National Asian Culture CenterClaimed by the owner

The National Asian Culture Center (ACC) is a cultural complex in Gwangju built for cultural exchange, research, and the creation and presentation of art from across Asia. It opened in November 2015 after more than ten years of planning, and is run under South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The complex is made up of five main buildings: the ACC Culture Exchange, ACC Children, ACC Archive & Research, ACC Creation, and the ACC Theater, and it is described as the largest cultural complex in South Korea.

Exhibitions and performances

The center runs about 40 exhibitions a year, including permanent displays, special exhibitions, and residency shows, along with more than 30 experimental performances covering concerts, theater, dance, classical music, and talk shows. Programs are produced with local and international artists and range from Asia-themed performances to shows for children and teenagers, as well as recurring events like brunch concerts and a "Big Door Cinema" series. The center also holds outdoor festivals through the year, including an Asia Culture Week, an Asia Literature Festival, and the ACC World Music Festival. A dedicated Children's Culture Center offers hands-on exhibits, a library, performances, and creative arts education for families. The complex also houses the Asia Culture Museum, a library with Asian arts and culture books and periodicals, and outdoor spaces including a ground-level garden called "Forest of Light."

Site tied to the Gwangju Uprising

The choice of Gwangju as the center's location was debated at the time, since the city had no prior link to major heritage sites. The design instead ties the complex to the 1980 Gwangju Uprising (the May 18 Democratization Movement): the main building takes the form of the former South Jeolla provincial office, a key site in the uprising. Construction was delayed for years after residents, victims' families, and groups connected to the movement objected to plans that would have demolished parts of the site. As a compromise, the original above-ground buildings were preserved and the newer facilities were built underground. Each May the center holds an "ACC May Culture Week" with exhibitions and events related to the movement's history. Between 2015 and 2020 the ACC recorded more than 10 million visitors and hosted 894 programs.