Owen Memorial Hall (오웬기념각) - Area information - Korea travel information

Owen Memorial Hall (오웬기념각)

Owen Memorial Hall (오웬기념각)

4.7Km    2024-11-12

6 Baekseo-ro 70beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-650-7647

The Owen Monument and Memorial Hall is located inside the Christian College of Nursing. The monument was erected in 1914 in memory of missionary Clement Owen who, together with Priest Bae Yoo-ji, was the first missionary to come to Jeollanam-do. The monument was built using the 4,200 dollars collected by Owen’s relatives in the USA after Owen died as a martyr in Gwangju.

Clement Owen came to Yangnim-dong, Gwangju in the 1900s and served as a missionary and medical volunteer with his wife, who was a nurse, before dying of exhaustion and overwork in 1909. Owen had hoped to build a memorial hospital in honor of his grandfather, but died before his plan was materialized. The plaque hanging in the hall honors both men in English and Chinese, reading, “In Memory of William L. and Clement C. Owen.”

A Western-style building with a total footage of around 1,435 meters squared (including the annex building), the monument is said to have been used as chapel and assembly room. Today, the building serves as the auditorium of the Christian College of Nursing. The white, two-story building features a lectern in one corner, with two columns of pews facing the lectern. The second floor balcony stretches along the two walls opposite the lectern.

◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu’s charm – movie “Love, Lies,”
In the film, So-yul and Yeon-hee come here to see the renowned singer Lee Nan-young perform. Owen Memorial Hall has a history as a venue for Christian gatherings, lectures, concerts, graduation ceremonies, and various cultural events in the region. Today, it continues to serve as a space for both religious and cultural gatherings.

Missionary Wilson's House (우일선 선교사 사택)

Missionary Wilson's House (우일선 선교사 사택)

4.8Km    2024-12-04

20 Jejung-ro 47beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-607-2333

Missionary Wilson’s House is a two-story brick building that sits upon the eastern foothills of Yangnimsan Mountain. Known as the oldest surviving Western-style house in Gwangju, the house is an icon of modern culture and architecture in Korea. The house was built by an American missionary named Wilson in the 1920s (exact date unknown) and was the home of the Wilson family while they stayed in Korea. When the family completed their work in Korea, they sold the house for a very cheap price with the stipulation that the house continued to be used for missionary purposes. The house fell into the possession of the General Assembly of Chonnam Presbyterian Church of Korea in 1986 and now serves as the home office for the Presbyterian Church of Korea.

The square-shaped house consists of a living room, a family room, a kitchen, and a bathroom (1F), several bedrooms (2F), and storage areas and a boiler room (B1). The fact that the entrance of the house faces east is said to be a result of the prevailing architectural culture of Korea at that time. A Netherland-style house built with 55-milimeter thick, gray bricks, the first and second stories are delineated on the exterior with an eye-catching band of bricks.

◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu’s charm - TV series "Hymn of Death"
Here, Woo-jin (played by Lee Jong Suk), Sim-deok (played by Shin Hye-sun), and their troupe rehearsed for their play in "Hymn of Death." The Western-style building, framed by a lush forest backdrop, offers an exotic and picturesque setting.

LEEKANGHA Art Museum (이강하미술관)

LEEKANGHA Art Museum (이강하미술관)

4.9Km    2024-11-14

6 3·1manseundong-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

The LEEKANGHA Art Museum, opened in 2018, offers a range of exhibitions, educational programs, and a research center. Visitors can explore the life and art world of Lee Kang-ha in different eras through various exhibitions and gain a deeper understanding of art with performances and educational programs. The museum aims to foster empathy and communication to enrich cultural knowledge by using diverse art-culture experience programs.  

Art Polygon Horanggassinamu (호랑가시나무 아트폴리곤)

Art Polygon Horanggassinamu (호랑가시나무 아트폴리곤)

4.9Km    2025-02-04

22 Jejung-ro 47beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Located in Yangnim-dong, Art Polygon Horanggasinamu  is a multi-purpose cultural space that hosts various programs such as exhibitions, lectures, and performances. In 2021, it was used as one of the venues for the Gwangju Biennale. The space was created by preserving and expanding the original structure of a missionary's garage. Yangnim-dong is home to many modern historical cultural heritage sites and art galleries that connects the past and the present.

Burberry Kids - Shinsegae Gwangju Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (버버리 아동 신세계 광주점)

5.0Km    2024-04-23

8F, 904, Mujin-daero, Seo-gu, Gwangju

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Burberry - Shinsegae Gwangju Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (버버리 신세계 광주점)

5.0Km    2024-04-23

1F, 904, Mujin-daero, Seo-gu, Gwangju

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Gaemagowon (개마고원)

Gaemagowon (개마고원)

5.3Km    2024-10-15

1094 Sangmu-daero, Seo-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-366-3744

Gaemagowon is a hanu (Korean beef) restaurant that has been serving the Gwangju area for over 20 years. The menu includes a variety of dishes using hanu.

De Young Museum (드영미술관)

5.4Km    2024-10-10

6 Seongchon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju

De Young Museum is an art gallery located at the entrance to Mudeungsan National Park. The gallery opened in 2018 with the concept of being "forever young" and aims to develop the local culture scene through connections with the local community.

Gwangjuho Lake (광주호)

Gwangjuho Lake (광주호)

5.6Km    2020-06-09

Chunghyo-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-266-0032

Gwangjuho Lake is located at the base of the Mudeungsan Mountain, which creates a beautiful view. Many people come to the lake not only for the relaxing setting, but also for fishing. Near the upper stream of the lake there are beautiful arbors built during the Joseon dynasty that display the traditional garden culture of that time. One of these arbors is the Sikyeongjeong Pavilion, a historic site written about by Jeong Cheol, a famous statesman and poet during Joseon dynasty.

Mudeungsan National Park (무등산국립공원)

Mudeungsan National Park (무등산국립공원)

5.6Km    2023-11-14

29 Dongsan-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-227-1187

Mudeungsan National Park is a mountain park lining the edge of Hwasun-gun, Damyang-gun and Gwangju. Mudeungsan Mountain (1,186 meters) features three rock peaks called Cheonwangbong, Jiwangbong, and Inwangbong, also known as the “Jeongsang Three."

Mudeungsan’s gradual slope makes it an easy climb for all. Among the more majestic of these sites are the Seoseokdae, Gyubong, and Ipseokdae peaks. At the base of the mountain are several famous temples including Yaksasa, Jeungsimsa, and Wonhyosa Temples. Mudeungsan Mountain is also known for its beauty throughout the year. The autumn leaves around Gyubongam Hermitage and silver grass of Baengma Ridge are quite spectacular. In winter, snow and ice on the mountain create exquisite scenery as well.

Below the mountain, there are a variety of recreational facilities and tourist sites for visitors.