Gwangju(Buk-gu)

Gwangju Biennale is an international contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years. Taking place in 2014, the event marks 10th anniversay and will celebrate the importance of being together though the theme of “Burning Down the House (터전을 불태우라).” It will bring together many different people, different times, various roles in arts production, and numerous different positions toward power such as exist  in various social, political, and cultural situations. The biennale consists of an exhibition, several workshops, e-journals, books, and various programs such as residency programs and new commissions. [About the 2014's theme] Burning Down the Houseexplores the process of burning and transformation, a cycle of obliteration and renewal witnessed throughout history. Evident in aesthetics, historical events, and an increasingly rapid course of redundancy and renewal in commercial culture, the Biennale reflects on this process of, often violent, events of destruction or self-destruction―burning the home one occupies―followed by the promise of the new and the hope for change. In the 1930s the critic Walter Benjamin coined the term ‘Tigersprung’ (the tiger’s leap) for a new model of history where the past is activated in and through the present within a culture industry that demands constant renewal. What can the ‘Tigerspung’ mean for today’s ‘tiger economies’ like South Korea in a context where economic and political powers deliver the eternally new of fashionable commodities and industrial progress at the apparent expense of a cultural past? Burning Down the House looks at the spiral of rejection and revitalization that this process implies. The theme highlights the capacity of art to critique the establishment through an exploration that includes the visual, sound, movement and dramatic performance. At the same time, it recognises the possibility and impossibility within art to deal directly and concretely with politics. The energy, the materiality and processes of burning ― the manner in which material is changed and destroyed by flames into the residue of dramatic interventions or remnants of celebrations ― have long informed artistic practice. The transformative powers of fire are central to the way in which this exhibition has been imagined. -Courtesy of Gwangju Biennale Foundation  


Gwangju(Seo-gu)

Jonggajip Seolleongtang is the first traditional Seoul-style seolleongtang restaurant in Gwangju. All the dishes are made of 100% pure beef bone stock and top quality ingredients for the best taste and nutrition.


Gwangju(Gwangsan-gu)

Songjeong Station (Gwangju Songjeong Station) is located in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju-si. The station serves the KTX train from Yongsan Station and the Honamseon Line from Mokpo Station. It also operates an intercity bus stop, allowing tourists to move to other areas easily.


Gwangju(Seo-gu)

Samhui Bullak first opened in 1971 on Chungjangno, and has been in business in Sangmu District for two family generations. The restaurant serves only fresh live octopuses delivered from Muan, Jeollanam-do every day.


Gwangju(Buk-gu)

Hiddink Motel is just 3 minutes’ walk from Gwangju Station and a stone’s throw from many excellent restaurants, so guests can enjoy sampling Jeollanam-do’s tasty cuisine and get around easily by public transport. Mudeungsan, the great mountain in the southwestern region of Korea, offers various climbing courses, and is appreciated by many tourists. The hotel provides a free lunchbox service upon request.


Gwangju(Nam-gu)

Gwangju Kimchi Town is dedicated to kimchi, Korea's representative food. Visitors have the opportunity to not only learn about the history and culture of kimchi but also experience making this dish first-hand. Another popular program available is the kimchi tasting experince, with a variety of kimchi kept fresh and ready to eat through a HACCP-certified system.


Gwangju(Dong-gu)

Geumnam-ro Street used to be in the government office quarters, and is now the center of the city's finacial sphere, with many banks, insurance companies and public offices lining the street. During the May 18 Movement, the citizens gathered at Geumnam-ro Steet and marched together to express their sadness and give support for the sublimation of the nation. In modern times, the street serves as a meeting space for citizens, with an underground shopping mall and a plaza beneath a fountain, where events and performances freely take place. * Total length: 2.3㎞


Gwangju(Gwangsan-gu)

Songjeong Station Market was opened in 1913, in connection with the opening of Gwangju-Songjeong Station. For many years, the market was the go-to-place for necessary items and produce, but with the increase of large marts in the 1990s, people began to visit traditional markets less and less. In order to increase the liveliness of Songjeong Station Market and showcase the difference between large marts and a traditional market, the entire space was redesigned around the theme of time. The newly redesigned 1913 Songjeong Station Market, located just across the street from Gwangju-Songjeong KTX Station, has a bright appearance with modern-styled architecture and signboards detailing the history of the various shops. Visitors can enjoy all the classic market foods here, such as hotteok (hot griddle cakes), gyeran bap (rice with egg), and eomuk (fisk cake).


Gwangju(Seo-gu)


Gwangju(Buk-gu)

Located in Gwangju City, the IAM Guesthouse offers a clean and cozy atmosphere that is perfect for guests seeking relaxation. The guesthouse aims to help guests create great memories during their stay and also provides a free breakfast service. As it is situated opposite Gwangju Station, guests can easily find the guesthouse and use public transportation. The tourist attractions in Gwangju include Mudeungsan Mountain, which is well-known as the local people’s spiritual mountain. The famous local foods are Namdo Hanjeongsik, a Jeollanamdo style of Korean Table d’hote, tteokgalbi (Grilled Short Rib Patties), and so on.