Gwangmyeong, City in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Gwangmyeong is a city in Gyeonggi Province directly adjacent to Seoul, with 18 districts containing residential areas, shops, and schools. The city is connected by Gwangmyeong Station, a major transport hub with train links and bus stops reaching Seoul and beyond.
Gwangmyeong emerged from parts of historic Siheung County and developed rapidly from the late 1900s onward, with many new residential buildings constructed especially in the Cheolsan and Haan districts. The city is also home to Gwangmyeong Cave, a former mineral mine from 1912 that later served as a warehouse and has now been transformed into a cultural space.
The name Gwangmyeong means bright and radiant in Korean, reflecting hopes tied to the city's development. Today visitors can experience this cultural meaning in the lively neighborhoods and at Gwangmyeong Sageori, a busy marketplace where locals gather and shop.
The best time to explore is during pleasant weather, as the city is well served by buses and trains with most attractions easily reached from Gwangmyeong Station. Access to museums and other sites is straightforward, as good infrastructure exists and many areas are open to visitors.
Gwangmyeong Cave is particularly notable because it has transformed a former mineral mine into an art exhibition space where contemporary artworks are displayed within historic tunnels. This conversion shows how the city has turned old industrial sites into new cultural venues that draw visitors from around the world.
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