"Year-End Holidays in Gwangju"... 'Christmas Light Festival'

Sajik-dong~Yangnim-dong~ACC, City Hall Host 'Festival of Lights'
Large Christmas Tree and Sculptures Installed with Performances

Christmas Gwangju Light Festival Poster. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on the 8th that it will hold the ‘2024 Christmas Gwangju Light Festival,’ an integrated branding of winter festivals and events for the year-end and New Year season.

The main locations are Sajik-dong, Yangnim-dong, the Asia Food Culture District, and the 5·18 Democracy Square. This area offers enjoyment with splendid light sculptures and various programs.

Sajik Park is known as the ‘Forest of Light.’ Officially opened in November last year, the UNESCO Creative Belt Zone 3 Sajik Park ‘Forest of Light’ is a theme park-style media art park that allows day and night viewing, linked with existing historical resources, public art, Sajik Tower, and Sajikdan.

The Yangnim-dong area hosts the Yangnim & Christmas Cultural Festival until December 31. Along with the large tree at Yangnim Five-way Intersection, scenic photo zones are set up throughout the area. Various programs such as Christmas evening events, candlelight parades, carol performances, and the Santa Festa on Craft Street are operated. Especially this year, a light street is created from Yangnim Five-way Intersection to Yangnim Art Museum, Holly Tree, and Yangnim Mountain Missionary Cemetery, allowing visitors to feel the historical value.

A large Christmas tree installed at Yangnim Intersection in Nam-gu, Gwangju. Provided by Gwangju City

The ‘Light Street Belt’ connecting Yangnim-dong, 5·18 Democracy Square, and Dongmyeong-dong will operate the Asia Food Culture District Light Street from the 18th of this month until February next year.

Linked with media nightscape resources such as the Light Fortress, Light Fountain, and Music Fountain around 5·18 Democracy Square, street tree lighting will be installed on Geumnam-ro, Light Fortress Street, and around the ACC. The Light Goeul Christmas Cultural Festival will be held at 5·18 Democracy Square, featuring a large tree, light sculptures, carol busking performances, and a UCC contest.

Various locations throughout Gwangju will be decorated with beautiful lights and photo zones, including the Christmas Swing at Gwangju City Hall Lawn Plaza, Christmas Tree at Gwangju Songjeong Station Plaza, Christmas Tree at Gwangju Municipal Arboretum Exhibition Greenhouse, Christmas Nightscape at Buk-gu Office Plaza, Christmas Tree at Uncheon Reservoir, and nightscape at Gwangju Shinsegae Department Store.

A special event prepared by the Gwangju Tourism Organization will also be held. From the 20th to the 31st, visitors who visit four or more of Sajik Park Forest of Light, Yangnim & Christmas Cultural Festival, Asia Food Culture District Light Street, 5·18 Democracy Square, and the National Asia Culture Center, and certify it on SNS, will receive an Omaena character souvenir, limited to the first 20 people per day.

Lee Seung-gyu, Head of the New Vitality Promotion Headquarters, said, “Gwangju has long been known as the City of Light, and the beauty of events and nightscapes using light is superior compared to other cities. We hope that families, friends, and couples will create precious memories together at the Christmas Gwangju Light Festival full of light and hope, and beautifully decorate 2024.”