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Gwangmyeong

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Overview

Gwangmyeong (광명,光明) is in Gyeonggi province in South Korea, a satellite city designed to decentralize Seoul's residential functions. It borders Seoul's Geumcheon-gu on the east, Seoul's Guro-gu on the north, Siheung-si a

Facts

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia1,671 words

WBP editorial3

Beyond the megastore corridor

While Gwangmyeong’s retail megastructures dominate the skyline, the city’s quieter districts offer a glimpse of everyday Korean suburban life. Venture into the historic Jeongok‑dong village, where narrow alleys still host traditional markets selling seasonal produce harvested from nearby farms. Here, you can taste home‑made kimchi still fermenting in earthen jars, a practice largely eclipsed by the city’s corporate image. The adjacent Gwangmyeong Art Center quietly stages community‑led exhibitions that showcase local artisans, offering a counterpoint to the global brands nearby. These pockets of authenticity are best explored on foot or by bike, allowing you to hear the rhythm of daily commuter traffic mingling with the distant hum of Seoul’s subway system.

Transit‑linked day trips

Gwangmyeong’s position bordering Seoul makes it a strategic launchpad for short excursions that avoid the capital’s tourist crowds. A 10‑minute ride on Line 7 brings you to the historic Hwagyesa Temple in the foothills, where low‑key meditation sessions are open to visitors. From there, a short bus ride leads to the Anyang Art Park, a reclaimed industrial site now dotted with large‑scale installations and walking trails that wind along the Anyang River. The city’s own metro station, Gwangmyeong KTX, provides a swift link to Busan for a weekend coastal escape, meaning you can enjoy both inland serenity and seashore breezes without the typical travel fatigue.

Local flavour of urban renewal

Gwangmyeong has become a case study in how Korean municipalities retool former manufacturing zones into mixed‑use districts. The former Gwangmyeong Steelworks area, now known as the Gwangmyeong Digital Complex, houses start‑ups focused on robotics and AI, with co‑working spaces that welcome foreign innovators. Street art murals along the complex’s perimeter reflect a community narrative that balances industrial heritage with high‑tech aspirations. Visiting the area during an evening market showcases street food stalls serving tteokbokki infused with locally sourced gochujang, illustrating how the city blends its manufacturing past with a forward‑looking culinary scene. This evolution offers travelers a nuanced view of Korea’s rapid urban transformation.

Introduction

City in Gyeonggi, South Korea "Kwangmyong" redirects here. For the North Korean intranet, see Kwangmyong (network). Municipal City in Gyeonggi Province, South KoreaGwangmyeong 광명시Municipal CityKorean transcription(s) • Hangul광명시 • Hanja光明市 • Revised RomanizationGwangmyeong-si • McCune–ReischauerKwangmyŏng-siDeokan-ro, Gwangmyeong FlagHistorical SymbolLocation in South KoreaCoordinates: 37°28′34″N 126°51′58″E / 37.476°N 126.866°E / 37.476; 126.866Country South KoreaRegionGyeonggi Province (Sudogwon)Administrative divisions18 villagesGovernment • mayorPark Seung-won (박승원)Area • Total38.5 km2 (14.9 sq mi)Population (September 2024) • Total277,564 • Density7,210/km2 (18,700/sq mi) • DialectSeoul Gwangmyeong (Korean: 광명시; Korean pronunciation: [ˈkwaŋ.mjʌŋ]) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It borders Seoul to the east, north and northeast, Anyang to the southeast, Siheung to the southwest, and Bucheon to the northwest. It is home to one of the world's largest IKEA stores at 59,000 square meters (640,000 square feet), along with a large Costco store and a Lotte Premium Outlet.

History

[edit] Gwangmyeong area was part of the old (or original) Siheung County as with Yeongdeungpo, Guro, and Geumcheon areas. It belonged to West (서면, seo-myeon) and South townships (남면, nam-myeon) of original Siheung County. In 1914, the two townships were merged into West township of "expanded" Siheung County.[citation needed] In 1963, the northern part of Gwangmyeong (at that time, the northern part of West Township in Siheung County) area was merged into an expanded Seoul (i.e. districts for urban planning in Seoul. 서울시 도시계획구역 seo-ul-si do-si-gae-hoeg-gu-yeog) as with Gwacheon (at that time Gwacheon was a township in Siheung County) and Sindo township of Goyang County (now parts of the city Goyang, which borders Seoul). The neighbourhood of Gwangmyeong (Gwangmyeong-dong) and Cheolsan (Cheolsan-dong) were developed as a residence zone next to Seoul and it was provisionally planned to be administratively merged with Seoul. In 1974, Gwangmyeong-ri and Cheolsan-ri became a part of the county branch of Gwangmyeong (광명출장소 gwang-myeong-chul-jang-so) and in 1979 southern part of Gwangmyeong area became Soha town (소하읍 so-ha-eub). In 1981, the annexation to Seoul foundered as Seoul's unexpected rapid growth greatly concerned government officials. Consequently, the county branch of Gwangmyeong and Soha town merged and formed a new city of Gwangmyeong, instead of being annexed to Guro District, Seoul. In the 1980s and the early 1990s, many apartment complexes were built in Cheolsan-dong and Haan-dong. The population increased up to 300,000. [citation needed] In 1995, the Seoul-Gwangmyeong boundary was readjusted, in which a tiny part of Cheolsan-dong was merged into the newly created Geumcheon District, Seoul. In 2004, Gwangmyeong Station was open, and in 2010, apartment complexes in Soha-dong were built up.

Districts

[edit] Gwangmyeong City Hall There are 18 administrative districts (dong in Korean language) in Gwangmyeong. Specifically, these are: Gwangmyeong Dong (from 1-7; Gwangmyeong 6-dong is also known as Okgil dong), Cheolsan Dong (4 dongs), Ha-an Dong (4 dongs), Soha Dong (2 dongs; The southern part of Soha 2-dong is also known as Iljik dong), and Hak-on dong (Gahak-dong and No-onsa dong). In 1995, a tiny section of Gwangmyeong was ceded to Seoul's newly created Geumcheon District.

Disputes on municipal annexation to Seoul

[edit] Iljik dong Due to its history of being part of the urban planning districts of Seoul until December 1982, the living sphere of Gwangmyeong is similar to Seoul's Yeongdeungpo (서울 영등포 생활권 seo-ul yeong-deung-po saeng-hwal-kwon) rather than 'Western Gyeonggi's living sphere' (경기 서부 생활권 gyeong-gi seo-bu-saeng-hwal-kwon) such as Bucheon and Anyang. The sewage system is linked to Seoul, though the nearest sewage treatment plant is located on the boundary between Gwangmyeong and Anyang, and the city heavily relies on Seoul's telephone and transport systems (local dial code. The phone area code for Gwangmyeong is Seoul's 02 and many Seoul buses and taxis are in business in that city); advertisements of firms in Yeongdeungpo area can be easily seen in the city. Gwangmyeong not belonging to Seoul, Gwangmyeong residents have to go to a district court office and a reserve soldier's drill camp (of the 51st Infantry Division, Capital Corps) in 'farther' Ansan other than a district court in nearby Sinjeong-dong and a reserve soldier's drill camp (of the 52nd Infantry Division, CDC) in Anyang. Proponents of the incorporation in Seoul argue that by annexing the city into capital Seoul, in which Gwangmyeong City of Gyeonggi Province becomes Gwangmyeong District of Seoul, the discord between a life zone and administrative districts, in terms of metropolitan governance, can be resolved. They also insist that by the annexation, residents in Gwangmyeong can benefit from metropolitan services and governance of Seoul Metropolitan City, especially in public transport. Congressman and former mayor of Gwangmyeong Baek Jae-hyeon presented a special bill for "municipal annexation to Seoul for Gwangmyeong" on the floor in September 2009, though his attempt turned out in vain at last. Opponents insist that the annexation would tarnish municipal autonomy in Gwangmyeong and it would also worsen balanced development of non-capital areas on the national level. The central government once proposed that Gwangmyeong be merged with Bucheon other than being annexed to Seoul.

Education

[edit] There are nine high schools, ten middle schools, and 21 elementary schools in Gwangmyeong. Prior to 2013, middle school students who wished to go to high school had to take the entrance exam. Gwangmyeong-buk High School and Jinseong High School are traditionally well known for higher standards of students' academic ability. Libraries[edit] Gwangmyeong Central Library (광명 중앙도서관 gwang-myeong-jung-ahng-do-seo-gwan) Cheolsan Library (철산 도서관 cheol-san-do-seo-gwan) HaAn Library (하안 도서관 ha-an-do-seo-gwan) Chunghyeon Library (충현 도서관 chung-hyeon-do-seo-gwan) Soha Library (소하도서관 so-ha-do-seo-gwan) Cheolsandong Library (철산동 연서 도서관 cheol-san-dong-yeon-seo-do-seo-gwan) Completed in June 2020

Residential areas

[edit] A landscape lined with large apartment complexes in Gwangmyeong Since Gwangmyeong is a commuter town bordering Seoul, it's mostly a residential area. The northwestern part of Gwangmyeong, namely Gwangmyeong-dong, is mostly composed of low-storeyed detached houses, while the eastern part, namely Cheolsan-dong and Haan-dong, consists of high-storeyed apartment complexes. Throughout the late 2000s, old public low-storeyed apartment complexes (저층 주공아파트 jeo-cheng ju-gong-ah-pa-teu) in Cheolsan-dong were rebuilt into private high-storeyed apartment complexes (고층 민간아파트 go-cheng min-gan-ah-pa-teu). In 2010, some parts of Soha-dong was developed to newly built public apartment complexes.

Shopping

[edit] One of the world's largest IKEA stores located near the KTX Gwangmyeong Station in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, South Korea. Gwangmyeong is home to one of the world's largest IKEA stores, with the second largest store located in Goyang, and a large Lotte Premium Outlet that is connected to the IKEA. The city is also home to a large Costco warehouse which also serves as the headquarters of Costco Korea. A large Korean-style traditional market, Gwangmyeong Market, is located in the Gwangmyeong crossroads with Gwangmyeongsageori Station. Modern shopping malls are in Cheolsan Station, Haan crossroads, and Soha-dong (E-mart and Costco). Gwangmyeong residents can also use shopping malls (Lotte Mart and Homeplus) in nearby Guro District and Geumcheon District. Clothes outlets are located in nearby Gasan-dong in Seoul.

Medical services

[edit] A local general hospital, Gwangmyeong Sungae Hospital is in Cheolsan-dong and it is recently affiliated with Medical School of Kwandong University. There are two university hospitals. One is Korea University Medical Center at Guro (구로고대병원 gu-ro-go-dae-byeong-weon) that is located in nearby Guro-dong, Seoul and other one is Chung-ang University Hospital at Gwangmyeong (중앙대학교광명병원 joong-ahng-dae-hak-gyo-gwang-myeong-byeong-weon) that is located near Gwangmyeong station A public medical centre is in southernmost Haan-dong. Many private clinics are located along with business areas in the city.

Climate

[edit] Gwangmyeong has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dwa), but can be considered a borderline humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa) using the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm. Climate data for Gwangmyeong (2004–2020 normals) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.5(36.5) 5.6(42.1) 11.3(52.3) 17.8(64.0) 24.0(75.2) 28.0(82.4) 29.4(84.9) 31.0(87.8) 26.8(80.2) 20.7(69.3) 12.5(54.5) 4.3(39.7) 17.8(64.0) Daily mean °C (°F) −1.1(30.0) 1.6(34.9) 6.7(44.1) 12.8(55.0) 18.7(65.7) 23.2(73.8) 25.6(78.1) 27.0(80.6) 22.6(72.7) 16.3(61.3) 8.8(47.8) 0.8(33.4) 13.6(56.5) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.3(24.3) −2.0(28.4) 2.8(37.0) 8.6(47.5) 14.4(57.9) 19.3(66.7) 22.8(73.0) 24.1(75.4) 19.2(66.6) 12.6(54.7) 5.2(41.4) −2.5(27.5) 10.0(50.0) Average precipitation mm (inches) 11.5(0.45) 26.2(1.03) 38.3(1.51) 64.2(2.53) 96.6(3.80) 126.4(4.98) 412.8(16.25) 231.0(9.09) 153.8(6.06) 47.9(1.89) 58.4(2.30) 21.7(0.85) 1,288.8(50.74) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 3.0 3.6 5.5 7.6 7.3 8.2 14.6 11.2 7.6 4.6 7.0 5.2 85.4 Source: Korea Meteorological Administration

Transportation

[edit] This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Gwangmyeong skyline with Gwangmyeon Station visible between the buildings Railroads[edit] Korail Seoul Subway Line 1 Doksan Station Gwangmyeong Shuttle (Geumcheon-gu, Seoul) ← Gwangmyeong KTX (Seoul) ← Gwangmyeong → (Southern Gyeonggi Province) SMRT Seoul Subway Line 7 (Gasan Digital Complex) ← Cheolsan — Gwangmyeongsageori → (Cheonwang) Buses[edit] Hwayeong Bus Corporation: a local bus firm in Gwangmyeong Many Seoul buses are in business in Gwangmyeong, as their garages are located in that city. Taxis[edit] As of 1999 (provisional)/2004 (permanent), Gwangmyeong's taxi business district was consolidated to Guro and Geumcheon, Seoul. The taxi fare is the same as that of Seoul taxis.

Attractions

[edit] The tombs of Yi Sun-sin (not to be confused with the more famous admiral of the same name) and Lee Won-ik are in the city, just north of Gwangmyeong Station. Lee Won Ik's cultural relics are also on display near the site. The city is also home to the Gwangmyeong Velodrome, the largest domed structure in South Korea. Gwangmyeong Cave, a former mine, now tourist attraction, is located near Gwangmyeong station.

Industry

[edit] The city, though small, hosts many firms. In total, there are 630 companies employing 11,636 people. The city was officially planned to promote small businesses. Such workers can take merits of getting fee for rent, land and even revenue for investment. Kia Motors Sohari Plant[edit] In 1973, Kia Motors located its Sohari Plant in Soha-dong, Gwangmyeong, becoming the country's first integrated automobile assembly plant. As Kia's car factory nearest to Seoul, it has convenient access to labor and other resources and can conveniently provide completed goods to the Seoul metropolitan area.