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

Owen Memorial Hall (오웬기념각)

Owen Memorial Hall (오웬기념각)

9.4Km    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.

10y Ground (10년후그라운드)

10y Ground (10년후그라운드)

9.4Km    2024-11-14

1 Yangchon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Originally a sports complex, the 10y Ground has transformed into a dynamic cultural hub offering educational opportunities, community programs, and a range of unique initiatives. It also provides space for diverse services, including food, beverages, and lifestyle options. Visitors can enjoy various cultural and art programs and shop for locally produced goods and souvenirs.  

Gwangjuhyanggyo Confucian School (광주향교)

Gwangjuhyanggyo Confucian School (광주향교)

9.4Km    2025-02-04

5 Jungang-ro 107beon-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju-si

Hyanggyo was a national educational institution during the Joseon dynasty, where the tablets of distinguished Confucian scholars were enshrined, and rituals were held in their honor. In spring and fall, it hosts Seokjeon, a ritual honoring Confucius, along with Seodang (traditional Confucian school) experiences and traditional weddings, offering opportunities to immerse in Confucian culture. In summer, crape myrtle flowers bloom, and in fall, the old ginkgo tree turns golden yellow, beautifully contrasting with the traditional Joseon-style hanok architecture.

Namdo Folk Food Exhibition Room & Honam Cultural Material Pavilion (남도향토음식박물관·호남문화자료전시관)

Namdo Folk Food Exhibition Room & Honam Cultural Material Pavilion (남도향토음식박물관·호남문화자료전시관)

9.4Km    2021-11-27

477, Seoljuk-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-410-6642

Located in Gwangju, the Namdo Folk Food Exhibition Room was established to preserve and promote the local foods of the Namdo region. The museum has a museum shop, both permanent exhibitions and special planned exhibitions, and a studio where visitors can watch a variety of video content related to the local foods. In the Honam Cultural Material Pavilion, literature, clothing, and artwork from the region are on display.

The museum building was designed to resemble both the long, rectangular presses used to make patterned rice cakes and the Ipseokdae Rock of Mudeungsan Mountain, a symbol of Gwangju. Even the colors of the building’s walls hold special significance. The obangsaek (five colors; blue, white, red, black, and yellow) symbolize the cardinal directions, the seasons, the major organs in the body, different tastes, feelings, and philosophy.

Obang Choi Heung-jong Memorial Hall (오방 최흥종 기념관)

Obang Choi Heung-jong Memorial Hall (오방 최흥종 기념관)

9.5Km    2024-12-17

64 Jejung-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Obang Choi Heung-jong Memorial Hall is dedicated to Rev. Obang Choi Heung-jong who was also a Korean independence fighter and a social activist. His lifetime of sacrificing for others while improving the Gwangju neighborhood made him a true hero. Visitors to the memorial hall can deeply understand the life that Obang Choi Hueng-jong lead. 

Sajik Forest of Light (사직 빛의 숲)

Sajik Forest of Light (사직 빛의 숲)

9.5Km    2024-12-11

49 Sajik-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Located within Sajik Park, the Forest of Light is a popular night view spot with a fantastic media art that incorporates historical themes of Gwangju. The space features a combination of lighting, video, and music to create multimedia contents, offering a variety of experiences and attractions through interactive art that responds to people's movements. The observation tower hosts a light show, and visitors can enjoy video contents through an AR telescope.

Gwangju Sajik Park (사직공원 (광주))

Gwangju Sajik Park (사직공원 (광주))

9.5Km    2022-08-05

49, Sajik-gil, Nam-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-652-3236

Sajik Park is located at the previous site of Sajikdan Altar, a ritual site to pray for peace and prosperity during the Three Kingdoms Era. In the 1960s, the site was home to Sajik Zoo, with the ritual being abandoned in 1894 and the altar in disrepair. However, in 1991, it was decided to move the zoo to another location and begin restoring the site. It was reopened in April 1994, 100 years after the last ritual.

Sajik Park is landscaped with various trees and flower beds. The park blooms pink and white with cherry blossoms annually in mid-April. During this time, the municipality of Gwangju installs lighting in the trees for citizens to enjoy the blossoms late into the night. The park has become established as a favorite rest area for Gwangju citizens. The park houses several attractions including Gwangju Broadcast Station (KBS), Memorial Tower for Policemen, Yangpajeong Pavilion, and Palgakjeong Pavilion overlooking downtown Gwangju.

Parc Sajik (Gwangju) (사직공원 - 광주)

9.5Km    2025-07-01

Gwangju-Si Nam-Gu, Sajik-Gil 49

Le parc Sajik a l’avantage d’être bien ammenagé, entre une variété d’arbres et de nombreux lits de fleurs. Chaque année autour du 15 avril, les cerisiers sont en fleurs, créant un spectacle splendide. Durant cette periode, la municipalité de Gwangju fait installer des lumières sur les arbres afin que les habitants puissant profiter du spectacle jusqu’à tard dans la nuit. Le parc est considéré comme l’endroit favori des habitants de Gwangju pour se reposer.
Le parc accueille plusieurs attractions, incluant un mémorial pour les héros nationaux, la station de TV et de radio de Gwangju (KBS), une tour en mémoire des policiers, le pavillon Yeonpajeong, la station de tir Gwandeokjeong ainsi que le pavillon Palgakjeong qui offre un point de vue sur le centre ville de Gwangju. Les variétés d’arbres, d’arbustes et de fleurs offrent une atmosphère accueillante pour chaque sortie.

LEEKANGHA Art Museum (이강하미술관)

LEEKANGHA Art Museum (이강하미술관)

9.5Km    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.  

Yangnim Art Center (양림미술관)

Yangnim Art Center (양림미술관)

9.5Km    2024-11-20

70 Jejung-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju

Yangnim Art Center takes its name from its location in Yangnim-dong, the center of modern history and culture. Designed in hanok style, the building features exhibition rooms on each floor, offering both artists and visitors a creative space to connect and immerse themselves in the art.