Gwangju facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about Gwangju Metropolitan City. For the smaller city of the same name near Seoul, see Gwangju, Gyeonggi.

"Kwangju" redirects here. For one of its sister cities which has a similar pronunciation, see Guangzhou.

Quick facts for kids

Gwangju

광주광역시

Metropolitan City

Gwangju Metropolitan City
광주광역시

transcription(s)

• Hangul

광주광역시

• Hanja

光州廣域市

• Revised Romanization

Gwangju-gwangyeoksi

• McCune-Reischauer

Kwangju-gwangyŏksi

Above:Badhoe Pojangmacha Street Restaurant, Geumnamo Shopping district Middle:Panorama view of resident area of Gwangsan-gu Bottom:Gwangju Folk Museum, Democracy Bell in Denman Estate Park (All items are left to right)

Flag

Logo

Gwangju

Location in South Korea

Gwangju

Location in Asia

Gwangju

Location in Earth

Country

South Korea

Region

Honam

Districts

Government

• Type

Mayor–Council

Area

• Total

501.24 km² (193.53 sq mi)

Population

(November 2022)

• Total

1,432,651

• Density

2,858.214/km² (7,402.74/sq mi)

• Dialect

Jeolla

GDP

• Total

KR₩ 45 trillion
US$ 36 billion (2022)

Time zone

UTC+9 (Korea Standard Time)

Area code(s)

+82-61

ISO 3166 code

KR-29

Flower

Royal Azalea

Tree

Ginkgo

Bird

Dove

Gwangju is a large city in South Korea. It is the country's sixth-largest city. Gwangju is a "metropolitan city," which means it is directly controlled by the central government.

The city's name comes from two Korean words: gwang (Hangul: 광; Hanja: 光), meaning "light," and ju (Hangul: 주; Hanja: 州), meaning "province." So, Gwangju means "Light Province." It was once called Muju in ancient times. Gwangju is also famous for its delicious and varied food.

History of Gwangju

A memorial to remember those who lost their lives in the 1980 Gwangju uprising.

Gwangju was founded a very long time ago, in 57 BC. It was an important center for the Baekje kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period.

Gwangju Under Japanese Rule

During the time Japan ruled Korea, Gwangju was known as Kōshū. In 1929, a disagreement between Korean and Japanese students in the city grew into the Gwangju Student Independence Movement. This movement became a big protest across the country against Japan's harsh rule.

Modern Industry and Growth

Modern industries started to grow in Gwangju when a railway was built to Seoul. Factories for cotton textiles, rice mills, and breweries were set up. In 1967, a special industrial zone was created. This helped industries, especially those related to cars, grow even more.

The Gwangju Uprising of 1980

In May 1980, peaceful protests happened in Gwangju. People were protesting against the military leader Chun Doo-hwan. The military tried to stop these protests, which led to a lot of violence. This event is known as the Gwangju Uprising. Many civilians and some soldiers died during this time. After civilian rule returned in 1987, a national cemetery was built to honor the victims.

Gwangju Becomes a Metropolitan City

In 1986, Gwangju became a "Directly Governed City," separate from South Jeolla Province. Then, in 1995, it became a "Metropolitan City."

Gwangju's Political Views

Gwangju has a history of supporting left-leaning politicians. This is partly because of old rivalries between the Baekje and Silla regions. Also, political leaders in the late 20th century often favored the Gyeongsang region. Because of this, Gwangju is a strong base for the liberal Democratic Party of Korea.

Sports Events in Gwangju

Gwangju has hosted many big sports events. These include the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 Summer Universiade, and the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.

City Districts

Gwangju is divided into 5 main areas called "Gu" (districts).

Name	Korean	Hanja

Districts
Buk District	북구	北區
Dong District	동구	東區
Gwangsan District	광산구	光山區
Nam District	남구	南區
Seo District	서구	西區

Population and People

Gwangju is home to a large number of people. In November 2022, its population was over 1.4 million.

Year	Population
1960	409,283
1966	532,235
1970	622,755
1975	737,283
1980	856,545
1985	1,042,508
1990	1,139,003
1995	1,257,636
2000	1,352,797
2005	1,417,716
2010	1,475,745
2016	1,500,621

Gwangju also has one of the largest communities of Koryo-saram in South Korea. These are ethnic Koreans who used to live in the Soviet Union. Schools near their village often have many students who speak Russian.

Climate and Weather

Gwangju has four clear seasons. It has a humid subtropical climate, which means it gets rain all year. However, it rains much more during the summer monsoon season.

Winters in Gwangju are cooler but milder than in Seoul. This is because Gwangju is located further south in Korea. Summers are hot and humid, with lots of rain and thunderstorms. Gwangju is one of the warmest cities in Korea during the summer.

Climate data for Gwangju (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1939–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	18.8 (65.8)	22.6 (72.7)	26.8 (80.2)	30.4 (86.7)	33.9 (93.0)	37.2 (99.0)	38.5 (101.3)	38.5 (101.3)	35.9 (96.6)	31.1 (88.0)	27.1 (80.8)	19.9 (67.8)	38.5 (101.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	5.7 (42.3)	8.3 (46.9)	13.6 (56.5)	19.9 (67.8)	24.8 (76.6)	27.9 (82.2)	30.0 (86.0)	30.9 (87.6)	27.1 (80.8)	21.9 (71.4)	15.0 (59.0)	8.0 (46.4)	19.4 (66.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	1.0 (33.8)	2.9 (37.2)	7.5 (45.5)	13.4 (56.1)	18.7 (65.7)	22.7 (72.9)	25.9 (78.6)	26.5 (79.7)	22.2 (72.0)	16.1 (61.0)	9.6 (49.3)	3.2 (37.8)	14.1 (57.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−2.7 (27.1)	−1.5 (29.3)	2.4 (36.3)	7.8 (46.0)	13.4 (56.1)	18.7 (65.7)	22.8 (73.0)	23.2 (73.8)	18.2 (64.8)	11.2 (52.2)	5.0 (41.0)	−0.8 (30.6)	9.8 (49.6)
Record low °C (°F)	−19.4 (−2.9)	−17.7 (0.1)	−10.7 (12.7)	−4.5 (23.9)	1.4 (34.5)	7.2 (45.0)	14.9 (58.8)	12.6 (54.7)	5.6 (42.1)	−2.7 (27.1)	−7.2 (19.0)	−13.7 (7.3)	−19.4 (−2.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	32.6 (1.28)	43.6 (1.72)	61.9 (2.44)	86.6 (3.41)	91.4 (3.60)	152.6 (6.01)	294.2 (11.58)	326.4 (12.85)	145.0 (5.71)	59.0 (2.32)	50.2 (1.98)	37.1 (1.46)	1,380.6 (54.35)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	10.1	8.2	8.8	8.9	9.0	10.2	15.1	15.0	9.6	6.8	8.8	10.2	120.7
Average snowy days	9.9	6.3	2.4	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.1	8.4	28.4
Average relative humidity (%)	65.7	61.6	60.3	60.2	64.5	72.0	79.8	78.0	73.6	67.6	66.9	66.9	68.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours	161.4	170.5	201.0	214.1	227.9	169.9	143.1	169.0	174.4	208.5	167.4	156.9	2,164.1
Percent possible sunshine	51.1	53.4	51.8	54.3	51.3	39.0	32.9	41.4	46.3	58.5	52.7	51.1	48.0
Average ultraviolet index	2	2	3	4	5	5	7	6	5	3	3	2	4
Source 1: Korea Meteorological Administration (percent sunshine 1981–2010)
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV)

Education in Gwangju

Gwangju has many schools and universities. There are public universities like Chonnam National University and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. There are also private universities such as Honam University and Chosun University.

In total, Gwangju has 593 schools. This includes kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. There are also many colleges and universities. About 28.5% of the city's population are students.

Transportation

Gwangju has a good transportation system.

Gwangju Subway System

The city has its own Gwangju Subway system. An extension of the subway was finished in 2008.

Train Stations

There are two KTX (high-speed train) stations in Gwangju: Gwangju station and Gwangju Songjeong Station. Gwangju Songjeong Station is now the main one used. It connects to the subway and local buses.

Public Buses

Gwangju also has a large system of public buses. These buses travel all over the city. Bus stops and buses show information in both Korean and English. Local buses connect to the main intercity bus terminal, called U-Square.

Gwangju Airport

The city is also served by the Gwangju Airport.

Things to See and Do in Gwangju

Gwangju offers many interesting places to visit.

Asia Culture Center (ACC) – This is a large center in downtown Gwangju. It celebrates the city's artistic and democratic history. It also hosts exhibits and events from artists around the world.
Gwangju Biennale – This is a big modern art festival. It happens every two years and first started in 1995. You can find the exhibition hall at the Jung-oe Park Culture Center.
Gwangju Culture & Art Center – This center regularly holds different events and shows.
Gwangju Hyanggyo (Confucian School) – This old school is in Gwangju Park. It has traditional houses from the year 1392, during the Joseon dynasty. The school still holds ceremonies for Confucius twice a year.
Gwangju National Museum – This museum has a collection of historical art and items. These items date back to the Joseon and Goryeo periods of Korean history. The museum also has special exhibitions and cultural activities.
Gwangju 5.18 Road – This is a special route that visits historical places related to the Democracy Movement of 1980.
May 18th National Cemetery – This cemetery honors the victims of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising.
Food Streets – Gwangju is famous for its food. It has special "Food Streets" where you can find many restaurants serving local dishes. Some popular streets include Mudeungsan Boribap Street (barley meal), Duck Cook Street (duck stew), and Folk Tteokgalbi Street (grilled meat patties).
Gwangju World Cup Stadium – This stadium is important for Korean soccer history. In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the South Korea national football team beat Spain here. This win helped them reach the semi-finals for the first time in Asian soccer history.

Sports and Culture

Gwangju World Cup Stadium.

Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, home field of Kia Tigers.

Gwangju is a city with a lively sports and culture scene.

Baseball – It is the home of the Kia Tigers baseball team. They play in the KBO league.
Soccer – Gwangju is also home to Gwangju FC, a soccer team in the K League.
Universiade – The city hosted the 2015 Summer Universiade games, a major international sports event for university athletes.
Asia Song Festival – In 2006, the 3rd Asia Song Festival was held at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium. This festival brings together pop music artists from across Asia.
International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress – Gwangju was chosen to host the 2015 IDA Congress, a big event for designers.
FINA World Aquatics Championships – The city hosted the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, a major swimming and water sports event.
Gwangju ACE Fair – This is an annual event focusing on Asian content and entertainment.
"Green-Startup-Town" – Gwangju was chosen to create a "Green-Startup-Town." This project aims to build a hub for new businesses and research near Gwangju Station.
Volleyball – It is the home of the Gwangju AI Peppers volleyball team, which plays in the V-League.