Gwangju is a vibrant city located in the southwestern part of South Korea. It's known for its rich history and beautiful landscapes, and, more recently, it has become the hometown of BTS's j-hope.
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| BTS-themed benches on K-Pop Star Street |
As a dedicated ARMY, I couldn't miss the opportunity to explore this city and retrace the steps of one of my favorite idols.
One Day Itinerary in Gwangju for BTS ARMYs
I decided to go on a day trip to Gwangju from Seoul. Of course, my primary goal was to visit places connected to J-hope. Here are the places I visited.
Joy Dance Academy
This is where J-hope honed his dance skills before debuting with BTS. The academy is a modest building, but it's filled with memories of the idol. Other K-pop idols, including SEVENTEEN's Vernon, also trained there.
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| at the lobby of the academy |
Visitors can enter the building until the lobby, where you'll find a big standee of j-hope and several albums by all the K-pop idols who trained there. There's also a wall where visitors can place sticky notes with messages for their favorite idols.
K-Pop Star Street
A short walk from the academy is K-Pop Star Street. While this street is a tribute to K-pop idols from Gwangju, the main attraction is the Hope World statue, which is a tribute to J-hope of BTS.
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| landmark of K-Pop Star Street |
The Hope World statue was built in 2020 to coincide with the release of j-hope's mixtape of the same name. The statue contains 21,800 messages of support and love for J-Hope from ARMYs worldwide. On one side, it also includes a short message from J-hope and his autograph.
There are also painted benches inspired by BTS album covers and murals inspired by his songs.
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| Hope World Statue |
Yangnimdong History and Culture Village
My next stop was Yangnimdong History and Culture Village. This isn't related to BTS or K-pop but I included it in my itinerary because it was just in the area. This charming village offers a glimpse into Gwangju's past. The traditional Korean houses and narrow alleys create a nostalgic atmosphere.
Penguin Village
I then headed to Penguin Village. Its name comes from the abundance of penguin-themed artwork that adorns the buildings and streets, offering a unique and vibrant atmosphere. Visitors can stroll through the narrow streets, admiring the colorful murals and sculptures, and enjoying the peaceful ambiance. There are also several cafes and shops where visitors can relax and enjoy local delicacies.
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| my favorite part of Penguin Village sadly doesn't have any penguins |
For ARMYs, a must-see mural there is, of course, that of J-hope. As a huge fan, it was really heartwarming to see that he was so well-loved in his hometown.
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| J-hope mural at Penguin Village |
Sajik Park Observatory
Lastly, I went to the Sajik Park Observatory. This wasn't originally part of my itinerary, but I saw that itwas pretty closer from Penguin Village, so I decided to visit it. From Penguin Village, it took me around 20 minutes on foot to reach Sajik Park. This was on a hilly road, which added a bit of a challenge.
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| Sajik Park Observatory |
Once I got to the entrance of the Sajik Park Observatory, the guard told me to just use the elevator to get to the highest floor. Apparently, admission to the observatory is entirely free! The observatory has indoor and outdoor areas, offering panoramic views of Gwangju and its surrounding areas. There's also an art gallery and a cafe on the lower floors.
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| view from the observatory |
How to Get to Gwangju from Seoul
To reach Gwangju from Seoul, you can take a high-speed train (KTX) from Seoul Station to Gwangju Songjeong Station. The journey was relatively straightforward and took around 2.5 hours. I made sure to book my roundtrip tickets in advance using the Korail Pass because I visited around the holidays and wanted to avoid ending up stranded in Gwangju.
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| a mural dedicated to J-hope's iconic song "Chicken Noodle Soup" |
Getting around the city is quite easy. I opted to use the subway, which is efficient and affordable. From the Gwangju main station, it took me about 35 to 40 minutes to reach the area where most of the BTS-related attractions are located. From the subway station, all the attractions were within a 5 to 20-minute walk from each other.
My day trip to Gwangju was an unforgettable experience. As a fan of J-hope and BTS, I find it incredibly special to visit these places. But beyond the BTS connections, Gwangju itself is a fascinating city with a rich history and vibrant culture. Whether you're an ARMY or simply looking for a unique destination outside of Seoul, Gwangju is definitely worth a visit.
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