Chungjang Street, Dong-gu District

By Umesh Mansukhani

Culture Complex Station is an underground subway station of Gwangju Metro Line 1 in Dong-gu District, which opened on April 28, 2004. Right adjacent to the station is the popular underground shopping mall, which features stores selling men’s and women’s clothing, fashion accessories, trendy shoes, hat, umbrellas, flowers, and watches, all at affordable prices.

The Asia Culture Center (ACC), which opened in November 2015, is located above the station. The

ACC is a world-class cultural complex specializing in cultural exchange. It has an exhibition hall, conference hall, grand lecture hall, theater, library, children’s playground, and bamboo garden. On the premises is a musical fountain whose theme is the “Butterfly Garden,” expressing the vision of flying across the world by carrying people’s hopes and dreams. The ACC also offers an international residency program to provide artists from different countries with spaces for their research.

Daein Market, started in May 1959, is one of the oldest traditional markets of Gwangju. This market is a wonderful example of the changes traditional markets have gone through to remain relevant in the modern world. It is a wholesale market specializing in fresh and dried seafood and vegetables, and it has maintained its old tradition of selling rice, clothing fabrics, silk, and nickel-silver pots. Shoppers seeking nostalgia, a human touch, and quality products will enjoy shopping here.

Chungjang Street, named after the posthumous title of General Kim Deokryeong, was the site of the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement. Today it is Gwangju’s major downtown area. The streets are lined with shopping malls, clothing stores, restaurants, cafes, movie theaters, banks, and hotels, providing the ultimate experience of modern culture in Gwangju. It is the city’s hub of fashion, both trendy and traditional.

Gwangju is said to be the home of the most delicious food in Korea. So, check out the restaurants to satisfy your palate. I recommend starting with restaurants like Wolgaesoo (for fried rice), Cheongwon Momil (for Korean noodles), Hwangsolchon (for barbecue), Gedeoling (for pizza and pasta) and Dongbaek Katz (for pork cutlet). The 5.18 Democracy Square, which is across from the ACC, is the site of the historic Gwangju Democratic Uprising that took place from May 18–27, 1980. The records of the uprising can be seen nearby at the May 18 Democratization Movement Archives’ History Museum.

Gwangju Art Street is dedicated to developing Gwangju’s traditional art scene through exhibitions of local work. It is a great place for art lovers to find original art pieces showcased by professionals and emerging artists. The art galleries offer a wide variety of Korean paintings, folk drawings, wooden sculptures, calligraphy materials, collector coins, ink, traditional clothing, ceramics, writings, classic books, incense burners, and industrial art. Every Saturday, an art flea market is held where one can hear the stories the collectors share about each part of their collection.

Chungjang Street has a wide choice of bakeries, too. The most famous is Gungjeon Jegwa, which was established in the year 1973 and offers 200 kinds of bread and 60 kinds of cake, not to mention their “dragon egg roll” and “butterfly pie” specialties. Visit Yunsil Bakery for their popular strawberry cake and the Ppanggwa Jangmi bakery for their vegan bread rolls.

For the coffee lovers, the place to be is Dongmyeongdong Café Street, which is home to a unique and vibrant coffee scene. The individual cafes work to set themselves apart with distinctive shop fronts, interiors, and drink menus. So, go and enjoy the atmosphere at Scones, Gaelande, Oriens, Casadel Coffee Tres, and Day of Night in the company of your family and friends.

Around Chungjang Street, which is also a financial district, all the major banks are located. Professionals will help you open an account at Hana Bank, Kookmin Bank, Woori Bank, Nonghyup Bank, and SBI Bank.

Good lodging and boarding facilities are provided at the comfortable hotels on Chungjang Street. The receptionists at these hotels will speak English. Best hospitality is provided at ACC Design Hotel, Ramada Plaza, Palace Tourist Hotel, Culture Hotel LAAM, and Chungjang S Hotel.

The Dong-gu District office supports foreigners and international residents by providing various services such as issuance of residence certificates and registration of births and marriages. The Dongbu Police Station will help you with your complaints, and one can also get driver’s license renewals done here, too.

Nearby subway stations in the area are Geumnam-ro 5-ga and Geumnam-ro 4-ga.

I appreciate the people who were very kind to me when I went around Chungjang Street asking people for directions. We were welcomed with great warmth in all the shops we visited, and one of the shop owners even gave us her best tea to drink.

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us. I am not a great writer, nor am I a great artist, but I love art and food, so I am the perfect traveler.

Umesh Mansukhani is from India and is a freelance English tutor. He loves traveling, playing ping-pong, and watching Korean dramas.