From the Editor – February 2026

It still feels as though we’re on the cusp of a new and exciting year, even though January 1st passed a full month ago. (Catch the Jan. 1 sunrise in Photo of the Month.) And why should we not have that sense of the new year still being on the verge of breaking when Korea’s lunar new year is still waiting to take center stage later this month. It’s the Year of the Fire Horse; read what that entails in our article of the same name. Also read one expat’s perspective on Seollal, Lunar New Year’s Day, in History and Tradition.

Occurring also in February is arguably the most romantic day of the year – the 14th, Valentine’s Day. Read our article on where in the Jeolla area to go to spend a quiet, amorous day in the February air. See also our featured piece that reminds us of the less romantic side of the holiday. For places around Gwangju to visit on holidays, weekends, or any day, go to our Exploring Korea column. February is also the moving month for many attending university; get some tips on “Booking Movers.”

Our Global Focus this month is Ukraine’s agriculture struggles in time of war. Korea in Focus deals with Korea’s “ppalli-ppalli culture” (hurry-hurry to read this!). And our feature essay is on “Justice in the City,” problems confronting urban areas the world over.

In Teaching and Learning, we have an expat writing on learning Korean as well as one on a Korean learning Chinese. The Our Planet column introduces an ongoing exhibition: “Earth in Crisis, SOS.” And our Science and Technology section presents two interesting articles: one on security of smart home devices and the other on the human component to the medical robot.

We have a chock-full Culture and the Arts section: an article comparing the art of Kim Whanki with that of Abanindranath Tagore, a cultural comparison of Korea with Bangladesh, an ongoing Helga Stentzel exhibition in Yeosu, and a review of Han Kang’s book Greek Lessons.

Food and Beverage focuses on two cafés: Chaeum and Gosari. Our sports section brings you two articles on Gwangju’s pro teams’ off-season activities: player cuts, salary cuts, new contracts. And checkout the upcoming February exhibition, performance, theater, and concert events, including the four-day Grand Orchestra Week at the Gwangju Arts Center.

Enjoy February with the Gwangju News!