S2024-G032
The Roads of Gwangju: Stories Told by Bus Routes
Narrative
Gwangju’s bus routes are more than a means of transportation. Each route traces a distinct layer of the city’s landscape, carrying memories of nature, daily life, and democratic history through ordinary streets. Together, the numbers and paths of four bus routes embody key moments and meanings embedded in Gwangju’s urban fabric.
Bus 1187 takes its number from the elevation of Cheonwangbong Peak on Mudeungsan Mountain. The route links the dense urban center of Gwangju to the forested slopes of the mountain, continuing all the way to Wonhyosa Temple. Along the way, everyday travel gradually transforms into a journey from city life to nature.
Bus 228 is named after the February 28 Democratic Movement in Daegu. Reflecting the Dalbit Alliance between Gwangju and Daegu, the route runs through residential neighborhoods and traditional markets before extending toward Hwasun-gun County, quietly recalling the memory of democratic solidarity within daily urban spaces.
Bus 419 was numbered in commemoration of the spirit of the April 19 Revolution of 1960. Centered on schools, memorial sites, and cultural institutions, the route traces paths of education, culture, and everyday life, revealing how the ideals of democracy took root in Gwangju’s urban landscape.
Bus 518 forms a living map of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Connecting Geumnam-ro Road, memorial sites, universities, and major transit hubs, the route functions as a city-scale journey through places where the history of democracy unfolded and continues to be remembered today.
Story Map
