There are many excellent hotel options for visitors to Gwangju! We've scouted out a few possibilities in various price ranges below, but feel free to use your favorite booking site to identify suitable accommodations! Make sure you search for "Gwangju Metropolitan City" (there's another, smaller city called Gwangju in a different province in Korea). The conference venue, Gwangju National University of Education, is in Buk-gu, and Dong-gu (including the Chungjang-ro downtown area) is close by, as well, but don't be afraid to try other areas that seem interesting to you; taxis and buses are abundant and reasonably priced in Gwangju.
Nearby landmarks to guide your search include Gwangju Station, Donggang University, Chonnam National University, Chosun University, and the city center. If all else fails, Korea's famous "love motels" can be found everywhere (including near Gwangju Station and GNUE) and are generally inexpensive, basic, safe options for last-minute stays.
October is a busy month in Korea; reserve your accommodations early!
Hotels in the City Center (Chungjang-ro)
The city center, often called "Chungjang-ro" and located in Dong-gu, is a great place to stay if you want to maximize your Gwangju experience. There are a plethora of shops, restaurants, historic sites, noraebangs (karaoke rooms), and museums/exhibitions (including the amazing Asian Culture Center complex) in this area, and it's a nice walk (~30-35 minutes) to the GNUE campus. Taxis between the city center and GNUE cost about 7,000 KRW; buses are 1,400 KRW if you pay cash.
**Currently, we do plan to provide limited shuttle service on Saturday morning and Saturday evening between the downtown area and the university. If enough participants are staying at Hotel River or near Gwangju Station, we'll add those stops to the shuttle loop. The shuttle is not available on Sunday.**
Culture Hotel Laam (컬쳐호텔 람)
3-star hotel across from the ACC and a short walk to the trendy neighborhood of Dongmyeong-dong as well as the downtown area; very nice open-air patio on the roof, perfect for post-conference socializing under the stars!
* Trustful Twin (2 twin beds): 126,000 KRW / night (if booked through KOTESOL; 2 available)
* Trustful Double (1 double bed): 126,000 KRW / night (if booked through KOTESOL; 7 available)
** Book through KOTESOL for the discounted price; email membership@koreatesol.org. Limited quantity available.
ACC Design Hotel
3-star hotel located in the heart of the downtown area, down a slightly less-busy street on the northern edge of Chungjang-ro.
* Standard Double (1 double bed): 100,000 KRW on Friday, 110,000 KRW on Saturday
* Standard Twin (2 beds: 1 double, 1 twin): 110,000 KRW on Friday, 120,000 KRW on Saturday
Guest 145
A KOTESOL member recently stayed here and reports it is a basic but clean and conventient option with an elevator; room options include "a large room that can accommodate 3 or 4 people, a medium room, and a tiny room." The attached cafe opens around 9 a.m. The member reports prices range from 40,000 KRW-50,000 KRW/night.
Hotels Closer to GNUE
Hotel River
Hotel River is a less-expensive option just outside the downtown, on a quieter block in the trendy Dongmyeong-dong neighborhood. The staff don't speak much English but are happy to use a translator app. Hotel River is a straight-shot to GNUE down a major street; you can easily reach it via a 20-minute bus ride; a 10-minute taxi ride (~5,500 KRW); or a ~25-minute walk along the "green way," a lovely bike/pedestrian path that connects GNUE and this hotel.
* Standard double (1 double bed): 45,000 KRW on weeknights (Sun.~Thurs.); 55,000 KRW on Friday; 70,000 KRW on Saturday
* "Special" room (either 2 double beds or 1 twin + 1 double bed; only a few available): 65,000 KRW on weeknights (Sun.~Thurs.); 75,000 KRW on Friday; 90,000 KRW on Saturday
** KOTESOL can facilitate this booking; email membership@koreatesol.org by September 5.
Like Hotel
(a.k.a. Gwangju Gyerim-dong Like Hotel)
This hotel is a ~10-minute walk from GNUE.
* Double (1 double bed): 70,000 KRW
Brown Dot Hotel Sinan
This hotel is right next to Gwangju Station, 2.7 km from GNUE (~35 minutes on foot, 25 minutes by bus, or a 14-minute taxi ride [~7,000 KRW]). We didn't check out this hotel, but it's part of a chain and seems to get good reviews. The walk to GNUE can be partly along the "green way" bike/pedestrian path.
(Note: Gwangju Station is not the train station you'll be arriving at if you take the KTX here from Seoul; KTX trains use Gwangju Songjeong Station, all the way across town.)
Gwangju Sinandong Zeus Motel
The Zeus (제우스) Motel is also near Gwangju Station. One KOTESOL member who stayed there described it as "fairly basic with a bedroom and shower room," with many good reviews online.
Farther Away
Pedro's House
If you're on a very tight budget, the dormitory-style rooms at Pedro's House might be worth a look! We haven't stayed here, but it has a good reputation among the foreign community in Gwangju. 4-bed dorm rooms with shared bathrooms are available. Note: It's a ~45-minute bus ride from GNUE (1,400 KRW cash).
