'K-Culture' Gwangyang: Triple the Enjoyment of Art, Film, and Cuisine in October

International Media Art Festival, Namdo Film Festival Season 2, and More
A Feast for the Senses at the Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Barbecue Festival Filled with the Aroma of Charcoal

Gwangyang City in South Jeolla Province is emerging as a unique autumn travel destination, offering a special experience where the brilliance of art, the emotion of cinema, and the rich aroma of charcoal-grilled cuisine blend together to create a festival that colors the entire city and delivers triple the enjoyment.

The city announced that with major autumn festivals such as the Gwangyang International Media Art Festival, Namdo Film Festival Season 2 Gwangyang, and the Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Barbecue Festival on the horizon, both domestic and international tourists are expressing high expectations and interest.

Gwangyang Inseori Park, one of the exhibition spaces for the Gwangyang International Media Art Festival.

The 2025 Gwangyang International Media Art Festival, the first to open on October 22, will run until November 4 under the theme "Spiraling Forward: Causes and Effects Creating the Cycle of Life."

This festival is an art event where light, media, and urban spaces converge, transforming the entire city-including Gwangyang City Hall, Gwangyang Art Warehouse, Inseori Park, Yedam Warehouse, and the Seoul National University Southern Experimental Forest Residence-into a vast work of art.

Additionally, there will be an international exchange exhibition featuring artists from Korea and Linz, Austria, a university student creative exhibition, a media art lab with citizen participation, and a policy forum, all showcasing the city’s identity as a media metropolis where art and citizens breathe together.

"Namdo Film Festival Season 2 Gwangyang" is a representative local film festival of the Namdo region that combines film, music, and art. It will be held across Gwangyang from October 23 to 27 for five days.

With the theme "Colored by Light and Steel," this year’s film festival will turn various city locations-such as Steinbeck Korea Gwangyang Port, Gwangyang Citizen Square, and the Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art-into screening venues, highlighting the dynamic charm of the Namdo region. A total of 81 works from 12 countries will be screened free of charge.

In particular, a rich program is planned, including a screening of the film "12·12: The Day," a talk concert with director Kim Sungsoo and actor Lee Sungmin, a special performance by musician Kim Sawol, and screenings of directorial works by actors-turned-directors such as Ryu Hyunkyung and Cho Eunji.

The film "12·12: The Day" features scenes of standoffs between rebel and government forces, the entrance of the 30th Guard Battalion, and the inauguration of President Choi Kyuha-all shot at the Gwangyang Port set. Its screening in Gwangyang adds special significance. Details on the festival schedule and film lineup can be found on the official Namdo Film Festival website and Instagram.

The 21st Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Barbecue Festival will be held for three days at Seocheon Sports Park in Gwangyang-eup starting October 24, offering a chance to savor the essence of Gwangyang Bulgogi, recognized as one of Korea’s three most renowned bulgogi dishes.

Gwangyang Bulgogi, famed since the Joseon Dynasty as "the world’s finest Marohwajeok," is prepared by grilling thinly sliced beef over binchotan charcoal in a bronze brazier, resulting in a deep flavor and abundant juiciness. Now established as a beloved "K-Food" worldwide, it stands as a source of pride for Gwangyang, representing the culinary culture of Korea beyond the Namdo region.

This festival will feature high-quality performances by the Gwangyang City Art Troupe, creative charcoal-themed pansori, and the Gwangyang Youth Song Festival, offering a variety of stages to evoke the emotions of visitors. There will also be diverse hands-on programs for families, such as the Maedori photo zone, Gwangyang Bulgogi miniature making, ox doll decorating, and traditional rice cake pounding experiences.

Especially at the opening ceremony at 7 p.m. on October 24, a fireworks performance and a large-scale media show will be held, amplifying the symbolism of charcoal-grilled bulgogi and heightening the excitement of the festival.

Lee Hyunju, head of the Tourism Division, stated, "Gwangyang’s status as a K-Culture city is rising, as it brings together international festivals of art, film, and cuisine in one place. In October, I hope both domestic and international visitors will experience Gwangyang’s diverse charms and the inspiration of K-Culture firsthand amid the excitement of the Gwangyang International Media Art Festival, Namdo Film Festival Season 2 Gwangyang, and the Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Barbecue Festival, all of which will satisfy the five senses."