Gwangju

City Introduction

Gwangju Metropolitan City is a city in the southwest of South Korean, which is adjacent to South Jeolla Province. It is located in the east of Mudeungsan (1,187 m) and the upstream of the Yeongsan River. It is the fifth largest city in South Korean, and also an administrative, military, economic, social and cultural hub city in the southwest of South Korean. It covers an area of 501.31 square kilometers, and has a population of 1,488,467 (2013). Gwangju belonged to Mahan during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period and Baekje during the Three Kingdoms period. Gwangju was called Mujinju during Baekje and Muju during Silla, and became a capital during the post Baekje, which made it become a political and cultural center together with Jeonju in the Honam area of South Korean. On November 1, 1986, it became a Directly Governed City, and then became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi) in 1995 after the implementation of local self-government in 1991. Gwangju now is divided into 5 districts, which consist of 91 dongs. Its city flower is royal azalea and city bird is the dove. It is rich in rice, cotton and silk in the nearby place. Its major industries include textile (cotton and silk), brewing, and papermaking; Its famous handicraft is the fan. It has railway leading to Seoul.

History and Culture

The city was established in 57 BC. It was one of the administrative centres of Baekje during the Three Kingdoms Period.

In 1929, during the period of Japanese rule, a confrontation between Korean and Japanese students in the city turned into a regional demonstration, which culminated in one of the major nationwide uprisings against Japanese rule during the colonial period.

In May 1980, peaceful demonstrations took place in Gwangju against a head of 'Shingunbu' (new military force), Chun Doo-hwan. The demonstrations were suppressed by military forces, including elite units of the Special Operations Command. The situation escalated after a violent crackdown, resulting in the Gwangju Uprising, where the civilians raided armories and armed themselves. By the time that the uprising was suppressed, many hundreds of civilians and several policemen and/or soldiers were dead. After civilian rule was reinstated, a national cemetery was established honouring the victims of the incident.

In 1986, Gwangju separated from Jeollanam-do to become a Directly Governed City (Jikhalsi), and then became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi) in 1995.