Meet the World in Gwangju
– Gwangju International Community Week–
By Lee Hwadahm
We are only one month away from one of the biggest events organized by the Gwangju International Center (GIC). This year’s Gwangju International Community Week (GIC Week) will be held over two days: October 5–6. It will be held in the area in front of the Asia Cultural Center (ACC), coinciding with the Chungjang Street Festival of Recollection. GIC Week will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. both days. The two events overlap in the hope that more people will have the opportunity to join in and enjoy the event fully.
Global Culture & Community Village
The event will feature booths where visitors can experience various world foods and cultures. It will operate also community booths of community groups composed of domestic residents and foreigners currently active in Gwangju and booths of support organizations for foreigners. If you wish to manage a booth related to global food and cultural experiences, you can apply on the GIC website. The communities selection by the GIC will be made through screenings. In addition, various events such as photo zones and cultural experiences from each country will be held. You can enjoy world cultural experiences in new and diverse forms.
Green Event
GIC Week is a green event – an eco-friendly event that does not use disposable products and aims to practice sustainable development goals (SDG). Instead, reusable containers will be provided during the event. A small act like this can help protect the environment. Join the eco-friendly event and protect the environment.
Sister Cities
This year’s GIC Week is also special because this event will be attended by Gwangju’s sister-cities, Gwangju public diplomacy teams. Gwangju’s sister cities, Samarkand in Uzbekistan, and Medan in Indonesia, have been invited. Gwangju public diplomacy teams from seven countries will also visit. This can be expected to revitalize international exchanges in Gwangju through the expansion of Gwangju’s network.
As the various events are being held, the Geumnam Street area will be closed to traffic. We recommend that you use public transportation rather than private cars. We hope you can meet the world in Gwangju with your family and friends in the coolness of early October.
The Author
Lee Hwadahm has been working at the Gwangju International Center since March 2024. Her duties include the Gwangju News, global community support, and consultation at the GIC.