Gwangju

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This article is about Gwangju Metropolitan City. For the smaller city of the same name near Seoul, see Gwangju, Gyeonggi. For one of its sister cities which has similar name in China, see Guangzhou.
Gwangju
광주
—  Metropolitan City  —
Gwangju Metropolitan City
  transcription(s)
 • Hangul 광주광역시
 • Hanja 光州廣域市
 • Revised Romanization Gwangju-gwangyeoksi
 • McCune-Reischauer Kwangju-kwangyŏksi
From top left: Pojangmacha in Gwangju's Night Market, Street of Gwangju, Cityscape of Gwangju, Gwangju Folk Museum, & Democracy Bell

Flag
Seal of Gwangju
Map of South Korea with Gwangju highlighted
Country  South Korea
Region Honam
Districts 5
Government
 • Mayor Kang Un-tae
Area
 • Total 501.24 km2 (193.53 sq mi)
Population (April, 2013[1])
 • Total 1,471,324
 • Density Bad rounding here2,900/km2 (Bad rounding here7,600/sq mi)
 • Dialect Jeolla
Flower Royal Azalea
Tree Ginkgo
Bird Dove
Website gjcity.net (English)

Gwangju (officially known as Gwangju Metropolitan City; Korean pronunciation: [kwaŋdʑu]) is the sixth largest city in South Korea.

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 until the provincial office moved to the southern village of Namak in Muan County in 2005.

Gwang (광, hanja 光) means "light" and Ju (주, hanja 州) means "province." Areas of exquisite scenery along the outskirts of the city gave birth to gasa, a form of Korean classical poetry.[citation needed] Located in the center of the agricultural Jeolla region, the city is also famous for its rich and diverse cuisine.

Contents

History [edit]

The city was established in 57 BC, and has been a major political and economic centre of Korea ever since. It was one of the administrative centres of Baekje during the Three Kingdoms Period.

In 1929, during the period of Japanese rule, a confrontation between Korean and Japanese students in the city turned into a regional demonstration, which culminated in one of the major nationwide uprisings against Japanese rule during the colonial period.

Modern industry was established in Gwangju with the construction of a railway to Seoul. Some of the industries that took hold include cotton textiles, rice mills and breweries. Construction of a designated industrial zone in 1967 encouraged marked growth in industry, especially in the sectors linked to the automobile industry.

In May 1980, civil demonstrations took place in Gwangju against the newly installed military government of Chun Doo-hwan resulting in hundreds of civilians being killed by the Korean Military. The demonstrations were suppressed by military forces, including elite units of the Special Operations Command. Most commentators agree that the suppression was characterized by its egregious brutality, including several incidents where military forces fired automatic weapons into crowds of armed demonstrators. After civilian rule was reinstated, a national cemetery was established honoring the victims of the incident.

In 1986, Gwangju separated from Jeollanam-do to become a Directly Governed City (Jikhalsi), and then became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi) in 1995.

Gwangju is the main campaign of the liberal Democratic United Party, and its predecessors.

Administrative divisions [edit]

Main article: List of districts of Gwangju

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

Map Name Hangul 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

Climate [edit]

Climate data for Gwangju (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 5.3
(41.5)		 7.8
(46)		 13.0
(55.4)		 19.6
(67.3)		 24.3
(75.7)		 27.5
(81.5)		 29.6
(85.3)		 30.7
(87.3)		 26.9
(80.4)		 21.8
(71.2)		 14.6
(58.3)		 8.1
(46.6)		 19.1
(66.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.6
(33.1)		 2.5
(36.5)		 7.0
(44.6)		 13.2
(55.8)		 18.3
(64.9)		 22.4
(72.3)		 25.6
(78.1)		 26.2
(79.2)		 21.9
(71.4)		 15.8
(60.4)		 9.1
(48.4)		 3.1
(37.6)		 13.8
(56.8)
Average low °C (°F) −3.1
(26.4)		 −1.8
(28.8)		 2.1
(35.8)		 7.5
(45.5)		 13.0
(55.4)		 18.2
(64.8)		 22.5
(72.5)		 22.8
(73)		 17.8
(64)		 10.9
(51.6)		 4.5
(40.1)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 9.5
(49.1)
Precipitation mm (inches) 37.1
(1.461)		 47.9
(1.886)		 60.8
(2.394)		 80.7
(3.177)		 96.6
(3.803)		 181.5
(7.146)		 308.9
(12.161)		 297.8
(11.724)		 150.5
(5.925)		 46.8
(1.843)		 48.8
(1.921)		 33.5
(1.319)		 1,391
(54.764)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 11.0 9.0 9.5 8.9 9.3 10.7 15.5 14.9 9.8 6.8 9.0 10.0 124.4
 % humidity 67.7 65.2 62.9 61.9 66.4 72.8 80.0 78.1 74.3 68.4 68.1 68.8 69.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 159.9 164.6 192.0 213.0 222.8 169.2 145.4 172.6 172.3 205.2 163.6 155.9 2,136.3
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration[2]

Education [edit]

Chonnam National University is a public university in Gwangju.

Honam Univ, Gwangju University, Gwangshin University, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju Education University, Gwangju Women's University, Nambu University, Chosun University, and Honam Christian University are private universities.

Gwangju Health College is a private community college.

The hometown of numerous renowned scholars, Gwangju has 593 schools, consisting of 234 kindergartens, 145 elementary schools, 84 middle schools, 65 high schools, 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 (0.8) reflects the city's characteristic as the home of education.

Population [edit]

The population model of Gwangju[3]

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

Transportation [edit]

The city is served by the Gwangju Subway. An extension was completed in April 2008 with another due for completion in 2012. There are two KTX (high speed rail) stations in the city: Gwangju Station and Songjeong-ri Station. Songjeong-ri is connected to Gwangju Subway; however, no connection exists to Gwangju Station.

It is also served by the Gwangju Airport.

Tourism [edit]

  • Gwangju Biennale – It is an internationally renowned modern art festival that is held every two years. It was first launched in 1995. The Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall is located at the Jung-oe Park Culture Center and the Science Center.
  • Gwangju Hyanggyo (Confucian School) – Gwangju Hyanggyo is located in the Gwangju Park in Sa-dong. There are many traditional houses here estimated as built during the 1st year of the Joseon Dynasty[4]Tksgk262 (talk) 14:13, 7 April 2013 (UTC) in 1392. This is a precious national asset as 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 various special exhibitions and cultural learning activities that are open to all.
  • Gwangju 5.18Road – 5.18 Road is the course about the Gwangju Democratisation Movement in 1980. The courses include the historical

places. Anyone can apply for this program and choose the course. More about 5.18Road

Culture [edit]

  • The International Design Alliance (IDA) appointed Gwangju as the host destination of the 2015 IDA Congress. The Kimdaejung Convention Center will serve as the main conference venue for the congress when it takes place in October 2015.[7]

Sports [edit]

Gwangju Sangmu Gymnasium

Gwangju is home to a K-League team, Gwangju FC, and a Korea Baseball Championship team, the Kia Tigers.

Cityscape [edit]

  • Gwangju, South Korea

  • Mudeung Mountain

  • [Mudeung Mountain] – It is the Mountain which has been the symbol of Gwangju and recently It became the national park

Sister cities [edit]

See also [edit]

About Gwangju
See also category: Gwangju
General lists
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gwangju

References [edit]

  1. ^ Gwangju Metropolitan City
  2. ^ "평년값자료(1981–2010) 광주(156)". Korea Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 2011−05−28. 
  3. ^ National Statistical Office of South Korea
  4. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseon.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ (Korean) K-League news 4강 역사를 쓴 그곳, 광주 월드컵 경기장 Dream stadium of K-League
  6. ^ KOFICE 3rd Asia Song Festival 22 September 2006. Retrieved 2011-10-12
  7. ^ "Global design experts to converge on Gwangju come 2015". TTGmice. Retrieved 7 February 2013. 

External links [edit]

Districts of Gwangju
Regions
Provinces
Special self-governing province
Special city
Special self-governing city
Metropolitan cities
The Committee for the
Five Northern Korean Provinces
Special city
Metropolitan cities
Special self-governing city
Provincial capitals
Special-status cities
Municipal cities
Administrative city
Note: A also a provincial capital; B also designated as a special-status city; C a county, not a city; and D also designated as an administrative city

Coordinates: 35°10′N 126°55′E / 35.167°N 126.917°E / 35.167; 126.917

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