In Celebration of "Visit Gwangju Year": May Exploration Tours
City Launches Themed Tourism Product "Boy's Road"
Walking Tour from Chonnam National University to Former Provincial Office to May 18th Cemetery
"Interactive Stay" Accommodation and Experiences All in One
Special Discounts at Science Museum, Monorail, and Souvenir Shops
The Korea Tourism Organization has selected Gwangju as the "most anticipated urban travel destination of 2025." This decision is based on an evaluation by the big data platform "Korea Tourism Datalab," which analyzed local governments with the highest year-on-year increase in visitors from outside the region last year.
The selection was attributed to two main factors. First, Gwangju has emerged as a "Nobel Prize in Literature Commemorative Tour" site following the historic win by Han Kang, the first Korean to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature last year, as her novel "The Boy Is Coming" is set in the city. Second, Gwangju is a popular destination for baseball fans who visit to watch the KIA Tigers play in person.
In celebration of the "2025 Visit Gwangju Year," the city is presenting a variety of regionally specialized tourism products, tailored to different seasons and themes, that highlight Gwangju's unique strengths. In particular, during May, which marks the 45th anniversary of the 5·18 Democratization Movement, visitors can experience a wide range of travel content under the theme "Democracy Is Coming." This includes tours of 5·18 historical sites, walking tours, and experiences on Mudeungsan, the "Mother's Mountain," all of which allow visitors to reflect on the values of democracy, human rights, and peace through the stories of "May 1980 Gwangju."
The city invites you to walk the "Boy's Road" with Gwangju citizens and visit historical spaces that reaffirm the spirit of May and democracy.
◇ Landmarks Blending May's History and Art
"Jeonil Building 245" is a symbolic site in Gwangju, where traces of helicopter gunfire from the 5·18 Democratization Movement remain intact. The 10th floor preserves bullet holes from that period, while the lower floors house a book lounge, media art gallery, and cultural exhibition spaces. Visitors can experience Gwangju's past, present, and future all within a single building. The second-floor Gwangju Tourism Omena House also offers tourism souvenirs for purchase.
The "National May 18th Cemetery" is the resting place of those who lost their lives during the 5·18 Democratization Movement. In its quiet and restrained atmosphere, visitors can deeply reflect on the meaning of sacrifice and the yearning for democracy. Walking through the history, people, and stories of Gwangju makes May in Gwangju truly special.
Crossing a hill from the National May 18th Cemetery leads to the "Mangwol-dong Old Cemetery." Known as the Cemetery for National and Democratic Martyrs, this site was where citizens hurriedly buried victims of the 1980 uprising. After the establishment of the National May 18th Cemetery in 1997, the graves were relocated, and only symbolic graves remain today. Since the 1980s, democratic and labor activists such as Lee Han-yeol, Kim Nam-ju, and Kang Kyung-dae have also been laid to rest here.
The "National Asia Culture Center (ACC)" hosts the "May Culture Week" throughout May, featuring a variety of exhibitions and experiential programs such as "May Story Puzzle," "May Stories Buried in Our Hearts," and "ACC Peace Story Archive." These programs transform the values of democracy and peace into art, offering visitors a unique and moving experience.
"Gwangju Theater" is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Opened in 1935, it is known as Korea's only single-screen theater that has survived nearly 90 years of turbulent modern history. For those who spent their childhood in Gwangju, it is a place of cherished memories, retaining the traces and emotions of time.
The theater recently drew renewed attention when it appeared in the popular drama "Poksak Sogassuda," in which the character Geummyeong, daughter of Gwansik, works as a ticket seller at Gwangju Theater. Blending past and present, Gwangju Theater is the perfect place for anyone wishing to experience the emotional atmosphere of May in Gwangju.
◇ Remembering May in Gwangju
The city also offers the "Boy's Road" tour, which revisits the spirit of democracy, human rights, and peace that has become the zeitgeist of Gwangju, allowing participants to walk in the footsteps of the "boy of May" and experience historical sites firsthand.
Inspired by Han Kang's Nobel Prize-winning novel "The Boy Is Coming," the "Boy's Road" tour is a themed tourism product that follows the path of Gwangju's democratization history. By tracing the footsteps left by citizens and students during the 5·18 Democratization Movement, participants can fully immerse themselves in the spirit of democracy, human rights, and peace.
The tour includes visits to the former Jeonnam Provincial Office, Democracy Square, Jeonil Building 245, the former Red Cross Hospital, the banks of Gwangjucheon, the National May 18th Cemetery, Gwangju Theater, and local independent bookstores. Information on how to book the tour and contact details can be found on the "Gwangju Tourism" website under "Visit Gwangju Year - Specialized Tourism Products."
From May 16 to May 30, the "Boy's Bus" will connect major points along the "Boy's Road" and key tourist attractions. Through the "Gwangju Tour Bus App," visitors can call the bus and freely board or disembark at their desired stops. When you need a break from walking, it is recommended to conveniently explore the "Boy's Road" and the Yangnim-dong area using this service.
◇ Special Discount Benefits
At the "Gossaumnori Theme Park" in Chilsuk-dong, Nam-gu, visitors can enjoy free VR (virtual reality) experiences throughout May. This theme park, centered on "Gossaumnori," a traditional folk game of Gwangju and a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, offers families a modern way to experience traditional culture.
The "National Gwangju Science Museum" will offer free admission for a total of five days: May 4-6 and May 17-18. Including the Children's Day holiday, visitors can freely explore a variety of exhibitions and programs that blend science and hands-on experiences.
The "Mudeungsan Monorail" is a tourism monorail installed along the slopes of Mudeungsan, Gwangju's representative mountain. In June, a 3,000 KRW discount will be offered on round-trip lift and monorail tickets.
The official Gwangju tourism souvenir online mall, "Tourism Souvenir Gwangju Goods," will hold a limited-time souvenir discount event throughout May. Discounts of 18-50% will be offered on items available in the online mall, allowing visitors to purchase a variety of design products that capture the history and stories of Gwangju at reasonable prices.
◇ Accommodation Events Including "GeoStay"
The city is launching accommodation tourism products that allow visitors to enjoy the cool spring nights with free "May Tent Village" stays and experience nature on Mudeungsan.
The "May Tent Village," set up on the playground of Jungang Elementary School near Geumnam-ro, a key site of the 5·18 Democratization Movement, will operate on the night of May 17. The village will consist of 500 tents for 2-3 people each (accommodating about 1,200 people) and will be offered free of charge to visitors coming to Gwangju from across the country, alongside late-night programs for the 5·18 eve festival.
The city is also launching "GeoStay," an accommodation-based tourism product centered on the Mudeungsan area, which has been designated a UNESCO Global Geopark. GeoStay allows visitors to stay at lodgings near Mudeungsan, connect with nature, and enjoy specialized experiences such as geological and ecological tours. Applications will be accepted in May.
Lee Seungkyu, Director of the New Vitality Promotion Headquarters, said, "May is a time when you can feel the tragically beautiful side of Gwangju," adding, "In celebration of the Visit Gwangju Year, we hope you enjoy a special journey that connects with Gwangju's unique history, emotions, culture, and people under the slogan 'Gwangju Has Come, Democracy Is Coming.'"
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