7 ways to enjoy Gwangju and its vicinity

Metasequoia Road / Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization

By Yun Suh-young

With the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade opening today in the Gwangju Metropolitan City, there will be an influx of people into the city from athletes, organizers and visitors to tourists.

For those wondering what to do and where to go during their stay in the city, here are some tips on how to enjoy the city and its neighboring Damyang County.

Art

Gwangju Museum of Art

Gwangju Museum of Art / Courtesy of Gwangju Metropolitan City

Until last month, the museum held a photo exhibition of Bae Bien-u which was quite a delight for photographer Bae's fans and students studying photography.

It's a pity for those who missed it but no worries, there's always something new to replace the old.

The Gwangju Museum of Art holds the "Hello Art" exhibition through Aug. 16 in celebration of the hosting of the Gwangju Universiade.

The exhibition was organized to commemorate the late artist Paik Nam-june who is an iconic figure in the Korean contemporary art world.

The exhibition is divided into three sections. The first section will feature imaginative installation works and interactive media art and the second section will feature contemporary Korean artists' works. The third section will introduce paintings depicting modern day people.

History

Yanglim-dong

A house in Yanglim-dong

Many who have visited Gwangju say the most memorable part of their trip was the visit to Yanglim-dong, a historic town in Nam-gu.

The town is where modernity and tradition coexist and a great site to quickly view contemporary architecture in a short amount of time.

Yanglim-dong used to be called the "Western Village" because it was the town where missionaries settled during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945).

The ruins of the Christian missionaries are clustered together with traditional cultural properties such as the Lee Jang-woo and Choi Seung-hyo houses which are traditional homes preserved in their original forms.

The town was also a filming location for the TV series "Gaksital" which is about a hero fighting for the Korean people during Japanese colonial rule. Apparently the town was where the independence speech was held on the March 1 independence movement day in 1919.

Festival

Kimchi festival

Kimchi festival

As the host of a global event, Gwangju is opening a kimchi festival at Kimchi Town during the Gwangju Universiade period for visitors to experience kimchi.

About 30 types of seasonal kimchi will be exhibited and several types of kimchi will be available for sample tasting.

Visitors can also try creating their own kimchi and cooking dishes such as kimchi tortilla.

A free shuttle bus will operate from the main stadium to Kimchi Town twice a day at 9:40 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The kimchi making program is offered twice a day at 10:30 a.m. and 3:20 p.m.

Food

Damyang Ddeokgalbi

Ddeokgalbi Photo by Yun Suh-young

Damyang is famous for "ddeokgalbi" (grilled short rib patties). Despite its location in the southern coast of the peninsula, Damyang, which is more inland than other cities, is home to the grilled marinated rib dish because people there enjoy eating beef or pork instead of seafood. They say the "hoejib" (restaurants selling hoe, or raw fish) close early because they don't do well in the region.

Ddeokgalbi originated in the South Jeolla Province in the Damyang, Haenam, Jangheung and Gangjin regions. It is given the name ddeokgalbi because the cooking procedure resembles that of making "ddeok" (rice cake). The galbi meat is finely ground and marinated then kneaded and attached to the rib.

Deogingwan is a third generation ddeokgalbi restaurant which serves them with rice in bamboo.

Nature

Mt. Mudeung & Uijae Museum of Korean Art

Mt. Mudeung

Because of its close location to the city, Mt. Mudeung is an often visited hiking destination for visitors and city dwellers.

The mountain, located in between Gwangju and Damyang and Hwasoon counties, is 1,187 meters high and has one of the largest number of columnar joints.

It is designated as a national park and has eight different hiking paths and a strolling path called "Mudolgil" which stretches 51.8 kilometers and is divided into 15 sections. The hiking paths are extremely rocky so wearing hiking shoes is a must.

On one of the paths, you may encounter the Uijae Museum of Korean Art which is the only building in Gwangju which has received the Korean Architecture Award. The modern building which is built of concrete, wood, and glass harmonizes well with its natural surroundings. The museum itself has become a tour destination for visitors for its architectural excellence.

Metasequoia Road

The Metasequoia Road in Damyang County, South Jeolla Province
/ Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization

The Metasequoia Road has become one of the must-visit sites in Damyang for its beautiful walk way. It is a frequently sought filming location as well as a promenade for lovers.

Selected as one of the 10 most beautiful sites in Damyang, the road was made one of "The 100 Most Beautiful Roads in the Country" by the transportation ministry in 2006 and by the Korea Road and Transportation Association in 2007.

The road was established after imported metasequoia trees were planted by the government in 1972 along the 8.6-kilometer road stretching from Damyang to Sunchang. Of the road, 2.1 kilometers is available for pedestrians to stroll along.

The walk along the pathway is refreshing and therapeutic. One metasequoia is known to absorb 69.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide, nearly double the average tree, and stores 315.2 kg of carbon. The trees also emit plenty amount of phytoncide which helps blood circulation.

Juknokwon

Juknokwon

Juknokwon, a "garden of bamboo trees," is one of the 50 most beautiful places to visit in Korea selected by CNN in 2012.

The garden, which opened in 2005, is on an area of 183,000 square meters. The promenade stretches 2.4 kilometers and eight walkways are available. It takes about an hour-and-a-half to two hours to tour them all.

Because of the high amount of oxygen, the temperature inside the bamboo forest is 4 to 7 degrees lower than outside, offering a cooling getaway for the summer.

Forest bathing or "sanlimyok," is recommended for therapeutic purposes.

Sanlimyok in the bamboo forest is even more effective because the amount of anions produced is 7.4 times that of the city. Anions are known to help cleanse the blood and strengthen the immune system.]

The Lee Jang-woo house in Yanglim-dong, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Travel info

Damyang Metasequoia Road

Address: 12 Metasequoia-ro, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, South Jeolla Province

Phone: (061) 380-3149

Website: www.damyang.co.kr

Damyang Juknokwon

Address: 119 Juknokwon-ro, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, South Jeolla Province

Phone number: (061) 380-2680

Mt. Mudeung

Address: 29 Dongsan-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Phone number: (062) 227-1187

Transportation

It takes two hours by direct KTX from Yongsan Station to Gwangju-Songjeong Station.

Hotel info

Holiday Inn Gwangju

Address: 55 Sangmunuri-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Phone number: (062) 610-7000

Website: www.holidayinngwangju.com

Ramada Plaza Gwangju

Address: 149 Sangmujau-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Phone number: (062) 717-7000

Website: www.ramadagwangju.com

Dining info

Dandon Shinhwa (shabu shabu)

Address: 312-1 Jinwol-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Phone number: (062) 655-4140

Deogingwan (ddeokgalbi)

Address: 1121 Jukhwangdaero, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, South Jeolla Province

Phone number: (061) 381-7881

Thesis (coffee)

Interior of Thesis

Address: 20 Sangmunuri-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Phone number: (070) 7760-0770

Website:www.inspiringcoffee.kr

Upcoming events

World Bamboo Fair 2015

The World Bamboo Fair will be held this year in Damyang, South Jeolla Province from Sept. 17 through Oct. 31. Under the theme "Bamboo for a greener future," the fair will include an exhibition, and experience and educational programs.

International Design Congress 2015

The International Design Congress 2015 will be held in Gwangju Metropolitan City from Oct. 17 to 23 under the theme "Eeum- Design connects." The congress will invite 3,000 experts in the field of design to discuss the future of design.