formerly Koshu
City (pop., 2000: 1,350,948), southwestern South Korea, capital of South Chŏlla province.
It occupies an area of 193 sq mi (501 sq km) and constitutes a metropolitan city (province) by itself. It has been a centre of trade and local administration since the Three Kingdoms (с 57 BC); its modern industrial development began with a railway connection to Seoul in 1914. Kwangju was the site of an armed uprising between civilians and the government in 1980. It is the seat of Chosŏn University (founded 1946).