Gwangju Invites You to a City of Democracy, Culture, Cuisine, and Sports

Proclamation of "2025 Visit Gwangju Year" at Seoul Station
Over 400 Attendees Including Ministry of Culture, KORAIL, and Gwangju Natives
Slogan Announced: "Gwangju Has Arrived. ○ Is Coming."
Kang Gijung: "Presenting the Charm of Gwangju to the Nation and the World"

Kang Kijeong, mayor of Gwangju, is attending the '2025 Gwangju Visit Year Declaration Ceremony' held at Seoul Station Open Concert Hall on the 25th and taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City has declared the "2025 Visit Gwangju Year" and has officially invited all citizens of Korea and the global community to Gwangju. Building on the "Power of Gwangju" demonstrated last year, this year the city aims to invite people from around the world to its festival square, offering them the tastes, styles, and charms of Gwangju.

On the 25th at 3 p.m., Gwangju City held the proclamation ceremony for the "2025 Visit Gwangju Year" at the Open Concert Hall in Seoul Station. The ceremony was organized to announce nationwide that this year is "Visit Gwangju Year," and to bring together the government, local authorities, and the tourism industry to pledge for its successful implementation.

Over 400 people attended the event, including Mayor Kang Gijung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, President of Korea Railroad Corporation Han Moonhee, Acting President of Korea Tourism Organization Seo Youngchung, President of Korea Association of Travel Agents Lee Jinseok, President of Korea PCO Association Oh Sunghwan, tourism industry representatives, and Gwangju natives. Also present were South Jeolla Province Governor Kim Yungrok, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Hakyoung, "Team Gwangju" lawmakers Kim Jooyoung, Min Hyungbae, Jung Jinwook, Ahn Dogeol, Cho Incheol, Park Kyuntaek, Seo Wangjin, Chairwoman of Gwangju City Council Shin Sujeong, and city council members Jung Daeun and Choi Jihyun.

The city has designated this year as "Visit Gwangju Year," marking it as the "first year of Gwangju's leap as a tourism city where tourism becomes an industry." The city aims to open the era of 30 million annual city users by implementing five major strategies and 14 tasks: ▲a festival city with delights in all four seasons ▲offering bold tourism products and innovative promotions ▲expanding visitor-centered tourism infrastructure ▲creating a boom for the Visit Year ▲strategic marketing.

During the proclamation ceremony, the city unveiled the slogan and brand image (BI) for the "2025 Visit Gwangju Year." The slogan is "Gwangju Has Arrived. ○ Is Coming." "Gwangju Has Arrived" declares Gwangju as the representative city that defended Korean democracy, while "○ Is Coming" expresses the intention to share Gwangju's spirit, values, and culture with Korea and the world. Depending on the time and theme, the slogan will be filled with Gwangju's assets such as "May Gwangju," "Festival," "Gastronomy," "Sports Sanctuary," "Youth," "Boy," "Culture and Arts," and "Gwangju Design Biennale."

Especially, as many more people have come to empathize deeply with the pain of "May Gwangju" after experiencing the December 3 Martial Law Incident and now wish to visit Gwangju, the city plans to welcome them with abundant gifts such as the four-season festival G-Festa and discounts on transportation and accommodation.

The city also introduced tourism products that allow visitors to fully enjoy Gwangju's charm. Notable examples include "The Boy's Path," which follows the traces of Han Kang's novel "The Boy Is Coming," "Baseball Fan Trip" for baseball enthusiasts, and "RailTel," which combines accommodation and transportation.

Following the proclamation ceremony, the city signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) and Korea Tourism Organization to cooperate on developing and promoting tourism products and attracting domestic and international tourists to revitalize Gwangju tourism.

According to the agreement, these organizations will focus on ▲supporting visitor attraction through the development of diverse tourism content and products ▲discovering marketing projects to attract domestic and international tourists ▲sharing tourism policies and related information, supporting the attraction of foreign tourists ▲mutual cooperation in operating projects necessary to vitalize local tourism.

Mayor Kang Gijung and others took the lead in promotion by presenting "Gwangju Gift Vouchers," which are discount coupons for tourism products, to Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon and National Assembly members. They also distributed promotional materials and souvenirs at Seoul Station's waiting area and elsewhere, promoting both the "Visit Gwangju Year" and the "World Archery Championships."

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon stated, "I will actively cooperate so that the Visit Gwangju Year can succeed with the support of many people," and added, "I will do my best to develop Gwangju as the hub of Asian culture by establishing the Gwangju branch of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History and relocating the Seoul Performing Arts Company to Gwangju, thereby contributing to regional development."

Mayor Kang Gijung said, "To continue the 'Power of Gwangju' and the joy we showed in 2024 as a pleasant encounter, we have prepared the '2025 Visit Gwangju Year.' Baseball, soccer, archery, The Boy's Path, the Design Biennale, and many other festivals are coming, and you, who will fully enjoy them, will come as well. Please come to Gwangju and fully experience the taste, style, and unique charm of Gwangju," inviting everyone to the city.