Downtown of Gwangju belongs to the administrative district of "Dong-gu" and serves as the center for administration, finance, and commerce. Streets branching out from Chungjangno and Geumnamno represent finance, revolution, youth, fashion, and other specialties. In the daytime they are crowded with people and at night they are lit up with colorful lights. You can enjoy taking a walk at historic sites or beautiful parks if you only make a short trip from midtown.
Geumnamno, the Main Artery of Gwangju
Center of Finance and Commerce
Scores of financial institutions stand in a line from the Jeollanamdo Provincial Office on Geumnamno il-ga (1st street) to Geumnamno o-ga (fifth street). The street, the economic center of the city is filled with a large number of shops and restaurants and always crowded with energetic and enthusiastic business people.
Everlasting Love for Democracy
Geumnamno, stretching away from Jeollanamdo Provincial Office. It is the symbol of the spirit of democracy against dictatorship and a historic site of the May 18 Democratic Movement where citizens fought for democratization with blood. The Provincial Office was used as the headquarters of the resistance movement in May, 1980 and the fountain in front of it served as a platform where speakers impelled the public to Protest. This place was named "May 18 Democratic Square" in 1996. Especially, the former headquarters of the martial law troops, Sangmugwan was at that time where the dead bodies of citizens killed by the military were temporarily laid.
[ Jaemyeong Stone Lantern ]
Jaemyeong Stone Lantern stands in the front garden of the Jeollanamdo Provincial Office and is estimated as the work of the early Goryeo Dynasty. It was originally located at Daehwangsa Temple around the South Gate of the city and then replaced in the front yard of Mudeoksa Temple near the Provincial Office. Finally, it settled itself in where it stands today, when Mudeok Temple was renovated in 1968.
Along with the March 1 Independence Movement, the Gwangju Student Independence Movement was a major push for Korean independence against Japanese colonialism. Ignited by an incident of sexual harassment of a Korean girl by a Japanese on a train and subsequent group brawls, the movement led to a nationwide protest participated by over 54,000 students at 194 schools. It marked the largest national movement after the March 1 Movement, spurring other independence movements against the Japanese.
The Gwangju Student Independence Movement Memorial Hal
The Gwangju Student Independence Movement Memorial Hall was established by the Foundation Committee on November 3, 1967 to honor the patriotism of the freedom fighters. The spirit imbued in the Korean flags they fought for in their dedication to nationalism are displayed in the Hall and serve as a vivid lesson for future generations to learn and inherit. Tens of thousands visit the Hall annually to cherish and learn the truth about Korean history.
Exhibition Halls 1 & 2 in the Museum of Memorial History
To honor the nationalism of those who fought in the Gwangju Student Independence Movement, Exhibition Halls 1 & 2 were constructed in 1997 along with the Memorial Park. Hall 1 hosts Japanese court documents, newspaper articles and other historic materials related with the Gwangju Student Independence Movement. Hall 2 hosts historical records of Gwangju Jeil High School, where the Movement started. The burning spirit for Korea's independence against Japanese colonialism was handed down to Gwangju Seo Public Junior High School and Gwangju Jeil High school of today, which led the second Gwangju Student Independence Movement.
[ Monument commemorating the Gwangju Student Movement ]
The campus of the former Gwangju Jeil High School (currently the Gwangju Ilgo) is the site of the approximately 11-meter Monument built in 1954 and the Memorial Park. On November 3 of each year, the school honors the patriotic spirit as Students' Day to pay respect to the nameless students who struggled for national independence.
Gwangju Hyanggyo is located between Gwangju Park in Gu-dong and Sa-dong. Nobody knows exactly when it was constructed, but many experts assume that it might have been established in the first year of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392, according to the national policy of increasing the number of local schools. Gwangju Hyanggyo is regarded as a precious national asset because it is a good example of Hyanggyo where memorial ceremonies for Confucius are held twice a year as a Confucian shrine. It also opens its yard to citizens who want to have traditional Korean wedding ceremonies.
Missionary, Uilseon's House
This two-story grey-brick house was built at the foot of Mt. Yangrim in the 1920s and faces east. This square-shaped building has a living room, a family room, a multipurpose room, a kitchen, and a bathroom on the first floor, bedrooms on the second and a storage room and a boiler room in the basement. It is the oldest Western-style house in Gwangju and was designated as a memorial site.
House of Jangwoo Lee
The house of Jangwoo Lee in Yangrim-dong is a typical house of the higher class from the late 20th century. This tile-roofed, L-shaped house has a main gate, a main building, a storehouse, servant's quarters, a formal living room, and a Paljak-style roof. There are six rooms in the main building with one room on the side. Architects think it was constructed in 1989, based on the phrase "the third year of Gwangmu, Eulhae, February 11th" which was carved on the main building in memory of the house-raising. It was designated as local folk property No. 1 on March 20, 1989. .
House of Seunghyo Choi
This large traditional house is located on the southeastern border of Mt. Yangrim and was originally owned by Sanghyeon Choi, a fighter for national independence. It has four rooms in a row on the side and a Paljak-style roof. To hide fighters for independence, each room has an attic. It is a good example of Korean style houses of the 1920s.
Sajik Park
Sajik Park stretches from Sa-dong to Yangrim-dong in Nam-gu, contiguous to Gwangju Park. Its total area is about 23 acres. It is the first public park built in Gwangju, and is proud of its dense forest. It is a good place to take a walk or contemplate. The former zoo site is being replaced to an altar to hold a memorial service for the guardian deities of the State, and the octagonal pavilion commands a panoramic view of the entire city.
The Birthplace of Composer Jeong Yul-seong
This is the house where Jeong Yul-seong (1914-1976), one of Korea's greatest composers in the 20th century, was born. He went to Soongil Primary School from this house. When the sino-Japan War broke out, he moved to Yenan, China, which was the center of liberal anti-Japanese movement in China and graduated from Lu Xun Art School and taught vocal music at the college. He was deeply trusted by General Mu Jong from Joseon volunteer troops and shared deep camaraderie with him. His famous "Yenan Song," which was dubbed as "arirang" of China, and "8th Route Army Marching Song," which was designated as one of military songs for the Chinese People's Liberation Army were composed during this period. He composed 360 precious songs including symphonies throughout his life and is deemed as the best composer in contemporary Chinese music. Composer Jeong Yul-seong is a great anti-Japanese resistance activist produced by Gwangju in the 20th century and a revolutionary musician who developed the music of East Asia and a great "ambassador" who promoted world peace and friendship.
Center of Finance and Commerce 
[ Jaemyeong Stone Lantern ]
[ Monument commemorating the Gwangju Student Movement ]
