Chonnam National University is a South Korean university located in the metropolitan city of Gwangju, which lies in the middle of South Jeolla or Jeonnam (Chonnam) province, for which the school is named in the Southwest of the country.
The university was formally established in January, 1952. It currently consists of 59 academic departments in 19 colleges and 11 graduate programs. Chonnam National University used to be generally regarded as one of the five major national universities of South Korea.
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia,constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Although it ranks 109th in the world in terms of land
area, the country is a center of economic activity, culture, and arts. Korea was colonized by Japan in the early 20th century and later had to endure the Korean War (1950- 53), but it has achieved amazing economic growth in a short period, dubbed “the Miracle on the Han River.” Today, Korea is an industrial nation standing tall on the world stage. Its semiconductor, automobile, shipbuilding, steel making, and IT industries are on the leading edge in global markets.
With a population of 1.5 million, Gwangju Metropolitan City is the fifth largest city in South Korea. Gwangju is regarded as the birthplace of Korean democracy; the result of the democratic uprising that occurred in May 1980, when civilian demonstrations were staged in Gwangju against the newly installed military government led by Chun Doohwan. Gwangju is also regarded as a city rich in culture and art, and there are always exhibitions and performances, which make the city vibrant and colorful. Every two years, the Gwangju Biennale features a two-month long contemporary art exhibition that invites international artists to display their theme-based work. The city has an interesting claim to fame as having the largest and most modern bus terminal and possibly the largest single pedestrian drinking, dining and clubbing district in the country.
Chonnam National Univeristy offers housing for exchange students.
Getting around in Gwangju is really quite easy, though rush hour significantly adds to travel time. There are two basic options: buses and taxis. Taxis are generally cheap but buses are frequent and more or less comfortable. Travelers coming to Gwangju can experience a slower paced experience than Seoul, despite still feeling the hurry hurry lifestyle of Korea. Gwangju also serves well as a good hub for touring the surrounding province of South Jeolla. Korail
and KTX trains run from Seoul multiple times a day and are the quickest option for travelers
wanting to go to Gwangju from Seoul. Buses from major cities throughout the country arrive and depart from Gwangju Bus Terminal, a large and recently renovated bus terminal near the
geographic center of the city.