E2024-G046

Daein Market: Where Art and Culture Light Up Gwangju Nights

Narrative

Daein Market, located on Jebong-ro Road in Gwangju, has transformed into a space where art and culture blend together through the Daein Art Night Market, which began in 2009. Held every Saturday night, this night market has become a venue where local artists, merchants, and visitors come together to enjoy performances, exhibitions, and food. Inside the market, the Star Garden of Imagination hosts art experience programs such as “Mandeullangga” (literally meaning, “Shall we make it?”), while nearby Hanpyeong Gallery presents small-scale exhibitions. Through such activities, Daein Market was selected for the Korea Tourism Awards, an honor presented by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Since 2023, it has been rebranded as the Namdo Moonlight Night Market, a space where visitors can enjoy the flavors and culture of Korea’s southern provinces after dark. As the largest night market in Gwangju, it is the only night market in the country to be selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s “Local 100,” recognizing it as a leading regional cultural content.