With various modern architectural buildings and a forest of trees over 100 years old, Yangnim-dong is a living museum of history, architecture, culture and art. In the beginning of the 20th century, missionaries from the Southern Presbyterian Church came to settle in the area to spread Christianity and facilitated the advancement of medicine and education in Gwangju. That is why the area has an elegant collection of Western architecture mixed with traditional Korean houses. It is also popular for art galleries and coffee shops.

< Lunch Time > Gwangju is popular for tasty food and generous serving. We recommend 3 major regional menus. You can choose your dish, and pay on the spot. 1. Gwangju Yukjeon – Sliced beef pancake which is cooked on your table. (35,000won) 2. Pork Spareribs - Full course meal by certified master chefs (29,000won) 3. Korean temple cuisine buffet (Vegetarian) – a variety of vegan dishes with drinks and soups run by Buddhist monks. (8,000won) There are other choices for lunch too.

May 18 Archives was established in 2015 to collect and preserve the historical records on the May 18 Democratic Uprising. It has permanent exhibition rooms to show what happened in Gwangju for 10days from May 18th to 27th in 1980. The records of May 18 were listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2011.

It is another historical site of May 18 Democratic Uprising with the proof of helicopter strafing. 245 bullet marks are still preserved in the memorial hall. On the rooftop garden, visitors can enjoy a view of the city with Mountain Mudeungsan.

Asia Culture Centre (ACC) is an Asian art and cultural exchange complex. It is built on the historical site of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, so the complex was artistically designed to retain the spirit of democracy. At the ACC, interactive exhibitions, performances, education, and other events are held year-round. With a modern library and an urban park, it is an open space to relax and resilient for the public.

< Bium Museum > - Admission in included. Bium Museum is a Korean traditional folk museum. It displays more than 30,000 pieces of old traditional goods and farm equipment from the daily life of Koreans which were used until the early of 1970s. The director of the museum spent the past 50 years collecting folkcrafts that most of them were discarded. She says that each person in the past was truly an artist as they put their heart into making their daily necessities. The five-story building takes visitors on a journey to the ‘Marketplace, over the course of time.’ It is worth a visit. (Entrance fee is included.)

Once a wealthy area of Gwangju, Dongmyeong-dong lost its former liveliness when people began moving out of the area to move into apartment complexes. Today, Dongmyeong-dong has gained new vitality as old houses renovated to cafés, restaurants, and cultural places. The opening of the Asia Culture Centre in 2015 furthered the younger generation’s interest in the café industry, making the street more unique and interesting.