Gwangju - A Sports Pageant in the City of Art

Gwangju enjoys the reputation as “Home of Art”. The national painting of Korea, the source of life, the Southern School Painting and the Gwang (light), together with Jeollanamdo featuring beautiful western paintings, were the source of non stereotyped painting of modern art. With the miracle created by college students throughout the world, 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade will open a new era.

Q= World Tourism Cities Magazine A=KIM IN CHUN Director of Kwangju Tourism Bureau

Q: Gwangju Metropolitan City, the fifth largest city of South Korea, is also the administrative, military, economic, social and cultural hub in the southwestern part of South Korea. It is the host city of the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade. Please give us a brief introduction of the sports meeting.

A: A sports pageant of young people in the world—the World University Games and the Enthusiastic City, our meeting in Gwangju is heralded as an encounter of great creativity, through which the value of harmony and coexistence of mankind will be realized, and new visions will be dug up. With the miracle created by college students throughout the world, 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade will open a new era.

In many big sports events, the sharp contrast between the earlier stage when large amounts of investment in infrastructure construction fund were devoted and the latter stage when the management cost of facilities were difficult to bear was highlighted. In 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade, we will learn from earlier experiences to minimize the side effects brought about by excessive investment in facilities construction. Our goal is to hold a sports pageant with less investment and enhanced efficiency.

Three of the 69 stadiums for the Games, that are archery field, swimming pool and multi-function Gymnasium, need to be newly built. The tennis court needs to be expanded. The other 65 stadiums, which are located in Gwangju,

Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Chungcheongbuk-do, will be rebuilt and renovated on the existing facilities. It has set a new example for international sports events.

Athletes’ village is rebuilt on the old apartments of past international sports events, which has save a lot of money and is held in high regard. It has set an example for others.

Q: For foreign tourists on their first visit, what would you recommend, say, the scenic spots and worthy cultures.

A: As the cultural center of Asia, Gwangju blends culture, art and nature. Let me brief you about the scenic spots you must visit. First, the National Asian Culture Hall (expected to open in Sept. 2015). The Hall, which is built on the purpose of cultivating cultural atmosphere and circulating the independent model of the city, is the symbol of Gwangju of democracy, security, peace and artistry. The National Asian Culture Hall, which was built on Jeollanam-do with an investment of over RMB 700 million, was herald as “The Forest of Light”. Inside the Hall there are Multipurpose Composite Performance Ground, Asian Cultural Center, Cultural Exchange Center, Art Cinema, Children’s Knowledge Center, etc. Through Gwangju Folly, we can catch a glimpse of the works of architects throughout the world. Besides, the potential of forgotten history can be developed as well for the benefits of public institutions. Mudeungsan Mountain, Yang Shudong Historical and Cultural Village are also worth visiting. Gwangju Kimchi Festival, 7080 Chungjang Recollection Festival are too good to miss.

Q: How did Gwangju become the home of art?

A: With more superior cultural traditions than other regions, Gwangju enjoys the reputation as “Home of Art”. The national painting of Korea, the source of life, the Southern School Painting and the Gwang (light), together with Jeollanam-do featuring beautiful western paintings, were the source of non stereotyped painting of modern art. Namdo, the southwestern part of Korea, is the source of Celadon powder and green porcelain, tea and tea culture. Artists who had taken part in the Gwangju Democratic Movement in 1980 had created an art form here which was both righteous and popular. The active involvement of outstanding artists in the traditional art facilitated Gwangju to become the “Home of Art” in South Korea.

Q: In Gwangju there are quite a lot of historical sites or cultural relics of Confucianism such as academy of classical learning that embody Korean Spirit. How does Gwangju manage to merge the two cultures? Besides, in the customs of people in Gwangju, what traditional cultures are preserved?

A: There are many cultural relics of Confucianism in Gwangju such as Gwangju Hyanggyo (Confucian School), Wolbong Seowon-Confucian School (Bingwoldang), the Gasa Literature Hall, and Chungjangsa Shrine. They are not only the heritage of the past but also the spiritual foundation of people in today’s Gwangju. They are favorable tourist destinations for the natives who engage in various traditional educational activities. People were brought up with knowledge of the traditional lifestyle. And now, they become modernized, but the traditions still lie deep in their minds.

Q: Can you introduce the tourist reception facilities in Gwangju or services for foreigners with characteristics. Do they have language obstacles?

A: In Gwangju station, Gwangju Airport and Gwangju Songjeong Station there are information desks with Chinese staff. Besides, there is a 24-hour travel service hotline 1330 of Korea Tourism Organization which provides services in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean. Gwangju has the first service center in Korea that provides service in Chinese and is the center of all kinds of consultation services.

Q: The number of Chinese outbound tourists has been increasing year by year. In 2014, a total number of 109-million-person-time Chinese people had made cross-border trips. What is the situation of Chinese tourists in Gwangju? Arethere any measures to attract Chinese tourists? Do they join tour groups or go DIY? Please give an introduction of visa.

A: China has surpassed Japan as the biggest tourist market of Korea, with over 6.12 million tourists in 2014, of which over 30,000 went to Gwangju. They were mainly group tourists. We expect that there will be more tourists from China with the opening to traffic of the Honam highspeed railway (from Daejeon to Mokpo), the launching of 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade, and the opening of National Asian Culture Hall. Gwangju and Jeollanam-do will build up their efforts to serve the guests. Starting from April 2014, group tourists from China can enjoy 72-hour Visa free entry in Muan International Airport.

Q: What advantages was Gwangju looking for when it became a member of the international organization World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF)? What opportunities and assistance will WTCF bring to Gwangju? What expectations and hopes do you have? Also, what role do you expect Gwangju to play in the big family of WTCF?

A: By taking part in the annual meeting, we will share the latest information with WTCF members and we will include their advices on Gwangju’s Tourism into deliberation. With the joint efforts of member States, global tourism marketing will be promoted. By registering the official websites and magazines of WTCF, we can publicize the latest tourism information of Gwangju. We hope to enhance cooperation among tourist cities of different fields in Asia’s international tourism industry, where the sensitive international situation is developed. We want to make full use of the flexibility of tourism and lay a solid foundation for the tourist cities in southwestern region of our country.

(Words/Pics: WTCF Magazine)