Chapter 5: Detailing the Doors, Windows, and Gates of Gwangju’s Mass-Produced Hanok

Influences from China, Japan, and Western culture made a lot of distinctive hanok in Gwangju and Jeonnam during the modern period. In addition, those designs survived through the 1960–70s after being selected and simplified by developers and became a standard for city hanok in Gwangju. There are two main types of 1960–70s hanok: “round type” and “square type.” Round-type models have an especially distinctive style compared to other regions, and we can say these were one of the last evolutions of hanok as normal houses in Korea.

The Stolen Bride

A strange tale, this.

The Great Leap Backward: A Look Inside the Old Gwangju Prison

“What they were also surprisingly keen on was decorating, as many rooms had unique wallpaper not seen in other cells.”

Barbershop of Horrors

As a foreigner/expat/immigrant here in Korea, there is perhaps a no more terrifying experience than getting your hair cut.

Wooden Talisman Maker in Gwangju

When asked where he got his training and inspiration from, he simply said “spirits.”

Mass-Producing Hanok Housing: Chapter 1. The Background of the Hanok in Gwangju

Even among residents of Gwangju, most don’t know the fact that this city had actually been one of the biggest hanok cities in Korea. It’s estimated that in the 1980s, there were more than 100,000 hanok in Gwangju.

Gwangju in History

From the time of the Japanese invasions in the Imjin War (1592–1598) to the May 18 Democratic Movement (1980), Gwangju has taken pride in being a “righteous” city (Uihyang), growing as a city internationally renowned for its commitment to human rights.