Yangnim-dong Historic Village

Bernard Gagnon · CC0

An early 20th-century missionary quarter of red brick, reborn as an artists' neighbourhood.

In the early 1900s American missionaries arrived in Gwangju and built schools, a hospital and houses on Yangnim hill. Western red brick mixed with hanok produced a quarter that looks like nowhere else in Korea. After years of neglect, Yangnim-dong came back as an arts village: old houses are now galleries, cafés and a small museum devoted to the composer Jeong Yul-seong. Walking its narrow slopes feels like turning the pages of an album from the last century.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Yangnim-dong Historic Village?

Year-round

How long do you need at Yangnim-dong Historic Village?

1.5–2 hours

What are the opening hours of Yangnim-dong Historic Village?

All day

Did you know

Grew out of an early 20th-century missionary compound.
Several red-brick houses are listed municipal heritage.
There is a museum dedicated to the composer Jeong Yul-seong, a son of Gwangju.
The quarter was regenerated as an arts village during the 2010s.

Travel tips

Walking is the only sensible way — the lanes are narrow and steep.
Many cafés occupy converted old houses and stay open into the evening.
Combine with Daein Market nearby, which holds a night art market at weekends.

Source: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/

Updated: 2026-08-05