Gwangju travel guide

Gwangju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, a suburb southeast of Seoul.

It should not be confused with the Gwangju in South Jeolla province, which is pronounced slightly differently and has different Chinese characters. Gwangju in Gyeonggi is a smaller, more rural town that can be included in the Seoul metropolitan area. Small businesses, factories, farms, and the rugged terrain are part of the city's identity. But because of the manufacturing industry, there is also a notable foreigner presence in Gwangju that has given a slight international feel to the community. Gwangju's history has been tied to that of Seoul's.

Getting in

While a subway line is being constructed, the only current way to easily get to and from Gwangju is by bus. From Incheon International Airport there is an Airport Limousine that makes multiple trips day. Just make sure you are going to the Gwangju in the Gyeonggi province and not the South Jeolla province Gwangju. From the Jamsil area of Seoul, the red 500-1 bus goes directly to Gwangju. From the Gangnam district, take the red 500-2. These two buses don't go through the city center until late at night, however. From Gangbyeon station, take the red 1113-1.

Getting around

There are dozens of local buses that run around Gwangju all day and taxis are also a very inexpensive option. The city is very pedestrian friendly and sidewalks abound! Representative bus terminals include Gwangju Bus Terminal and several subway stations.

Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.