BTS Road to Gwangju

Gwangju

Penguin Village

Gwangju is the hometown of J-hope from BTS. J-hope mentions Gwangju in many of his songs, and often visits the city, expressing his love for Gwangju. Let's explore various places in the city, such as the Gwangju Chungjang-ro KPOP STAR Street, where J-hope personally stopped by and left a photo on his social media, and J-hope's murals at Cheongchun (Youth) Balsan Village and Penguin Village.

Cheongchun (Youth) Balsan Village

A 15-meter-long mural of J-hope

As you step in this village, you will be greeted by 108 colorful steps. At the bottom of the stairs is the mural village, and at the top there is a J-hope mural and an observatory. This was a lively neighborhood where employees of a textile factory lived in the past. With the decline of the textile industry, the number of empty houses increased and the neighborhood deteriorated, but in 2015, it was reborn as a cultural experience village through urban regeneration. You can find J-hope's 15-meter-long mural which was created in 2021 by the Chinese fan club to celebrate J-hope's birthday.  
After viewing his mural, climb up to the observatory to look down upon the charming village and the city far away.

Gwangju Chungjang-ro KPOP STAR Street

A bench decorated with the theme of a BTS song

This street was created to commemorate the K-pop stars who come from Gwangju such as J-hope of BTS, Yoon of STAYC, and Hyungwon and I.M of MONSTA X. Within the street, there are murals depicting singers' album jackets, benches decorated with song titles, handprints, and sculptures. After J-hope personally stopped by the bench decorated with the theme of a BTS song and posted a photo on his social media, it became a must-visit place for fans. It is one of the essential courses that “ARMY” cannot miss as he left a message of appreciation and impressions of visiting this place. You can see the Hope World sculpture as well as the murals that depict the scene from the music video of J-hope’s solo song Daydream and the album cover of Chicken Noodle Soup.

Penguin Village

Feeling the atmosphere of the old alley

Starting in the 1970s and 1980s, four to five elderly people who lived in the neighborhood started to decorate their village with scrap metal works, turning it into the craft street it is today. The name “Penguin Village” was given after the waddling gait of the elderly in the neighborhood. There are two murals of J-hope, whose hometown is Gwangju, which are the only murals in the village that depict a specific person. It was made with the support of Chinese fans in commemoration of his birthday in 2020. As there is a mural near the village cooperative cafe, buying a penguin bread at the cafe after viewing the mural is popular.