“What Did You Like About Gwangju That Is No Longer Here?”
Compiled by Kim I-seul, Jeon Se-na, An Se-in, Park Seong-yeob (GIC’s Gwangju News Team)
Gwangju News asked the Gwangju Talks panel members and GIC talk attendees what they liked about Gwangju that is no longer here. The panel participants were Chonnam National University students Kim I-seul (IS), Jeon Se-na (SN), An Se-in (SI), Park Seong-yeob (SY), who will soon study in the US.
Secondhand Bookstores at Gyerim-dong, Dong-gu: Hong Gil-dong, 50 yrs. old
I miss secondhand bookstores around Gwangju High School in Gyerim-dong. Some of the secondhand bookstores are still there, but they are not as lively as in the old times. I used to go there with my friends to get cheap textbooks or books of poetry. Stores were so tiny and narrow then, but there were tons of books that made us excited. For some reasons, the smell of old dusty books reminds me of the good old days in high school. Finding books there was such hard work since there were so many books here and there, but it was enjoyable to spend time there and discover rare antique books.
These days, there are a lot of fancy bookstores full of new books in Gwangju. It seems like only a few people like to go to used bookshops. Damyang Bookstore, which was originally opened in front of Gwangju High School in 1969, is one of the old secondhand bookstores. The owner of this bookstore donated almost a hundred old books, which have historical value, such as a genealogy and a collection of works to Chonnam National University’s Honam Chinese classic research team. Although secondhand bookstores are decreasing, they are the nostalgic memory that I miss a lot.
Photos from http://blog.naver.com/dkgk3016?Redirect=Log&logNo=30129777696
Gwangju Girls’ High School: Lee Mi-seon, 28th graduation year
Gwangju Girls’ High School was established in 1923. The national high school representative of Gwangju led the long tradition. The school, which had to relocate due to construction around it, moved to Hwajeong-dong in 2010. The official discipline of the school, maintaining integrity since the days Japanese imperialism, didn’t disappear. Many Gwangju Girls’ High School graduates missed the previous school after the move. The students attending the newly built school upheld the beauty and old traditions which their predecessors wished to protect.
Mudeungsan Barley Rice Restaurants
Mount Mudeung is well known in Korea as Gwangju’s mountain located in a national park. However from 2002 to 2010 there was a lot of change around Jeungsimsa. First of all, there were a lot of small restaurants which were famous for Boribap (보리밥) that is a Korean traditional dish which is similar to Bibimbap (비빔밥). These restaurants caused disorder around the paths near Jeungsimsa. As a result, most of the small restaurants were changed to modern-style buildings, which resulted in a change in atmosphere from old charm to a modern hustle. Now, even though the streets are cleaner than in the past and the taste of the food still is the same, many people miss the old mood. Formerly people would be warmly welcomed by the old ladies and their rural boribap meals in Jeungsim Temple. Now, however, as a result of the changes this atmosphere has disappeared.
I miss the atmosphere of Dae-in Market a lot. Dae-in Market was the first conventional market in Gwangju. It was the historical place where Gwangju people shouted for democracy together and merchants supported them with food. In the past, there was Gwangju Station and until early 1990, it was always crowded due to the Gwangju Bus Terminal. These days, there are not many people who go to Dae-in Market like in the past. I sometimes recall the memory of a crowded Dae-in Market while sitting on a chair watching the empty Dae-in Street. The trace of the past remains faintly as traditional art works, and many modern arts have been created on the street. I’m very pleased that Dae-in Market is making a good effort to revive the dying market through many programs and being a place to tour in Gwangju.