Art Museum (이강하미술관)

518.0M 2024-11-14

6 3·1manseundong-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

The LEEKANGHA Art Museum, opened in 2018, offers a range of exhibitions, educational programs, and a research center. Visitors can explore the life and art world of Lee Kang-ha in different eras through various exhibitions and gain a deeper understanding of art with performances and educational programs. The museum aims to foster empathy and communication to enrich cultural knowledge by using diverse art-culture experience programs.

Art Polygon Horanggassinamu (호랑가시나무 아트폴리곤)

565.9M 2025-02-04

22 Jejung-ro 47beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Located in Yangnim-dong, Art Polygon Horanggasinamu is a multi-purpose cultural space that hosts various programs such as exhibitions, lectures, and performances. In 2021, it was used as one of the venues for the Gwangju Biennale. The space was created by preserving and expanding the original structure of a missionary's garage. Yangnim-dong is home to many modern historical cultural heritage sites and art galleries that connects the past and the present.

Olive Young - Gwangju Hwanggeum Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 광주황금)

574.8M 2024-04-16

1F, 31-12, Jungang-ro 160beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju

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Geomok Hanjeongsik (거목한정식)

595.5M 2024-02-13

3-6 Cheonbyeonjwa-ro 364beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-672-0333

Geomok Hanjeongsik is a restaurant that specializes in Namdo-style hanjeongsik (Korean table d'hote). Offering a singular menu item, hanjeongsik, guests select their preferred price range and the number of diners, and the dishes are prepared accordingly. A unique feature of this establishment is the seasonal variety of side dishes, ensuring a different culinary experience with each visit. Emphasizing health, the restaurant avoids strong-tasting chemical seasonings. Set in a converted hanok (traditional Korean house), Geomok Hanjeongsik provides a traditional atmosphere, enhancing the dining experience.

Owen Memorial Hall (오웬기념각) - Area information - Korea travel information