Gwangju City News – September 2025
Gwangju Honors Seven for Heroic Rescues During Torrential Rain
Gwangju City recognized five citizens and two firefighters as “righteous citizens” for saving lives during record-breaking rainfall on July 17, when over 400 mm of rain caused severe flooding across the city.
Citizens Choi Seung-il, Kim In-jung, Jung Soo- yeon, and Lee Jang-bok rescued an elderly man trapped between asphalt slabs and submerged in water, working for over 20 minutes in dangerous conditions. Moon Jong-jun saved three women in their 80s by navigating floodwaters and carrying them to safety.
Firefighters Choi Won-il and Lee Kang-jun braved waist-deep currents to free a woman trapped in her car and continued rescue operations until dawn. The city plans to continue its Righteous Citizen commendation program to promote a culture of community safety and courage in disaster situations.
Rulings Finalized in Hak-dong Building Collapse
The Supreme Court has finalized prison sentences for those responsible for the 2021 collapse of a building being demolished in Gwangju’s Hak- dong area, which left 17 people dead or injured, concluding criminal proceedings more than four years after the tragedy.
The court upheld prison terms of two years and six months for Baeksol Construction’s CEO, two years for a subcontractor’s site manager, and a suspended one-year-and-six-month sentence for the demolition supervisor.
The first and second trial courts found that the main causes of the tragedy were not dismantling the upper floors first as planned, not installing supports throughout the building and below, neglecting safety reviews, and failing to relocate the bus stop.
Jeollanam-do to Operate “Safe Hospitals for Foreigners”
For the first time in the nation, Jeollanam-do has launched the operation of Safe Hospitals for Foreigners (외국인 안심병원). Designated hospitals will offer a 30 percent reduction in medical fees for uninsured foreigners, easing their financial burden for treatment.
The program is open to foreigners with short stays, such as seasonal workers, as well as those unable to visit medical institutions due to visa expiration. The hospitals offer treatment costs comparable to national health insurance rates and provide phone-based language interpretation services including Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Cambodian, Nepali, Indonesian, Thai, Uzbek, Sri Lankan, and Filipino. Jeollanam-do has designated 71 hospitals in the province as “Safe Hospitals for Foreigners” and plans to gradually
Chinese Tour Groups Gain Visa-Free Entry
South Korea will temporarily begin offering visa waivers for Chinese visitors starting in September. Group tours from China will be allowed visa-free entry from September 29 to June 30 next year to boost domestic demand and revitalize the local economy, as the post-pandemic resurgence of international visitors continues. China has extended visa-free entry to South Korean nationals since November of last year.
In addition, the government said it plans to expand the scope of preferential screening and simplify immigration inspection procedures, or so-called fast-track benefits, for foreign visitors participating in international conferences.
The St. Thomas Choir Comes to Gwangju
The German St. Thomas Choir, once conducted by the “Father of Music,” Bach, will hold a concert on September 11 at Gwangju Culture and Arts Center. The St. Thomas Choir is a boys’ choir from the city of Leipzig, Germany, which signed a friendship and cooperation agreement with Gwangju Metropolitan City in 2012. The choir was founded in 1212 and is a representative choir in Germany with a history of over 800 years.
The choir’s primary repertoire encompasses choral music from all eras, from Bach to Gregorian chant and contemporary music. They perform weekly worship music at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, attracting an audience of over 2,500.
For more information, see Upcoming Events (this issue) or contact 062-613-8235.
Gwangju Hosts 2025 World Archery Championships
Gwangju Metropolitan City will host the 2025 World Archery Championships this September. Archers from around the world will come together to compete and build friendship under the slogan “The Echo of Peace.” This marks the first time in 16 years that the World Archery Championships will be held in South Korea. In 2009 the archery championships were held in Ulsan.
The championships consist of the Hyundai World Archery Championships (September 5–12) and the World Archery Para Championships (September 22–28). Hosting both events at the same venue marks only the third time that this has happened in the history of the championships and the first time in Korea.
Approximately 900 athletes from 90 countries are expected to compete in the archery championships. The preliminary and main rounds will be held at the Gwangju International Archery Center, and the finals will be held at the May 18 Democracy Square in front of the Asia Culture Center.
Compiled by Charlene Lee.
Charlene Lee is the founder of Charlene English Institute. Having lived in many different countries, she loves to explore and experience diverse cultures. She hopes to contribute to making Gwangju a more vibrant city.