It's famous for beautiful Mt. Moodeung which towers over the city, as well as its Buddhist temples, the National Gwangju Museum, the Gwangju Folk Museum and local specialities such as calligraphy brushes, ceramics and mother-of-pearl artwork. Gwangju also gave birth to Pansori, a traditional musical form, and is the home of many famous native artists.

Thanks to this tradition of promoting the arts, Gwangju holds various performances and exhibitions on an almost daily basis. As a result, Gwangju citizen can enjoy the arts festival which draws over 2 million visitors from home and abroad. Gwangju also hosts a Kimchi Festival honouring Korea's most famous indigenous dish.