Evolution of Cultural and Artistic Spaces in the Old City Center of Gwangju, from the Early 1900s to the 1970s

This study aims to explore the evolution of cultural and artistic spaces in the old city center of Gwangju, specifically along Chungjang-ro and Geumnam-ro, from the early 1900s to the 1970s. The evolution of these spaces, along with political and economic shifts, was categorized into; 1) the Japanese colonial era; 2) the US military regime and after; 3) the expansion of Geumnam-ro in the late 1960s, and 4) the 1970s. The research was based on literature and newspaper articles, and departed from existing studies that focused on physical changes in the city or the historical significance of a space, approaching them from a multifaceted perspective. The findings revealed that cultural and artistic spaces underwent dynamic changes amidst the rapid transformation of the cityscape: 1) Heunghakgwan, theaters, the Gwangju Theater, dabangs, and schools, 2) the Gwangju USIS, 3) media offices and key spaces in Geumnam-ro, and 4) the dabangs, the Student Hall, the Civic Hall, and art museums. The analysis shows how these spaces served various cultural purposes, offering a nuanced historical map of cultural and artistic spaces.