Upcoming Events in April 2025
FESTIVALS
The 55th Earth Day Celebration
Earth Day, April 22, is celebrated globally every year, and Gwangju is also having its celebration. The official global slogan for 2025 is “Our Power, Our Planet” to promote the goal of tripling renewable energy production worldwide. More can be found at https://www.earthday.org/ for what’s happening worldwide. The Gwangju 2025 Earth Day Event Committee organized a contest for the selection of its own slogan, and “A Green Earth, With Our Power” was chosen. An ambiguity lies in the fact that “painted” in Korean is pronounced like green, giving the slogan the additional meaning “An Earth Painted by Our Power.”
- Venue: Car Free Zone at Gwangju Metro City Hall
- Time: Apr. 19 (Sat), 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Activities: Ceremony & music festival, market booths, experience booths, children’s’ art contest, street game zone, and more
- Admission: Free
Gwangju National Heritage Night Tour
A nighttime national heritage-themed tourism festival that provides various opportunities for historical and cultural experiences, facilitated by Dong-gu District.
- Venue: May 18 Square in front of the ACC and at other places as announced on the website.
- Time: April 25–26 (Fri.–Sat.) Admission: Free
- Activities: Tours, exhibitions, performances, food and market, accommodation (www.artpass.kr for pre-registration) packages, dinner packages (a Gwangju-style meal and festival funds for designated guesthouse users).
- Detailed Information: https://www.gjnight.com/
FAIR
2025 K-Pet Fair Gwangju
- Venue: Kim Daejung Convention Center
- Time: April 4–6 (Fri.–Sun.), 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Ticket Purchase: 10,000. Free with pre-registration by Apr. 3 (Thu.).
- Organizer: Korea Pet Association
- Inquiries: 02-6121-6247/6425
FILMED MUSICAL
ACC Wednesday Theater: “Apres Girl, in Name”
A filmed musical that presents the challenging life of Park Namok, the first female movie director in Korea, who left behind a historic movie The Widow (1955).
- Venue: ACC Culture Center, Cultural Information Center, B3 Theater 3
- Time: Apr. 2 (Wed), 7 p.m. Price: Free
- Ticket Purchase: Reserve on the PlayGwangju site or at the ACC. Even if online tickets are sold out, you can still watch the show if tickets are available on the day of the screening.
- Inquiries: 1899-5566
CONCERTS
Gwangju Symphony Orchestra’s 393rd Regular Concert: 2025 Symphony Festival Preview
- Venue: Gwangju Arts Center (광주예술의 전당), Grand Theater
- Time: Apr. 1 (Tue.), 7:30 p.m. Ticket Purchase: Gwangju Arts Center website
- Price: R 30,000; S 20,000; A 10,000
- Inquiries: 062-613-8241
Gwangju City Gugak Orchestra’s 141st Regular Concert: “Dream” Returns
- Venue: Gwangju Arts Center, Grand Theater
- Time: Apr. 4 (Fri), 7:30 p.m.
- Ticket Purchase: Arts Center webpage (member discounts on the website only) or Ticket Link
- Price: R 30,000; S 20,000; A 10,000
- Inquiries: 062-574-0795
Opera Gala Concert: 60 Stars
- The most favored opera songs by 60 soloists of Gwangju.
- Venue: Bitgoeul Simin Munhwa-gwan (빛고을시민문화관)
- Time: Apr. 5 (Sat.), 5 p.m. Ticket Purchase: Gwangju Arts Center website
- Price: 20,000
- Inquiries: 062-412-2502
Brahms, Summer of Creation Series 1: Classical Piano
- Venue: Gwangju Arts Center, Grand Theater
- Time: Apr. 15 (Tue.), 7:30 p.m.
- Ticket Purchase: PlayGwangju or Gwangju Arts Center website
- Price: 10,000
- Inquiries: 010-3625-5115
Project Ensemble Ryun Yadam Collection I: Chosun – Creative Comic Chang Concert
- Venue: Seobit Maru Culture & Arts Center (서빛마루문화예술회관)
- Time: Apr. 5 (Sat.), 7:30 p.m.
- Ticket Purchase: PlayGwangju or Ticket Link
- Price: 10,000
- Inquiries: 010-8925-0300
Gwangju Symphony Orchestra’s Otium Concert I: Marimba
- Venue: Gwangju Arts Center, Small Theater
- Time: Apr. 16 (Wed.), 11 a.m., 7:30 p.m.
- Ticket Purchase: Gwangju Arts Center website
- Price: S 20,000; A 10,000
- Inquiries: 062-613-8241
GAC Special Performance Focus by the Park Jong-sung × Kim Hyung- seok Project: “You, Again” (Harmonica, piano, guitar, & cello)
- Venue: Gwangju Arts Center, Small Theater
- Time: Apr. 17 (Thu.), 7:30 p.m.
- Ticket Purchase: Gwangju Arts Center website or 1588-7890
- Price: R 30,000; S 20,000
- Inquiries: 062-613-8233
ACC Brunch Concert for April. Ballet Music Drama “Moments” with Oh Eun-chul
- Venue: ACC Theater 2 Time: Apr. 30 (Wed.), 11 a.m.
- Ticket Purchase: ACC website
- Price: R 30,000; S 20,000
- Inquiries: 1899-5566
EXHIBITION
2025 ACC Contact: “Our Bodies, Embedded with Others”
- Venue: ACC Creation Center Complex Exhibition Hall
- Time: Apr. 17 – June 29. Closed on Mondays.
- Price: Free Inquiries: 1899-5566
※ All of the above events and more can be found on the PlayGwangju website, and reservations can be made there as well (https://www.playgwangju. co.kr/).
Compiled by Chung Hyunhwa.