GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA

Date Modified: 06.28.2008
Content: Gwangju - General Info and Links
Source: Wikipedia

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Population: 1,400,000 (2003 estimate)
Area: 501.36 km2

Gwangju Metropolitan City is the fifth largest city in South Korea. Gwangju is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the South Korean Home Minister. The city was also the capital of South Jeolla Province until the provincial office moved to the southern village of Namak, Muan in 2005. Its geographical location is 35°10?N 126°55?E. Gwangju is also a sister city to San Antonio.

>>History
The city was established a long time ago (c. 57 BC) and has been a centre of trade ever since. It was one of the administrative centres of Baekje during the Three-Kingdom Period.

With the construction of a railway to Seoul in 1914 modern industry was established. This includes cotton textiles, rice mills and breweries. Construction of a designated industrial zone in 1967 ensued marked growth in industry, especially in the sectors linked to the automobile industry.

In 1929, during the period of Japanese occupation, a confrontation between Korean and Japanese students in the city turned into a regional demonstration, which culminated in one of the major nationwide uprisings against Japanese rule in the colonial period.

In May 1980 civil demonstrations took place in Gwangju against the newly installed military government of Chun Doo-hwan. The demonstrations were suppressed by military forces, including elite units of the Special Operations Command. Most commentators agree that the suppression was characterized by its egregious brutality, including several incidents where military forces fired automatic weapons into crowds of unarmed demonstrators. Some commentators assert United States is partly responsible for the mass killing in the city, because of its tacit endorsement of the Chun Doo-hwan regime and the mobilization of some units which required an approval from the U.S. command authority under normal circumstance. Gwangju is sometimes called "the shrine of Korean democracy" because of this incident, which is known today as the Gwangju Massacre. After civilian rule was reinstated, a national cemetery was established honoring the victims of the incident.

>>Amenities
Chonnam National University and Chosun University are two of the major educational institutions in the city, with several other universities and colleges also located in the region. Areas of exquisite scenery along the outskirts of the city gave birth to gasa, a form of Korean classical poetry. Located in the heart of the agricultural Jeolla region, the city is also famous for its rich and diverse cuisine.

>>Transportation
Gwangju has one subway line. An extension to the line is under construction.

>>People
The most famous person from modern-day Gwangju is former president Kim Dae-jung. Other famous people from Gwangju include actress Moon Geun Young and baseball player Jae Weong Seo, who were born there.

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MORE INFO

Gwangju City Government Website
http://eng.gjcity.net/main.jsp

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