The city of Gwangju is a hub city of the Southwestern region of Korea and home to about 1.5 million residents. Mudung Mountain overlooks the city from the west and offers trails for hiking and temples for sightseeing, as well as some spectacular views of the city. Having given birth to numerous artists, writers, and scholars, Gwangju and Jeollanam-do, the province surrounds the city, are rich in cultural heritage and recently the city became the capital city of culture and arts of Korea. You will feel the dynamic harmony of upbeat youth culture mingled with exquisite tradition in and around the city.
The city also represents the cradle of democracy in modern Korean history. In 1980, the students and faculty of Chonnam National University along with the citizens of Gwangju stood against the forces of a military dictatorship in what is now known as the May 18 Democratic Movement to defend freedom, democracy, and justice as basic human rights in Korea.
Those spirits of justice-seeking citizens have lived on and earned the city the name, “the Holy Ground of Korean Democracy.” The weather of Gwangju is mild but has four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn that last for a few months from March till May and from September to November, respectively, are the best seasons in Korea allowing people to enjoy outdoor activities. Summer in Korea can get very hot and humid, due to the monsoon. Winter, which starts in December and ends around early March, can get bitterly cold with temperatures falling below zero.
It is, however, the best season for those who enjoy winter activities, such as skiing, snowboarding or ice-skating. Its considerably low cost of living, compared to other major cities in Korea, is the one of the greatest merits that attracts people to the city in and out of Korea. For more information about the city, visit its website (http://eng.gjcity.net/main.jsp).
There are three ways to get Gwangju, the cultural and vibrant city that is home to Chonnan National University.
By Plane You will enter Korea through Inchon International Airporta and have to move to Gimpo Airport to use domestic airliners to get to Gwangju. The limousine bus service between the two airports runs every five to ten minutes, which is about 45 minute bus ride into Seoul. The ticket costs about US$ 4.
For plane information, please visit the two major airliners’s websites (Korean Air at http://www.koreanair.com/ and Asia Airline at http://flyasiana.com/english/) or Inchon International Airport’s website (http://www.airport.or.kr/eng/airport/).
By Airport Bus
Airport Bus service is available for those who choose to travel by bus, which is, in fact, the cheapest and most convenient way to Gwangju for students. The bus stop for Gwangju is at 9C, right off the Arrival Terminal. The ticket costs about US$ 30 and the bus ride takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes. For further information such as the timetable, please visit Inchon International Airport’s website (http://www.airport.or.kr/eng/airport/).
By Train
To take a train, you have to go to Yongsan Station, either by the subway or by bus. There are different classes of trains according to the speed and comfortableness they provide. However, you are advised to take the KTX or SRT, the high speed train, which costs about US$ 35 per person and takes less than 2 hours to Gwangju Station. For the details regarding fares, timetables, etc., visit the Korean Railroad (http://www.letskorail.com/ebizprd/prdMain.do) or SRT(https://etk.srail.kr/main.do)
Using a Taxi in Town
From the airport, bus terminal, and station, it is recommended to take a taxi. The bus terminal and the station are quite close to CNU campus. It only takes 10~15 minutes to get to the campus and the fare would not cost more than US$ 5. Since the airport is at the outskirt of the city, the ride takes about 30 minutes. So the fare can go up to US$ 10.
