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The Geukrak River, a tributary stream of the Youngsan River, runs through Gwangju City begins in the northwestern part and flows down from the western to the southern region of the city.
Gwangju is surrounded by high mountains; Mt. Mudeung on the east, Mts. Byongpung and Samkak on the north, Mt. Geumdang on the south, and Mts. Udeung and Yongjeon on the west.
Gwangju forms a natural basin, which is a fertile and warm area with many tributary streams of the Youngsan River, such as Daechon, Orye, and Jiseok streams.
Considering such a natural environment, we can easily predict that the plain in the southwestern area had been a place for the first settlement.
The remains of the prehistoric era, which have been found around this area, confirm this hypothesis.
As the people established cultural development, the small socially-organized groups might have formed a greater unit of country by unifying the individual groups.
Many reports have proved there had been national organizations in this area during the Mahan Period. Mr. Yu Chang-gyun announced that the Bulun nation had been found in the area of the Gwangsan district.
Mr. Choi Mongryong also announced that the nation of Gusaodan had been situated along the Daechon Stream And Mr. Lee Byong-do reported that the nation had been in the Jangsong-gun area.
With this evidence, we can be sure that the tribes living around the Gwangju area formed a state or nation.
Gwangju was belonged to Mujin county during the period of the Baekje Kingdom, while it had the Suchon district around Bonryang and Imgok of Gwangsan-gu; and the Bukryong district throughout the area of Pyongdong, Samdo, and Noan-myon of Naju. Mujin County, sometimes called Noji, was later raised to the status of Ju (state).
In the year 677, the era of the Unified Shilla Kingdom, Todok Chunhun was dispatched to Mujin as governor. In 757, it had been renamed Muju Todokbu, which had three different major hyuns. Muju had 1 Ju (state), 15 Guns (counties), and 43 Hyuns (districts) in total governing structures throughout the Jeonnam Province.
This area was partitioned to the territory of hte Post-Baekje Kingdom when Kyun-Hwon founded Hubaekje in 892 and established the capital in Wansan (present Jeonju).
After Hubaekjue was destroyed in 936 and King Wang Gun established Goryo, Muju was renamed Gwangju in 940. During the period of King Hyunjong, it changed to Haeyang-hyun, and in 1295, it was raised to Ik-ju (state). It changed again to Gwangju-Mok later. In 1310, it was downgraded to Hwapyung-bu and then regained its name Gwangju-Mok in 1373.
During the era of the Josun Dynasty Gwangju suffered many changes in its name but it remained as Gwangju-Mok to the end.
In 1853, when the whole nation was divided into 23 counties by the new administrative system, Gwangju was under the jurisdiction of Naju-bu and governed the sub districts of 41 myons.
In 1896, Gwangju was designated as the capital city of Jeonnam Province, as the nation was reorganized into 13 provinces.
The governmental organization of local administration was promulgated in 1910 as the result of Korea -Japan annexation and Gwangju-myon was changed into Gwangju-eup, then to Gwangju-bu.
After the restoration of Independence on Aug. 15, 1949, Gwangju-eup was changed into Shi (City), and then elevated to Gwangju Municipal City on Nov. 1, 1986.
In 1991, the local governing system by the local residents started, and in 1995, the name of Gwangju Municipal City was changed into Gwangju Metropolitan City.
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The Geukrak River, a tributary stream of the Youngsan River, runs through Gwangju City begins in the northwestern part and flows down from the western to the southern region of the city. 
Many reports have proved there had been national organizations in this area during the Mahan Period. Mr. Yu Chang-gyun announced that the Bulun nation had been found in the area of the Gwangsan district. 
After Hubaekjue was destroyed in 936 and King Wang Gun established Goryo, Muju was renamed Gwangju in 940. During the period of King Hyunjong, it changed to Haeyang-hyun, and in 1295, it was raised to Ik-ju (state). It changed again to Gwangju-Mok later. In 1310, it was downgraded to Hwapyung-bu and then regained its name Gwangju-Mok in 1373. 
During the era of the Josun Dynasty Gwangju suffered many changes in its name but it remained as Gwangju-Mok to the end. 
