Tour Course Featuring Locations from the Novel "Human Acts"
May 18 Archives, Former Red Cross Hospital, Sangmugwan, Hyodong Elementary School
Weekend Tours Through December Linked to "Visit Gwangju Year"
"We invite you on a journey of remembrance, walking through the historical sites of Gwangju in May 1980 alongside Dongho, the boy from the novel, as we seek the truth of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement."
The city of Gwangju has created "The Boy's Path," a humanities tour that connects major sites from the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement featured in the Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang's novel "Human Acts." This tour allows participants to walk and explore these locations as a single route.
The "Boy's Path" project was designed to introduce the true face of Gwangju by highlighting the locations and historical significance depicted in "Human Acts." Two themed routes were created: the path walked by the boy (2.1 km) and the path walked by the author (1.8 km), each linking key locations into a single travel course.
The tour course includes sites from the novel "Human Acts," historical locations related to the May 18 movement, cultural facilities, the Jungheung-dong area in Buk-gu where Han Kang spent her childhood, and her alma mater. Especially for "The Boy's Path," a variety of content has been produced to allow visitors to experience both the historical significance and literary sensibility of each location. This is expected to establish itself as a new cultural experience for "Visit Gwangju Year 2025."
The path walked by the boy includes stops such as the May 18 Democratization Movement Archives, Gwangju YMCA, the former Gwangju Red Cross Hospital, the Asia Culture Center, Sangmugwan, the former South Jeolla Provincial Office, May 18 Democracy Plaza, and Jeonil Building 245. The path walked by the author features sites such as the Alleyway Cultural Lounge (tentative name), Hyodong Elementary School, Jungheung Library, and Chonnam National University.
At Jungheung Library, books donated by Kim Gilja, mother of the late Moon Jae-hak, who inspired the character Dongho in "Human Acts," as well as works by Han Kang, are on display. At Han Kang's alma mater, Hyodong Elementary School, a sculpture featuring keyboard-shaped book covers of Han Kang's works, tailored to elementary students, is exhibited.
To create a city where the influence of books reaches every alleyway following Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature, an art container exhibition module will be installed at the site of the Alleyway Cultural Lounge (tentative name) in Jungheung-dong, Buk-gu, scheduled to open in December. Here, videos from the May 18 Archives special exhibition, Nobel Prize in Literature celebration events, and Dongho's letters will be shown.
At the Pureungil Culture Spring, located on the farm bridge near the Dongmyeong-dong courthouse and connected to Pureungil Park, which links the boy's and author's paths, exhibitions will feature Han Kang, former President Kim Dae-jung, and other major Nobel Prize in Literature and Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
At Jeonil Building 245, handwritten transcriptions of Han Kang's works by 518 citizens will be displayed, and a literary lounge will be available for reading and relaxation. Visitors can also enjoy the exhibition "A4 Action 2025: For Me, Democracy Is ___," which features thoughts on democracy from members of the May Mothers' House, citizens, and local artists who experienced the pain of May 1980.
The former Red Cross Hospital will host a variety of exhibitions both inside and outside the building. Inside, photographs and videos related to the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the former Gwangju Red Cross Hospital will be displayed. Outside, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Writers' Association will exhibit large-scale poetry banners symbolizing the month of May.
The May 18 Democratization Movement Archives will hold a special exhibition commemorating the 45th anniversary of the May 18 movement, titled "Human Acts." More than 50 records and materials related to the novel "Human Acts" will be on display.
To guide visitors along "The Boy's Path," Gwangju City will produce a map featuring explanations of key locations from "Human Acts" and excerpts from the novel. These maps will be distributed at the Alleyway Cultural Lounge (tentative name), Jeonil Building 245, and independent bookstores.
In addition, a humanities tour program will be offered, allowing participants to walk and explore the key sites from "Human Acts" and reflect on the spirit of May. This program will run every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. from May 17 through December. Each session lasts about 90 minutes. Participation is free, and those interested can apply by phone to the Jeonil Building 245 project team or register on-site.
On May 13, Kim Seongbae, Director of Culture and Sports, stated, "The novel 'Human Acts' is a literary work that captures the pain and memory of May 18. Through 'The Boy's Path,' we hope to provide a profound cultural experience where literature, history, and urban space come together. We will continue to develop content to widely promote the 'City of Nobel Prizes, Gwangju' brand and help visitors feel Gwangju with their hearts."
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