Special City News – October 2026

The Yeosu-Suncheon 10.19 Incident Remembered

A joint memorial ceremony for the 78th anniversary of the Yeosu-Suncheon 10.19 Incident will be held in Suncheon on October 19. In September, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City met with bereaved families and advisory committee members to discuss the ceremony’s direction and program. Participants called for an event that honors victims and bereaved families while helping people across regions and generations remember the incident.

The incident began on October 19, 1948, when some members of the 14th Regiment stationed in Yeosu refused orders to suppress the Jeju (April 3) uprising. Armed conflict and suppression operations continued in parts of South Jeolla, North Jeolla, and South Gyeongsang Provinces until 1955, resulting in many civilian casualties.

The city announced that it had completed fact-finding investigations into 2,419 unresolved reported cases by August. It plans to identify unreported victims and bereaved families by comparing reports with official records, examining family-register documents, and conducting field inquiries. The total number of victims is estimated at 25,000 to 30,000, while about 6,850 people have been identified through official reports. Exhibitions, photography displays, and academic programs are also planned around the ceremony.

Gwangju Chungjang Festival Connects Generations Through “Songs of Memory”

he 23rd Gwangju Chungjang Street Festival will take place from October 7 to 11 along Geumnam, Chungjang, and Art Streets, and the May 18 Democracy Square area. This year’s theme, “Songs of Memory,” focuses on music that recalls personal memories and emotions while connecting generations, local communities, and visitors from different countries.

The opening show on October 7, titled “Songs Awaken Memories,” will feature five sections of music and performances from different periods. October 8, designated as Intergenerational Empathy Day, will include the Chungjang Children’s Festival, the youth dance competition “March of Youth,” and the nighttime program “Chungjang Bright Night.”

October 9 will be Asian Culture Day, followed by March Days I and II on October 10 and 11. The festival’s signature parade will be expanded to four performances over three days. Citizen-participation performances and parades featuring global, Korean, and local cultures will take place throughout the old downtown area.

Launched in 2004 to revitalize central Gwangju, the Chungjang Festival has developed into one of the city’s major urban arts and culture events. This year’s program invites residents and visitors to share musical memories and create new ones in the streets of the Chungjang area.

Gwangju Libraries Offer Autumn Reading Programs

Libraries across Gwangju are offering reading and cultural programs during September, Korea’s Reading Month, and the autumn cultural season. From September through October, Gwangju Library is organizing the “Library, People, and Books” program with Songjeong Dagachi Culture Library,   Chaekjeongwon Library, Gwangju Student Education and Culture Center, and Jungheung Library. The program includes author talks, book discussions, family activities, and performances.

Songjeong Dagachi Culture Library will host writer Kang Won-guk for a lecture on writing. Chaekjeongwon Library will present “One Family, One Book,” featuring a family lecture, a book talk, and a bubble performance. At Gwangju Student Education and Culture Center, author Jeong Seung-ik will discuss ways to make learning enjoyable. Jungheung Library will host author Lee Eun-kyung for a lecture on preparing children for the future in the age of artificial intelligence.

Public libraries in Buk-gu are also operating second-half reading programs for elementary school students and adults. Activities include picturebook reading, book-art workshops, English picturebook sessions, board games, and science experiences. Some activities will continue regularly through October. Detailed schedules and registration information are available on the websites of participating libraries.

Jangseong Leafy Greens Reach Gwangju Tables

Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City selected pesticide-free leafy vegetables grown by the family of farmer Lee Hyeok-jae in Jangseong County as September’s eco-friendly agricultural product. The family has practiced eco-friendly farming for three generations on about 21,400 square meters of farmland. The farm grows lettuce, perilla leaves, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, water parsley, and other crops.

Lee’s farm produces approximately 40 to 50 tons of eco-friendly produce annually. Its products are supplied to public school-meal centers, food-service companies, local food stores, and individual consumers. To reduce heat damage, the farm uses shade screens and roof vents in its greenhouses. It also manages the soil with beneficial microorganisms, certified eco-friendly compost, and natural nutrients.

Jangseong County opened the Jangseong Local Food Sangmu Direct Store in Ssangchon-dong, Seo-gu in August. The store sells fresh produce, processed foods, livestock products, and prepared side dishes. The existing Cheomdan Direct Store, which opened in 2022, has supply agreements with more than 1,800 farms.

Samgye Agricultural Cooperative was also selected for the 2027 eco-friendly agriculture production-and-distribution infrastructure project, securing 500 million won. It plans to establish an advanced seedling production system and link it with a local food wholesale outlet scheduled to open next year.

From the Gwangju Biennale to the Yeosu World Island Expo

The 16th Gwangju Biennale and the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo opened on September 5, offering linked cultural and tourism programs across Jeonnam-Gwangju. The Gwangju Biennale, themed “You Must Change Your Life,” continues through November 15, while Yeosu World Island Expo, themed “Connecting Islands, the Ocean, and the Future,” runs through November 4 in the Dolsan Jinnam area, at the Yeosu Expo site, and on Gaedo and Geumodo.

Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City is linking the two events through transportation, accommodation, and tourism programs, with a target of attracting three million visitors. The Pavilion Shuttle Bus operates through November 14, connecting Biennale venues, the Asian Culture Center, and Yangnim-dong. Biennale ticket holders may use the service without a daily ride limit.

A special Namdo Tour Bus route will operate 12 times throughout September and October, connecting the two events with nearby tourist sites. Guided art walking tours in Yangnim-dong are offered on Fridays and Saturdays through November 14. The city also plans one-night, two-day tour packages, accommodation discounts, and regional tourism products during October’s Honam Tourism and Culture Week.

Learning, Working, and Staying in Jeonnam-Gwangju

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City’s Office of Education plans to introduce the Jeonnam-Gwangju Regional Joint Academic Assessment for third-year high school students in September 2027. The assessment will combine Jeonnam’s J-FINAL College Scholastic Ability Test mock examination and Gwangju’s Final Completion Mock Assessment. It will cover Korean language, mathematics, English, Korean history, social studies, and science, using an operating system similar to the National Academic Achievement Assessment.

The Office of Education plans to establish an integrated test-development headquarters, use a residential system for preparing and reviewing questions, and introduce computerized scoring. Students will receive individual score-analysis reports and learning-diagnostic materials, while schools will be provided with data on item-response rates, correct-answer rates, and achievement levels. The assessment is scheduled to expand to first- and second-year students in 2028, with a goal of becoming a supervising education office for the National Academic Achievement Assessment in 2029.

In 2026, Suncheon Future Science High School, Mokpo Girls’ Commercial High School, and Suncheon Hyosan High School were selected as Jeonnam Glotech Schools. Their programs will focus on semiconductors; artificial intelligence and future services; and the food, dessert, and digital-content businesses. Each school is expected to receive 500 million won in start-up funding and financial support for up to six years.

Autumn of the Special City: What May Change for Residents?

Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City was launched on July 1 this year through the administrative integration of Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeonnam Province. Before its launch, the central government approved 30 enactments and revisions of enforcement decrees related to the Special Act. The decrees establish operating standards for special provisions in administration, education, urban development, and industrial promotion. They also allow the city to adjust its organizational structure within one percent of its standard personnel budget during its first four years.

Transportation reform is a central policy area. The city is considering the “10-30-60 Transportation Transformation” plan, which aims to provide access to public transport within 10 minutes of any city location, essential services such as health care, education, and cultural facilities within 30 minutes, and connections between major Gwangju and Jeonnam hubs within about 60 minutes. The plan includes linking bus, rail, road, transfer, and fare systems through an integrated mobility platform.

On September 7, the city submitted its first supplementary budget proposal of 22.6962 trillion won. It includes funding for critical-patient transfers, regional medical institutions, essential medical services, Gwangju Metro Line 2, city bus operations, and public transport fare-refund support.

Cover Photo: Paying respects to victims of the Yeosu-Suncheon 10.19 Incident. (Gurye County)