Gwangju Korean Culture

Discover Korean culture through palaces, temples, and museums. Get etiquette tips, visiting hours, accessibility info, and cultural stories to enrich your trip with authentic heritage experiences.

Cultural Experiences

Each listing summarizes the story, etiquette, and accessibility notes so you know what to expect before stepping inside.

Total items: 28

Cultural Site

Asia Culture Center (국립아시아문화전당)

The Asia Culture Center (ACC) is an international arts and cultural exchange organization aimed to promote Gwangju as Asia's central hub through the integration of past and present-day cultural arts as well as the development of futuristic and progressive arts. The center consists of ACC Culture Exchange, ACC Children, ACC Archive & Research, ACC Theater, and other facilities to support and foster innovation. ◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu's charm - movie "Exhuma" This venue served as the backdrop for the scene where Hwa-rim and Bong-gil visit a hospital in LA to see a newborn whose parent's life is in danger. Although portrayed as a hospital lobby, the scene was filmed in the Asia Culture Centre, Gwangju's landmark cultural venue, notable for its impressive architecture that integrates natural elements.

Cultural Site

Gwangju Cinema (광주극장)

Gwangju Cinema opened in 1935 as an artistic and independent film theater and is the sole single-screen cinema to operate in Korea. In the past, the cinema mainly focused on Korean-focused productions such as pansori, but also screen Japanese films to increase business.

Cultural Site

Gwangju Gongyeon Maru (광주광역시공연마루)

Gwangju Gongyeon Maru (Performance Maru) was the performance hall that was used during the World Photonics Expo 2010 Gwangju. After the Expo, the performance hall continued to host various events and performances. After becoming an official performance hall in 2014, it became a permanent performance hall of Gwangju in 2018 after a renovation.

Cultural Site

Art Polygon Horanggassinamu (호랑가시나무 아트폴리곤)

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.

Cultural Site

Kimdaejung Convention Center (김대중컨벤션센터)

Kimdaejung Convention Center is a state-of-the-art facility in Gwangju, a city with rich cultural heritage and tourism resources. It was built as part of the efforts to promote Gwangju’s competitiveness as a main trade city in northeast Asia to boost local economy and, particularly, tourism resources. The center has served as a main venue for international meetings and exchanges (concerning products, information, culture, and technologies), significantly improving Gwangju’s image. Outstanding services, professional staff, and diverse amenities will make any meeting at Kimdaejung Convention Center pleasant and successful.

Cultural Site

Eunam Museum of Art (은암미술관)

Opened in 2010, the Eunam Museum of Art offers a range of exhibitions, including permanent exhibitions and invitational exhibitions, humanities lectures, and concerts, and provides a cultural space for people to connect. It also runs international exchange exhibitions and residency program inviting artists from the country and abroad.

Cultural Site

Chonnam National University Museum (전남대학교 박물관)

The Cheonnam National University Museum showcases a variety of domestic and international works on history, anthropology, culture, and folklore, along with providing research materials. Initially established as a research center for the faculty and students, the museum has evolved into its current form since 2002. Visitors can explore exhibitions on diverse topics and immerse themselves in different cultures at the learning center of the museum.

Cultural Site

Bium Museum (비움박물관)

Opened in 2016, the Bium Museum is a folk museum showcasing around 30 thousand Korean modern and traditional artifacts collected by Lee Young-hwa for about 50 years. The art pieces portray the life of poor commoners in the agricultural era before Korea went through industrialization, allowing visitors to get a glimpse of the adaptability and resilience of people in hard times.

Cultural Site

Chosun University Museum of Art (조선대학교 미술관)

The Chosun University Museum of Art was established to serve as a window to convey the flow of local and international art. It plays an important role in discovering, collecting, and preserving regional artwork, while providing artist with a stage to display their work. The museum has significantly contributed to the regional culture. Through special annual exhibitions, it discovers young artists, educates students and promotes local art. To provide an exhibition experience to students, the museum also holds exhibitions featuring work created by students.

Cultural Site

Kwangju Bank Museum (KJB금융박물관 (광주은행 금융박물관))

Kwangju Bank Museum established to celebrate the 44 th anniversary of the bank, is the first financial bank in the Honam region. Visitors can explore a collection of over one thousand financial artifacts and learn about the history of financial institutions in the region, as well as the evolution of Korean and global currency at the museum. The museum offers financial educational programs for various age groups and also provides a cultural space, allowing visitors to connect through art and learn more about the region's heritage.

Cultural Site

Donggok Museum of Art (동곡미술관)

Donggok Museum of Art, opened in December 2020, a two-story building has exhibition halls, educational rooms, a sculpture park and more. There are rest areas to relax after enjoying arts, as well as spaces for visitors to find their creativity.

Cultural Site

Bitgoeul Korea Traditional Classical Music Instruction Hall (빛고을국악전수관)

Bitgoeul Korea Traditional Classical Music Instruction Hall offers various programs throughout the year. Since 2002, classes on traditional instruments are available, as well as separate children gugak classes. Special exhibition on the second floor has various instruments that visitors can actually try. The permanent exhibition on the third floor has 45 different gugak instruments as well as videos to further provide detailed information. The main area is the performance hall on B1-B2F, with 137 seats, that offers performances every Thursday for free from traditional gugak to fusion music.

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Gwangju Korean Culture

Cultural Experiences