5.59 Million Visitors in June, Up 10.7% Year-on-Year... Highest Growth Rate Nationwide
K-pop Concerts and Other Marketing Linked to Visit Gwangju Year Show Results
Honam Tourism Culture Week, Gourmet Week, and Archery Championships Planned for the Second Half of the Year
Gwangju City’s flagship initiative, the “2025 Visit Gwangju Year,” is attracting both domestic and international tourists as part of efforts to invigorate the city.
At the beginning of this year, the city held a proclamation ceremony for the “2025 Visit Gwangju Year,” marking the first year of its leap toward becoming a tourism city where tourism is an industry, and signaling the dawn of an era with a “city user population of 30 million.” The city has strengthened public-private cooperation by signing agreements with the railway, food service, tourism, and lodging industries to ensure the success of the Visit Gwangju Year and to lay the foundation for generating tourism demand. This has produced tangible results, such as an increase in tourists from outside the city.
According to Korea Tourism Data Lab, as of June this year, the number of tourists from other regions visiting Gwangju reached approximately 5.59 million, an increase of 10.7% (about 540,000 people) compared to 5 million in the same month last year, recording the highest growth rate among the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces. In May, when a variety of commemorative events such as the 5·18 Eve Festival were held, the number of visitors from outside the city was about 6.77 million, a 19% increase (1.08 million people) compared to 5.69 million in the same month last year.
To mark the “2025 Visit Gwangju Year,” the city operated the “G-Festa Spring Season,” linking a total of 11 festivals and events, which proved highly popular. “May Gwangju,” for instance, was organized as a festival to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the 5·18 Democratization Movement, reflecting on the values of democracy and the historical significance of Gwangju. The main event, “May Gwangju, Grand Festival of Democracy,” featured the Democratic Peace March, a citizen participation festival, the May Lecture Competition, and the Gwangju Human Rights Award Ceremony, transforming the Geumnam-ro and 5·18 Democracy Square areas into festival grounds.
In particular, the 5·18 Eve Festival saw participation from about 50,000 citizens and tourists, including approximately 15,000 participants in the Democratic Peace March, establishing itself as a democracy festival that spans generations.
The city’s signature summer festival, the Street Culture Festa, showcased the essence of street culture with a variety of programs that could be enjoyed by people of all ages and nationalities, attracting around 15,000 participants.
To promote the “Visit Gwangju Year,” the city actively worked to attract international tourists by participating in domestic expos such as the “Naenara Travel Expo” and the “Seoul International Tourism Fair,” as well as overseas tourism expos in Taiwan, Japan, and other countries. The city also organized familiarization tours for the Indonesian travel industry and British influencers, allowing them to experience and promote Gwangju’s tourism content firsthand. In addition, the city operated “Visit Gwangju Year” promotional booths at 12 cultural event venues nationwide to conduct active on-site promotions.
Notably, the guerrilla concert by Tomorrow X Together (TXT), held in collaboration with CJ ENM, was a standout hit. The concert garnered nationwide attention and served as an opportunity to widely promote Gwangju’s city brand and tourism appeal.
Gwangju City has introduced a variety of travel packages and convenience services to boost stay-type tourism. These include “The Boy’s Path,” which combines democracy and literature themes; “Baseball Gwangtrip,” catering to sports tourism demand; and “Crossing Borders Trip,” a collaborative tourism product connecting Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, all of which leverage local characteristics to broaden options for tourists.
Rail-linked tourism products such as “Railtel” and “Naeilro,” along with the “Stay Festa” accommodation discount program, have stimulated demand for extended stays. The city has also promoted discounts on admission to tourist attractions and souvenir promotions. Additional efforts to enhance tourism infrastructure include the operation of the “Boy Bus” DRT service connecting 5·18 historical sites, the introduction of new guided walking tour courses, and capacity-building training for tour guides. The city has also organized a tourism souvenir idea contest and a short-form video contest to promote tourism among citizens.
In the second half of the year, a variety of festivals and events will further showcase Gwangju’s appeal. The G-Festa Autumn Season will be held between September and October. In October, the “Honam Tourism Culture Week” will take place as a joint event for the Honam region. Gwangju, South Jeolla, and North Jeolla will participate, operating major festivals, wide-area tourism products, and joint promotional pavilions, thereby establishing a model for regional cooperation to attract tourists.
During the same period, “Gwangju Gourmet Week,” which embodies the identity of “Gwangju, City of Taste,” will also take place. Citizens and tourists alike will be able to enjoy a variety of culinary content throughout the city, including discount events, gourmet flea markets, and themed gourmet tour packages.
Additionally, international events such as the Gwangju 2025 World Archery Championships and the 2025 Design Biennale will be linked to the “Visit Gwangju Year” to encourage extended stays and allow visitors to experience the unique flavors and culture of Gwangju.
Mayor Kang Gi-jung stated, “In May, people who love democracy and the writer Han Kang visit Gwangju, and in June, people come to experience the fun and future prospects of Gwangju through the Street Culture Festa, Future Industry Expo, baseball, and soccer. As more people visit, Gwangju grows, and I will do my utmost to continue promoting the city’s appeal.”
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