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Gwangju (; ), formerly romanized as Kwangju, is South Korea's sixth-largest metropolis. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister. The city was also the capital of
South Jeolla Province South Jeolla Province (), formerly South Chŏlla Province, also known as Jeonnam (), is a province in the Honam, Honam region, South Korea, and the Provinces of Korea, southernmost province in mainland Korea. South Jeolla borders the provinces of ...
until the provincial office moved to the southern village of Namak in
Muan County Muan County () is a county in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. In 2005, Muan County became the capital of South Jeolla following the transfer of the provincial office from its previous location in Gwangju to the village of Namak in Muan. M ...
in 2005 because Gwangju was promoted to a metropolitan city and was independent of South Jeolla Province. Its name is composed of the words ''gwang'' () meaning "light" and ''ju'' () meaning "province". Gwangju was historically recorded as ''Muju'' (), in which "
Silla Silla (; Old Korean: wikt:徐羅伐#Old Korean, 徐羅伐, Yale romanization of Korean, Yale: Syerapel, Revised Romanization of Korean, RR: ''Seorabeol''; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) was a Korean kingdom that existed between ...
merged all of the land to establish the provinces of Gwangju, Ungju, Jeonju, Muju and various counties, plus the southern boundary of
Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...
and the ancient territories of Silla" in the ''
Samguk sagi ''Samguk sagi'' () is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Completed in 1145, it is well-known in Korea as the oldest surviving chronicle of Korean history. The ''Samguk sagi'' is written in Classical ...
.'' In the heart of the agricultural
Jeolla Jeolla Province (, ) was one of the historical Eight Provinces of Korea during the Kingdom of Joseon in southwestern Korea. It consisted of the modern South Korean provinces of North Jeolla, South Jeolla and Gwangju Metropolitan City as wel ...
region, the city is also famous for its rich and diverse
cuisine A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, List of cooking techniques, techniques and Dish (food), dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, ...
.


History

The city was established in 57 BC. It was one of the
administrative center An administrative centre is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune, is located. In countries with French as the administrative language, such as Belgiu ...
s of
Baekje Baekje or Paekche (; ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BCE to 660 CE. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Baekje had the h ...
during the
Three Kingdoms period The Three Kingdoms of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu dominated China from AD 220 to 280 following the end of the Han dynasty. This period was preceded by the Eastern Han dynasty and followed by the Western Jin dynasty. Academically, the ...
. During the Imperial Japanese rule, the city was known as Kōshū. In 1929, a confrontation between Korean and Japanese students in the city turned into the Gwangju Student Independence Movement, a regional demonstration that culminated in one of the major nationwide uprisings against Imperial Japanese cruelty during the colonial period. Modern industry was established in Gwangju, and a railway to
Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
was constructed. Some industries that took hold include cotton textiles, rice mills, and
breweries A brewery or brewing company is a business that makes and sells beer. The place at which beer is commercially made is either called a brewery or a beerhouse, where distinct sets of brewing equipment are called plant. The commercial brewing of be ...
. The construction of a designated industrial zone in 1967 encouraged growth in industry, especially in the sectors linked to the automobile industry. In May 1980, peaceful demonstrations took place in Gwangju against
Chun Doo-hwan Chun Doo-hwan (; 18 January 1931 – 23 November 2021) was a South Korean politician, army general and military dictator who served as the fifth president of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. Prior to his accession to the presidency, he was the cou ...
, leader of the military coup d'état of 12 December 1979. The demonstrations were suppressed by military forces, including elite units of the Special Operations Command. The situation escalated after a violent crackdown, resulting in the
Gwangju Uprising The Gwangju Democratization Movement, also known in South Korea as May 18 Democratization Movement (), was a series of student-led demonstrations that took place in Gwangju, South Korea, in May 1980, against the coup of Chun Doo-hwan. The upr ...
, where civilians raided armories and armed themselves. By the time the uprising was suppressed 9 days later, many hundreds of civilians and several police forces/soldiers were dead. After civilian rule was reinstated in 1987, a national cemetery was established to honor the victims of the incident. In 1986, Gwangju separated from
South Jeolla Province South Jeolla Province (), formerly South Chŏlla Province, also known as Jeonnam (), is a province in the Honam, Honam region, South Korea, and the Provinces of Korea, southernmost province in mainland Korea. South Jeolla borders the provinces of ...
to become a Directly Governed City (Jikhalsi), and then became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi) in 1995. Due to a variety of factors, including the ancient rivalry between
Baekje Baekje or Paekche (; ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BCE to 660 CE. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Baekje had the h ...
and
Silla Silla (; Old Korean: wikt:徐羅伐#Old Korean, 徐羅伐, Yale romanization of Korean, Yale: Syerapel, Revised Romanization of Korean, RR: ''Seorabeol''; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) was a Korean kingdom that existed between ...
, as well as the biased priority given to the
Gyeongsang Province Gyeongsang Province (; ) was one of the Eight Provinces of Joseon Korea. Gyeongsang was located in southeastern Korea. The provincial capital of Gyeongsang was Daegu. The region was the birthplace of the kingdom of Silla, which unified Korea i ...
region by political leaders in the 2nd half of the 20th century, Gwangju has a long history of voting for left-leaning politicians and is the main stronghold for the liberal
Democratic Party of Korea Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...
along with its predecessors, as well as the progressive Justice Party. Gwangju has held many sports events such as
2002 FIFA World Cup The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea/Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...
,
2015 Summer Universiade The 2015 Summer Universiade (), officially known as the XXVIII Summer Universiade () and also known as Gwangju 2015 () was a multi-sport event for student and youth athletes sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), hel ...
,
2019 World Aquatics Championships The 2019 World Aquatics Championships were the 18th FINA World Aquatics Championships, held in Gwangju, South Korea from 12 to 28 July 2019. The city had previously hosted the 2015 Summer Universiade aquatics events in the same venues.
.


Administrative divisions

Gwangju is divided into 5 districts ("Gu").


Demographics

According to the census of 2015, 9.5% of the population followed
Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
and 28.7% followed
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
(20%
Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
and 8.7%
Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
). 61% of the population is irreligious. One of the largest
ethnic enclave In sociology, an ethnic enclave is a geographic area with high ethnic concentration, characteristic cultural identity, and economic activity. The term is usually used to refer to either a residential area or a workspace with a high concentration ...
s of
Koryo-saram Koryo-saram (; ) or Koryoin () are ethnic Koreans of the post-Soviet states, former Soviet Union, who descend from Koreans that were living in the Russian Far East. Koreans first began settling in the Russian Far East in the late 19th century. ...
(ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union) in South Korea is located in Gwangju: the
Gwangju Koryoin Village Gwangju Koryoin Village () is an enclave of Koryo-saram (ethnic Koreans of the Post-Soviet states, former Soviet Union) in , Gwangsan District, Gwangju, South Korea. Along with Ansan's Ttaetgol Village, it is one of the largest communities of Kor ...
. Schools in the vicinity of the village, such as , have significant proportions of Russian speakers as a result.


Climate

Gwangju has a cooler version of the
humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
: ''Cfa/Cwa'') with four distinct seasons and rainfall year-round but particularly during the East Asian Monsoon Season in the summer months. Winters, while still somewhat cold, are milder than in Seoul and cities further north due to the city's southwesterly position in the Korean peninsula. Summers are hot and humid with abundant precipitation, particularly in the form of thunderstorms. Gwangju is one of the warmest cities in Korea in the summer due to its geographic location.


Education

Chonnam National University, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, and Gwangju Education University are public universities in Gwangju. Honam University,
Gwangju University Gwangju University () is a university in Gwangju, South Korea. It began in 1981 as a four-year college in Jinwol-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju, named Gwangju Gyeongsang Jeonmun Daehak (). It now has three graduate schools and four colleges with more t ...
, Gwangshin University, Gwangju Women's University, Nambu University,
Chosun University Chosun University () is one of the oldest private universities in South Korea. Its campus is situated in Gwangju metropolitan city, in southwestern South Korea. Around 33,000 students are enrolled. Academics Undergraduate courses are offere ...
, and Honam Christian University are private universities. Gwangju Health University is a private community college offering associate degrees in humanities and social sciences and healthcare sciences, and a bachelor's degree in nursing. Gwangju has 593 schools, consisting of 234 kindergartens, 145 elementary schools, 84 middle schools, 65 high schools, 1 science high school, 7 junior colleges, 9 universities, 38 graduate schools, and 11 others (as of 1 May 2009) with a total of 406,669 students, or 28.5% of the total city population. The average number of students per household is 0.8.


Transportation

The city is served by the Gwangju Subway. An extension was completed in April 2008, with the remainder being completed in 2012. The first phase of a second line, which, when completed, will be an orbital loop line, will open in 2026. There are two KTX stations in the city:
Gwangju station Gwangju Station is a train station located in Gwangju, South Korea, 353 km south of Yongsan station. History The station opened on July 1, 1922, and the station building was moved to its present location on July 25, 1969. On August 10, 200 ...
and Gwangju Songjeong Station. Gwangju Songjeong Station connects to the Gwangju Subway and the local bus system. Now, the Songjeong station is mainly used. Gwangju has an extensive system of public buses that traverse the city. Bus stops and buses themselves contain stop information in Korean and English. Local buses, but not the subway or KTX, connect to the intercity Gwangju Bus Terminal known as U-Square. Gwangju is also served by the Gwangju Airport.


Tourism

* Asia Culture Center – The Asia Culture Center (also known as the ACC) is a facility in downtown Gwangju designed to celebrate and explore Gwangju's artistic and democratic culture and history, as well as provide space to host exhibits, experiences, and events from international artists. It is built primarily below street level, though its design incorporates large amounts of natural lighting. There are five facilities: ACC Exchange, ACC Theater, ACC Creation, ACC Archive & Research, and ACC Children *
Gwangju Biennale The Gwangju Biennale is a contemporary art biennale founded in September 1995 in Gwangju, South Jeolla province, South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half ...
– This is a modern art festival that is held every two years. It was first launched in 1995. The Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall is at the Jung-oe Park Culture Center and the Science Center. * Gwangju Culture & Art Center – The center regularly hosts event
Gwangju Culture & Art Center Official Website
* Gwangju Hyanggyo (Confucian School) – Gwangju Hyanggyo is in the Gwangju Park in Sa-dong. There are traditional houses here estimated as having been built during the 1st year of the Joseon period in 1392. This school continues to hold memorial ceremonies for Confucius twice a year. Admission is free
More about Gwangju Hyanggyo
* Gwangju National Museum – The museum houses a permanent collection of historical art and cultural relics that date back to the old Joseon and Goryeo periods of Korean history. The museum also organizes exhibitions and cultural learning activities that are open to the public. * Gwangju 5.18 Road is the course about the Democracy Movement of 1980. The courses include the historical places
More about 5.18Road
*
May 18th National Cemetery May 18th National Cemetery () is a cemetery for those who participated in the Gwangju Uprising. Built by the government of South Korea in 1997, it is located in Gwangju. Every May, on the anniversary of the uprising, it is common for citizens to ...
* Food streets – Gwangju has numerous designated Food Streets where multiple restaurants serving dishes renowned to Gwangju can be found. These include Mudeungsan Boribap Street (a meal of barley with a variety of side dishes), Duck Cook Street (oritang, a duck stew, and grilled duck), Folk Tteokgalbi Street (a meal of grilled minced pork or beef patties eaten wrapped in lettuce and served with ox bone soup and a variety of side dishes) and Kotgejang Baekban Street (a meal of crabs preserved in soy sauce served with a variety of side dishes). *
Gwangju World Cup Stadium The Gwangju World Cup Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Gwangju, South Korea. It is the home stadium of Gwangju FC of the K League and has a capacity of 40,245. The stadium is managed by the Sports Support Division of the Culture & Sports Pol ...
– It is a historical place for Korean soccer history. Because at this stadium in
2002 FIFA World Cup The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea/Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...
,
South Korea national football team The South Korea national football team (; recognized as Korea Republic by FIFA) represents South Korea in men's international Association football, football and is governed by the Korea Football Association, a member of FIFA and the Asian Foot ...
beat Spain soccer team in 3:5 at the quarter-Final, and advanced to the Semi-Final match with Germany in that World Cup, for the first time in the Asian soccer history.


Sport and culture

* It is the home of
Kia Tigers The Kia Tigers () are a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982 and based in the southwestern city of Gwangju. Until 2001, they were known as the Haitai Tigers. The Tigers are members of the KBO League and are the most successful ...
of the Korea Professional Baseball League (
KBO The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...
). *
2002 FIFA World Cup The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea/Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...
Gwangju World Cup Stadium The Gwangju World Cup Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Gwangju, South Korea. It is the home stadium of Gwangju FC of the K League and has a capacity of 40,245. The stadium is managed by the Sports Support Division of the Culture & Sports Pol ...
was one of the venues used for the World Cup and was where the
South Korea national football team The South Korea national football team (; recognized as Korea Republic by FIFA) represents South Korea in men's international Association football, football and is governed by the Korea Football Association, a member of FIFA and the Asian Foot ...
advanced to the semi-finals for the first time in its history by defeating Spain. * It is the home of
Gwangju FC Gwangju FC () is a South Korean professional football club based in Gwangju that competes in the K League 1, the top tier of South Korean football. They joined the K League in the 2011 season. History Gwangju FC was founded in December 2010, b ...
of the
K League K League () is South Korea's professional football league. It includes the first division K League 1 and the second division K League 2. Clubs competing in the K League have won a record total of twelve AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions ...
. *
Universiade The FISU World University Games, formerly the Universiade, is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The former name is a Blend word, portmanteau of the wor ...
– It was the venue for the 2015 Summer
Universiade The FISU World University Games, formerly the Universiade, is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The former name is a Blend word, portmanteau of the wor ...
games. * The 3rd Asia Song Festival an annual Asian pop music festival hosted by the ''Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange'', in 2006, was held at the
Gwangju World Cup Stadium The Gwangju World Cup Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Gwangju, South Korea. It is the home stadium of Gwangju FC of the K League and has a capacity of 40,245. The stadium is managed by the Sports Support Division of the Culture & Sports Pol ...
. * The International Design Alliance (IDA) appointed Gwangju as the host destination of the 2015 IDA Congress. * Festivals are held in Gwangju. () * 2019
FINA World Aquatics Championships The World Aquatics Championships, formerly the FINA World Championships, are the World Championships for six aquatic disciplines: swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming, and water polo. The championships are stag ...
* 2014 Gwangju ACE Fair (Asia Content & Entertainment Fair) * The Ministry of SMEs said Gwangju was selected as the site for the creation of the ''"Green-Startup-Town."'' It is said that it will benchmark
King's Cross Station King's Cross railway station, also known as London King's Cross, is a passenger railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden, on the edge of Central London. It is in the London station group, one of the List of busiest railway stations in ...
, a successful case of urban regeneration in the UK, to establish a start-up hub (private research institute, research and development company, start-up company, etc.) at Gwangju Station. * It is the home of Gwangju AI Peppers of the V-League.


Cityscape

* Mudeungsan – It is a mountain that is part of Mudeungsan National Park.


International relations


Sister cities

Gwangju is twinned with: *
Changzhi Changzhi ( zh, s=长治) is a prefecture-level city in the southeast of Shanxi Province, China, bordering the provinces of Hebei and Henan to the northeast and east, respectively. Historically, the city was one of the 36 administrative areas ( ...
, China (2014) *
Guangzhou Guangzhou, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Canton or Kwangchow, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Guangdong Provinces of China, province in South China, southern China. Located on the Pearl River about nor ...
, China (1996) *
Medan Medan ( , ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of North Sumatra. The nearby Strait of Malacca, Port of Belawan, and Kualanamu International Airport make Medan a regional hub and multi ...
, Indonesia (1997) *
San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, United States (1982) *
Sendai is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tōhoku region. , the city had a population of 1,098,335 in 539,698 households, making it the List of cities in Japan, twelfth most populated city in Japan. ...
, Japan (2002) *
Tainan Tainan (), officially Tainan City, is a Special municipality (Taiwan), special municipality in southern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on its western coast. Tainan is the oldest city on the island and commonly called the "Taiwan Prefecture, ...
, Taiwan (1968)


Partnerships and cooperations

*
Turin Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...
, Italy *
Seberang Perai Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east and Perak to the south. The city spans an are ...
, Malaysia (2013)


Notable people


Art

* Chong Ryul-song – author of the '' Military Anthem of the People's Liberation Army of China''


Literature

*
Han Kang Han Kang (; born 27 November 1970) is a South Korean writer. From 2007 to 2018, she taught creative writing at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. Han rose to international prominence for her novel ''The Vegetarian'', which became the first Kore ...
– author of ''
The Vegetarian ''The Vegetarian'' () is a 2007 novel by South Korean author Han Kang, winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature. Based on Han's 1997 short story "The Fruit of My Woman", ''The Vegetarian'' is a three-part novel set in modern-day Seoul and ...
'' and ''Human Acts'' and winner of the 2024
Nobel Prize in Literature The Nobel Prize in Literature, here meaning ''for'' Literature (), is a Swedish literature prize that is awarded annually, since 1901, to an author from any country who has, in the words of the will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, "in ...


Entertainers

* Goo Hara (member of kpop group KARA) * Jung Ho-seok (stage name
J-Hope Jung Ho-seok (; born February 18, 1994), known professionally as J-Hope (; stylized in lower case), is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer. He made his debut as a member of South Korean boy band BTS in 2013, ...
) – member of K-pop group ''
BTS BTS (), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010. The band consists of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, who co-write or co-produce much of their material. Originally a hip hop group, they ...
'' * Jeong Yun-ho (stage Name Yunho) – member of K-pop group
ATEEZ Ateez (; stylised in all caps) is a South Korean boy band formed by KQ Entertainment. The group consists of eight members: Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho. They debuted on October 24, 2018, with the extende ...
*
Moon Geun-young Moon Geun-young (; born May 6, 1987) is a South Korean actress. Affectionately called the "Nation's Little Sister", Moon began modeling at the age of 10, then made her acting debut in 1999 as a child actress. She first rose to stardom through h ...
– South Korean actress and singer * Lee Seung-hyun (stage name
Seungri Lee Seung-hyun (; born December 12, 1990), better known by the stage names Seungri () and V.I, is a South Korean former singer-songwriter and was a member of the South Korean boy band BigBang (South Korean band), BigBang formed by YG Entertain ...
) – former member of K-pop group ''
Big Bang The Big Bang is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. Various cosmological models based on the Big Bang concept explain a broad range of phenomena, including th ...
'' * Jung Yun-ho (stage name
U-Know Jung Yunho (; born February 6, 1986), better known by his stage name U-Know Yunho () or simply U-Know, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, actor, and a member of the pop duo TVXQ. Born and raised in Gwangju, South Korea, Yunho started his musi ...
) – member of K-pop group ''
TVXQ TVXQ (stylized as TVXQ!; , ), known as Tohoshinki in Japan, is a South Korean pop duo formed by SM Entertainment, composed of U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin. Originally a five-member boy band which also consisted of members Kim Jae-joong, Hero ...
'' *
Seo Hye-lin Seo Hye-lin (Hangul: 서혜린; born August 23, 1993), referred to as Hyelin, is a South Korean singer. She is best known as a member of the South Korean girl group EXID. Career In 2011, she participated in Mnet's '' Superstar K3'', making it t ...
– member of K-pop group ''
EXID EXID (; ; initialism for "Exceed in Dreaming") is a South Korean girl group formed in 2012. The group consists of five members: Solji, Elly, Hani, Hyelin, and Jeonghwa. EXID debuted in February 2012, with the single "Whoz That Girl". Thou ...
'' * Sim Jayoon (stage name YOON) – member of K-pop group ''
STAYC STAYC (; , acronym for Star to a Young Culture) is a South Korean girl group formed by High Up Entertainment. The group is composed of six members: Sumin, Park Si-eun (entertainer), Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J. Mainly produced by K-pop duo ...
'' *
Lee Gi-kwang Lee Gi-kwang (; born March 30, 1990), known professionally as Gikwang or Kikwang, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actor. He originally debuted as solo singer with the stage nam ...
– member of K-pop group '' Highlight'' *
Lee Sung-jong Lee Seong-jong (; born September 3, 1993), commonly known as Seongjong, is a South Korean singer. He is a vocalist of the South Korean boy band Infinite under Woollim Entertainment. He is also the vocalist of Infinite F. Personal life Lee wa ...
– member of K-pop group ''
Infinite Infinite may refer to: Mathematics *Infinite set, a set that is not a finite set *Infinity, an abstract concept describing something without any limit Music Performers *Infinite (group), a South Korean boy band *Infinite (rapper), Canadian ra ...
'' * Chae Hyung-won – member of K-pop group ''
Monsta X Monsta X (; stylized as MONSTA X) is a South Korean boy group formed through the reality survival program ''No.Mercy'' under Starship Entertainment. The group is currently composed of six members: Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Jooho ...
'' * Im Chang-kyun (stage name I.M.) – member of K-pop group ''Monsta X'' (originally from
Suwon Suwon (; ) is the largest city and capital of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea's most populous province. The city lies approximately south of the national capital, Seoul. With a population of 1.2 million, Suwon has more inhabitants than Ulsan, tho ...
) * Bae Su-ji (stage name Suzy) – former member of K-pop group ''
Miss A Miss A (; stylized in all caps or miss A) was a South Korean girl group formed by AQ Entertainment, a subsidiary of JYP Entertainment. The group debuted in July 2010 with the single " Bad Girl Good Girl" as a quartet consisting of Fei, Jia, ...
'' * Gong Min-ji (stage name
Minzy Gong Min-ji (; born January 18, 1994), better known by her stage name Minzy, is a South Korean singer and dancer. She debuted in 2009 as a member of South Korean girl group 2NE1, which became one of the best-selling girl groups worldwide befor ...
) – member of K-pop group ''
2NE1 2NE1 (, ) is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment in 2009. The group consists of Park Bom, Bom, CL (rapper), CL, Sandara Park, Dara, and Minzy. Known for their Experimental music, musical experimentation, fashion, and stage pre ...
'' * Kim Yu-bin – former member of K-pop group ''
Wonder Girls Wonder Girls () was a South Korean girl group formed by JYP Entertainment. The group debuted in February 2007 with the single "Irony (Wonder Girls song), Irony" and 5 members: Park Ye-eun, Yeeun, Sunye, Sunmi, Hyuna, and Ahn So-hee, Sohee. Aft ...
'' *
Hong Jin-young Hong Jin-young (born August 9, 1985) is a South Korean trot singer, actress, and entertainer. She was a member of the short-lived South Korean girl group SWAN, which debuted in 2007. In 2009, she returned to the music scene, debuting as a trot ...
– a trot singer *
Park Shin-hye Park Shin-hye (, born February 18, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She gained recognition as a child in Korean drama, television series ''Stairway to Heaven (2003 TV series), Stairway to Heaven'' (2003) and ''Tree of Heaven (TV series), Tree o ...
– South Korean actress * Jung Woo-seok – member of K-pop group ''
Pentagon In geometry, a pentagon () is any five-sided polygon or 5-gon. The sum of the internal angles in a simple polygon, simple pentagon is 540°. A pentagon may be simple or list of self-intersecting polygons, self-intersecting. A self-intersecting ...
'' * Lee Na-gyung – member of K-pop group
Fromis 9 Fromis 9 (; stylized in snake case) is a South Korean girl group. The group consists of five members: Song Ha-young, Park Ji-won, Lee Chae-young, Lee Na-gyung, and Baek Ji-heon. Originally a nine-piece group, Jang Gyu-ri departed the group in J ...
* Song Ha Young – member of K-pop group
Fromis 9 Fromis 9 (; stylized in snake case) is a South Korean girl group. The group consists of five members: Song Ha-young, Park Ji-won, Lee Chae-young, Lee Na-gyung, and Baek Ji-heon. Originally a nine-piece group, Jang Gyu-ri departed the group in J ...
* Seo Woobin – member of K-pop group
Cravity Cravity () is a South Korean boy band formed by Starship Entertainment. The group is composed of nine members: Serim, Allen, Jungmo, Woobin, Wonjin, Minhee, Hyeongjun, Taeyoung, and Seongmin. They debuted on April 14, 2020, with their extended p ...
* Oh Seunghee – member of K-pop group CLC * Lee Su-jeong (stage name Babysoul)- leader and member of K-pop group
Lovelyz Lovelyz () is a South Korean girl group formed in 2014 by Woollim Entertainment and is the company's first girl group. The group consists of eight members: Lee Su-jeong, Baby Soul, Jiae, Jisoo, Mijoo, Kei (singer), Kei, Jin, Ryu Su-jeong, Sujeon ...
* Bae Seung-min – member of K-pop group Golden Child * Park Soeun – member of K-pop group
Weeekly Weeekly () is a South Korean girl group formed by IST Entertainment (formerly Play M Entertainment). The group was IST Entertainment's second girl group in ten years, after Apink. The group consists of six members: Soojin, Monday, Soeun, Jaehee ...
* Lee Taeyeob (stage name Yoojung) – member of K-pop group
OnlyOneOf OnlyOneOf () is a South Korean boy band formed by 8D Entertainment in 2019. The group debuted on May 28, 2019, with ''Dot Point Jump''. History 2019: Debut with ''Dot Point Jump'' and first comeback ''Line Sun Goodness'' On May 1, 8D Creative ...
* Jang Seowon – member of K-pop group Lapillus * Kim Yeunja (born 1959) – South Korean trot singer * Joo Hyunmi (born 1961) – South Korean trot singer * Jang Beomjoon (born 1989) – South Korean singer, former member of
Busker Busker Busker Busker () is a South Korean indie band who rose to fame through their runner-up performance in the South Korean music audition television program '' Superstar K3'' on Mnet. The band consists of guitarist and vocalist Jang Beom-june, ...
* Lee Ha-joon (stage name Hajoon) – member of Korean indie-rock band The Rose * Han Dongmin (stage name Taesan) - member of K-pop group
Boynextdoor BoyNextDoor (; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean boy band formed by KOZ Entertainment in 2023. The group consists of six members: Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, and Woonhak. Characterized by its eponymous 'wikt:boy next door, boy ...


Sports

*
Ki Sung-yueng Ki Sung-yueng (; ; born 24 January 1989) is a South Korean professional association football, footballer who plays as a central midfielder or a defensive midfielder for the K League 1 club FC Seoul. From 2008 to 2019, Ki was a full internation ...
– International
footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...
*
An San An San (, born 27 February 2001) is a South Korean archer competing in women's recurve events. She won three gold medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in the women's team, mixed team and individual events, becoming the first archer in Olympi ...
– Olympic gold medalist in women's team, mixed team, and individual archery at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games *
An Se-young An Se-young (; born 5 February 2002) is a South Korean badminton player from Gwangju, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the women's singles event. She was named 2019’s Most Promising Player of the Year and 2023's Female Pl ...
– Badminton Player *
Kim Byunghyun Kim may refer to: People and fictional characters * Kim (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Kim (surname), a list of people and fictional characters ** Kim (Korean surname) *** Kim dynasty (disambiguation), several dynasti ...
(born 1979) – South Korean former baseball player *
Kang Jung-ho Jung-ho Kang (; ; born April 5, 1987) is a South Korean former professional baseball third baseman. He played in the KBO League for the Hyundai Unicorns and Nexen Heroes, as well as in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates. ...
(born 1987) - South Korean former baseball player


Politics

*
Chi Hyun Chung Chi Hyun Chung (, ; ; born 7 March 1970) is a Korean-born Bolivian doctor, evangelical pastor and politician. He became notable in the country's media for his statements in favor of the Christian community. Chung was a candidate for the Pres ...
– Bolivian politician and presidential candidate for
2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...
and
2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...
elections * Elizabeth Lee – Australian politician and Leader of the Opposition of the Australian Capital Territory


Science

*
Yi So-yeon Yi So-yeon (born June 2, 1978) is a South Korean astronaut and biotechnologist who became the first Korean to fly in space. Lee was born and raised in Gwangju, South Korea and graduated from KAIST with a Master's degree in Mechanical Engine ...
– South Korean biotechnologist and astronaut, the first Korean to fly to space


See also

* Gwangju Castle *
List of cities in South Korea The largest cities of South Korea have an autonomous status equivalent to that of provinces. Seoul, the largest city and capital, is classified as a ''teukbyeolsi'' (List of special cities of South Korea#Position in hierarchy and types, Special ...


Notes


References


Citations


Bibliography

* .


External links

*
Gwangju:Official Site of Korea Tourism Org
{{Authority control 50s BC establishments 57 BC Special Cities and Metropolitan Cities of South Korea Populated places established in the 1st century