From the Editor – October 2025

Gwangju is known for its ginkgo- lined city streets, and anyone living here is aware that these shade trees are a harbinger of the robustness of autumn – ginkgo nuts falling to the sidewalks and ginkgo leaves beginning to turn to their golden autumnal hue. They also herald the publication of the October issue of the Gwangju News! We hope you enjoy what this issue and this season hold.

October’s weather is ideal for outdoor festivals, and one of these brings music to Gwangju’s streets: The 2025 Gwangju Busking World Cup. Read about it and some of its contestants in our cover feature. This month also hosts the 1970s and 1980s-themed Chungjang Street Festival of Recollection and the Gwangju Kimchi Festival. Already underway is the Gwangju 2025 Design Biennale [see our Oct. issue]; read our writer’s report on his recent visit to the exhibition [p. 43].

Looking for a calming break from all the festivities? Take a walk through Gwangju’s Penguin Village [p. 20]. Seeking some peace and quiet outside of the city? Head to Gokseong for some coffee in a traditional hanok setting [p. 15]. Or head to Naju for a café with traditional snacks made by “the rabbit in the moon” [D’s Café Column, p. 49]. And if you wish to know more about the writer of this column, Dhivyaa S. P., go to Inside the Gwangju News [p. 27].

There is so much more to discover. What tragic secret does Yeosu hold [p. 13]? Why isn’t Subway Line 2 finished [p. 25]? What do Hiroshima and Gwangju have in common [p. 22]? What surprises does China hold for a first-time visitor [p. 17]? How can the KIIP benefit the expat [p. 29]? Can adults acquire a second language [p. 31]? What are expats looking for in a healthcare provider [p. 33]? How is a doctoral researcher’s findings like chocolate cake [p. 36]? And why are the Kia Tigers in freefall [p. 52]?

Read about Gwangju’s vintage clothes market [p. 38]. Learn about a traditional indigo dyeing summer camp [p. 40]. Hear what the new international grad students face [p. 19]. See what this month’s upcoming events are [p. 56]. Find out what a Brazilian thinks of Gwangju’s sports fans [p. 50].

City News is on page 3. Our book review this month is about The Plotters [p. 47]. Our creative writing piece is on The Subway [p. 45]. And our Sports Round-Up follows the Kia Tigers, AI Peppers, and Gwangju FC [p. 54]. Enjoy!