Municipal Arts Troupes and Gwangju Philharmonic: Performances and Pansori
Folk Museum and Jeonil Building 245 Host "Art Picnic"
Throughout June, the heart of Gwangju is infused with the fresh scent of early summer and the fragrance of art. Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kang Gijung) is hosting a variety of cultural and artistic events across the city throughout June, a perfect month for outings, so that citizens can enjoy culture and the arts in their daily lives.
A wide array of performances and exhibitions are being held to captivate both the eyes and ears, ranging from street dance and ballet to pansori and fusion rock (a genre that blends rock with jazz, classical, traditional music, and electronic music).
Until November, Gwangju City is presenting the "Visiting Cultural Performance," offering healing and relaxation to citizens weary from daily life by bringing cultural performances to various neighborhoods every Saturday.
On the first and third Saturdays of each month, cultural performances are held in Dong-gu (ACC Sangsangmadang), Nam-gu (Pureungil Park), and Gwangsan-gu (Ssangam Park). On the second and fourth Saturdays, performances take place in Seo-gu (Sangmu Citizen Park) and Buk-gu (Yangsan Lake Park).
In June, a diverse range of performances spanning genres such as popera, a cappella, and dance flash mobs will be presented throughout Gwangju. Notably, this year, the city’s municipal arts troupes affiliated with the Gwangju Arts Center will visit citizens directly to present high-quality performances including ballet, classical music, and traditional Korean music, enhancing the city’s cultural sensibility.
On June 14, the Municipal Ballet Company's "Ballet Performance with Commentary I - Coppelia Highlights" was staged at Sangmu Citizen Park, while on the same day, the Municipal Changgeuk Troupe's "Pungnyu Concert in Gwangju," showcasing the elegance of tradition, was held at Yangsan Lake Park.
On June 21, the third Saturday of the month, the Korea A Cappella Association will present "Excitement Delivered Through A Cappella, By Your Side" at ACC Sangsangmadang, featuring a cappella renditions of K-POP, trot, and pop songs. At Pureungil Park, JS Entertainment’s "Harmony of Nature" stage will offer saxophone performances and choral music to evoke the early summer atmosphere. At Ssangam Park, the Municipal Ballet Company will present "Ballet Performance with Commentary I - Coppelia Highlights" with live commentary.
On June 28, the fourth Saturday, Sangmu Citizen Park will host a gala stage featuring the Municipal Ballet Company’s "Ballet Performance with Commentary II - Faust," while Yangsan Lake Park will feature "Street Dance with Commentary - Carpe Diem" by Gamblerz Crew, a renowned Korean b-boy team.
For families wishing to enjoy cultural experiences together, Gwangju History and Folk Museum, City Hall Outdoor Plaza, and Jeonil Building 245 are the places to visit every Saturday this month. From this month until October (excluding the second week of July through August due to the hot season), the city will operate "Art Picnic" at Gwangju History and Folk Museum and City Hall Outdoor Plaza, allowing citizens to enjoy a city picnic while experiencing culture and the arts. In June, the event is held every Saturday at 3 p.m.
This year’s theme is "Time Slip," with themed zones allowing visitors to experience the past, present, and future. In the "Past" zone, visitors can make traditional masks and traditional foods; in the "Present" zone, they can participate in collaborative murals and spray graffiti; and in the "Future" zone, they can enjoy digital drawing and AR coloring, offering a variety of experiences that transcend eras.
In addition, every Saturday at Jeonil Building 245, the city is running "Gonggam," a specialized citizen cultural experience program. Programs include the "Humanities Tour," where participants walk through key locations from Han Kang’s novel "Human Acts" and reflect; "Jeonil 245 Class," a humanities lecture series in collaboration with resident organizations; the youth empathy project "What’s in My Book"; and family-oriented experiential events, ensuring there are programs for all generations to enjoy together.
Daein Night Market, Gwangju’s iconic nighttime destination, has returned to brighten up Saturday nights. Throughout June, under the theme "Happiness for Ten Thousand Won," there will be cost-effective night market events where visitors can eat, shop, and enjoy themselves for just 10,000 won, as well as weekly dress code events (red, green, purple, blue attire). Food stalls and seller experience booths will also be available.
On June 13, when Gwangju FC’s home game was held, and again on June 22, a special cultural event called "Sports Munhwamasil" will take place in front of the South Gate of Gwangju World Cup Stadium. The event is expected to offer spectators a special day where they can enjoy both soccer and performances, creating memorable experiences with their families.
The event features a variety of cultural and artistic performances that the whole family can enjoy, from jazz and pop band performances to mini soccer and mask-making kids’ programs. Activities begin one hour and thirty minutes before the match. On June 22, the event will start at 5:30 p.m.
The Gwangju Philharmonic Orchestra held the "Otium Concert II - Double Bass" at the Arts Center Small Theater on June 13. The "Otium Concert," a signature series by the orchestra, spotlights unique instruments that may be unfamiliar to the public but possess distinctive charm, with this year’s theme focusing on instruments.
On June 25, a "Pansori Appreciation Concert" will be held at the Arts Center Small Theater. Beloved by audiences of all ages, "Simcheongga," "Sugungga," and "Heungboga" will be performed, filling the venue with the poignant and grand sounds of pansori.
On June 27, the Gwangju Philharmonic Orchestra will hold its 396th regular concert, "Contrast," at the Arts Center Grand Theater. The program will contrast the pinnacle of classicism, Beethoven, with the works of Prokofiev, a leading figure of late 20th-century Russian romanticism, allowing the audience to experience a delicate interplay of tension and harmony. On the same day, the 142nd regular concert of the Gwangju Municipal Gugak Orchestra, "Noche de Maestra - Invitation from a Young Maestra," will also take place at the Small Theater.
On June 29, the Gwangju Municipal Theater Company will present the second installment of its Traveling Theater Series, "Revo and Anne," at ACC Theater 2. Through Revo, an artificial intelligence (AI) that learns emotions, the performance conveys a message of communication and connection, offering the audience a chance for self-reflection.
The Gwangju Museum of Art is currently holding two special exhibitions: the 2025 Democracy, Human Rights, and Peace Exhibition "Resonance - The Present Connected to Memory," commemorating the 45th anniversary of the 5·18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, and the "Masterpieces of Namdo Korean Painting" exhibition. These exhibitions provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on history through art and appreciate the essence of Namdo Korean painting.
Kim Seongbae, Director of Culture and Sports, stated, "We have prepared a variety of cultural events so that citizens can naturally enjoy culture and the arts in everyday spaces such as parks, plazas, and libraries, even without visiting a concert hall," adding, "We hope that these events will provide healing through culture and bring new energy to daily life."
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