Last update – December 18th, 2011:
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Introduction
There are many swimming pools in Gwangju and the towns around Jeollanamdo.
If you don’t mind a number of minor details such as …
- the expectation you will have a shower before you swim,
- the firm rule that all must wear a swim cap,
- that there is usually no deep end, and
- it’s always worth picking your times very carefully unless you enjoy cases of severe overcrowding,
… then these pools can provide good places for lane swimming and water play.
Below is a developing list of swimming pools including information on location, cost of entry, and opening hours. The focus is on times for ‘free swimming’ or the availability of lanes for people wanting to do their own practise. Most pools do have classes for all levels of swimmer available, although the language of instruction is typically Korean.
(If you find any English language instructors at your local pool please post a comment below and we will include it here, in our shared information list; thanks!)
Most swim centers in town also have smaller pools adjacent to the main one for beginner lessons or children.
If you find a pool not listed, or some information below which is now out of date, incorrect, or simply missing, please let us know in the comments section and we shall then update this page promptly.
Note #1: Beware the dreaded curse of trying to find an open pool on any given Sunday of any month. It IS possible, but extra care needs to be taken. Many are shut and the scheduling for this seems to follow a mysterious style of logic the key to which yet remains as elusive as the blue-tailed aquatic Jabberwocky. But anyway, see notes for individual pools below.
Note #2: If you would like to meet up with others interested in swimming, cycling, or running in Gwangju or around Jeollanamdo, you might find them in our facebook group online here.
* Remember, you WILL need your swim cap. *
Happy splashing!
GTS
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Indoor Pools
동구국민체육센터
Eastern Suburbs Citizens Fitness Center
(Jisan Dong, not far from Sangu 5-way intersection, at the start of the road up Mudeung Mountain)
Free swimming, mornings:
Mondays – Saturdays,
one lane open 6 – 7.50, 9 – 9.50, 11 – 11.50am, 6 – 6.50pm,
two lanes open 4 – 4.50pm,
all lanes open 8 – 8.50am, 2 – 3.50pm
Free swimming, afternoons:
Mon., Wed., Fridays: 1 – 4pm
Tues., Thurs., Saturdays: 1 – 9pm
Holidays, Sundays
1 – 5.50pm,
and not open the last two Sundays of December, 2011.
Price:
single day swim: w4,000
one month: w59,000
pool and gym membership combined one month: w79,000
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Gwangju Physical Education High School
Notes:
This is the only pool in Gwangju which has a 50-meter length. It is also the only pool which does not accept single-day swims, but rather requires a minimum of one month’s ‘membership.’
Though previously available for either of only two 50 minute sessions, their daily ‘free swimming’ schedule has this year been extended to your choice of five (50 minute) sessions per day.
This pool is not open on Saturdays.
The nice desk-staff person recommends the time slots of 7am and 6.30pm as having the last number of patrons ‘free-swimming’, averaging perhaps only about 20 people between the two lanes (as against about 40 people at the other times).
Furthermore, most ‘free swimmers’ at all available hours tend to swim for only the first 30 minutes or so, thereafter leaving the two lanes largely empty. (았사! – Yay!)
Location:
Near the Rainbow Bridge, to the left-hand side of the road when heading north out of town towards Damyang or Seoul, at the start of the motorway, behind the Biennale park area, and across from the cute lake.
View Larger Map
Fees:
One month – w60,000
Personal Locker – w10,000
Free swimming schedule (two lanes available):
6.00 – 6.50am,
7.00 – 7.50am,
10.30 – 11.20am,
6.30 – 7.20pm,
7.30 – 8.20pm.
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Sunglok Sports Center Swimming Pool
Mon. – Fri. 5.40am – 10pm
Sat. 5.40am – 9pm
Sun. 9am – 9pm
NOTE: Open every first and third Sunday, closed every second and fourth Sunday.
Times when most if not all six lanes are available
(ie. no classes, therefore maximum space available):
Mon, Wed, Fri. 8am – 9am
Mon. – Sun. 12 – 2pm
Mon. – Sun. 3 – 6pm
Single swim entry w5,000
One month w79,000
Three months w225,000
Notes:
- ‘Solnael’ 2011 – Shuts 6pm Wednesday, and closed on Thursday and Friday.
- A sauna is available, as is a health club (weights room) at extra charge for a minimum of one month’s membership.
- Korean language phone (062) 350-5050
- This pool can really be very crowded. The best time to avoid the crowds is on an evening on the weekend, and earlier afternoons during the week, the closer to lunch time the better.
– Entry to this swimming pool is relatively expensive, but also provides the best range of hours in terms of both opening times and also a merciful lack of nonsensical ‘shut for lunch break’ sessions. It is also the only pool in town to provide full sized lockers.
- The children’s/ beginner’s pool is 60 centimeters deep.
Location: Between Yangdong Open Air Market and Kumho Electro World, right next to the big (and now closed and defunct) Grand Piato family pizza restaurant, but up the drive next to the large three-way over bridge on ‘Kyoung Yeol Roh’. Tell a taxi driver you want to go to ‘Kyoung Yeol Roh Sumgoarli, yoh!’ (Kyoung Yeol Road three-way intersection, please!) If she/he doesn’t understand that, try ‘Sunglok Plaza, yoh!’
Alternatively, it’s just around the corner from Sinsegae and then Emart behind you on the right. Cross the road and carry on along the road further towards the southern part of town (about 600 meters past Emart), and turn sharp left at the main road with the underpass, and then go straight until you come to the large three-way intersection with the big foot-bridge (about 400 meters from the corner), passing the ‘Nongsung Dong’ subway station across the road on your right. Ask people around there for ‘Sunglok Plaza Suyoung Jung’ (Sunlok Plaza Swimming Pool) or just say ‘Sunglok Plaza ordi issoh yoh?’ (Where is the Sunlok Plaza?) The building with the pool is at the top of the drive.
Go to the car park at the top of that short drive, in the building to your left. Go inside and turn right. Go through the door to the stairs down to the basement, or take the elevator down.
If you travel by subway then this pool is probably the most accessible within Gwangju. Take exit #7.
View Larger Map
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여성발전센터 수영정
The Women’s Development Center Swimming Pool
Schedule: Mon-Fri., 5.30am – 9.30pm
Saturdays, 5.30am – 7pm
Every first and third Sunday and public holidays, 5.30am – 7pm
NOTE: Closed every second and fourth Sunday.
6 – 8am Classes; women and men
8 – 9am Pool closed
9 – 12 noon Classes; women’s lessons only
12 -1pm Pool closed
1 – 4pm ‘Free swimming’ (lane swimming)
Mon., Wed., Fri.
4 – 6pm, Classes; children
Mon., Wed., Fri.
6.30 – 9.30pm, Classes; women and men
Tue., Thurs., Sat.
4pm – closing time, ‘Free swimming’ (lane swimming)
Location:
상무지구 (Sungmu Jigu) between 시민공원(Citizen’s Park) and 서부경찰서 (Western Suburbs Police Office), and across from 운천초등학교(Woon Chon Elementary School).
Go up the small circular driveway and look for the steps which lead down to the B1 (first level basement) on the left in front of the main door.
Phone (Korean language): 371-8855
요금 Cost: One swim w4,000
One month w50,000
Three months w142,000
Six months w270,000
NOTES:
- This swimming pool is still relatively undiscovered and underutilized compared to most of the other pools around town.
– There is a small steam room next to the showers in both the men’s and women’s rooms.
- There is a smaller, more shallow pool next to the main one for children and beginners, with a depth of 0.8 meters.
– There is a nice sunny outdoor seating area for your own post-swim power-snacks, and a small restaurant/ snack shop next door within the complex.
View Larger Map
NOTE: When viewing this map within the insert in the page here, drag down the map and look to the top left-hand corner to find the Korean wording for the Gwangju Women’s Development Center (여성발전센터).
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광주학생교육문화회관
Gwangju Education and Culture Center for Students
Schedule: Mon. – Sat., 6am – 9pm (not including being closed for lunch, 12 – 1pm)
Sundays and public holidays, 9am – 7pm (not including being closed for lunch, 12 – 1pm)
Swimming lessons go on concurrently to ‘free’ (lane) swimming, so any number of lanes may be closed throughout the day, however, all afternoons from 1 – 4pm are completely open, and children’s lessons are from 4 – 4.50pm on Mon., Wed., and Fridays, so Tues., Thurs. and Saturdays are free right through until 6pm.
Location: 상무1동 (Sangmu 1 Dong), opposite the 상무고등학교 (Sangmu High School) on the same side of the road as the 518기념공원 (May 18 Memorial Park).
The pool is two levels downstairs (B2) below ground level (ie. the car park), and to the right.
Phone: 380-8920, 1
Website (with good photos, no English): http://gecs.ketis.or.kr/index.php?cate=005004
요금Cost:
One swim w4,000
One month w50,000
Three months w142,000
Six months w270,000
One year w510,000
NOTES:
- There is a good cheap Korean restaurant, snack shop and seating area at B1.
– The young woman at the front desk assured me that the stretching sessions at the side of the pool before classes were only for people taking lessons (and anyone else who wants to join in)
(ie. it is NOT compulsory for all people simply doing lane swimming to stop and join in stretching sessions for 10 minutes before classes)
(unlike at the Seogu and Dongu Culture Center swimming pools).
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Kia Car Factory Swimming Pool
Mon. – Fri. 6am – 12.30pm, 1.30 – 6.30pm
Sat., Sun. 6am – 6pm
w3,000 single entry swim
w30,000 – 1 month
w80,000 – 3 months
w150,000 – 6 months
Lesson schedule: Mon., Wed., Fri. – 6, 7, 9, 10, 11am
Location:
– When cycling, walking, jogging, taking the bus, riding your horse, or even driving past Shinsegae and then the USquare Express Bus Terminal on your left, take the first right.
Pass the tall new high-rise apartment blocks on your right for about 400 meters.
The first building on the left is the Kia workers’ building, with a collection of small stores through the one door on your left on the ground floor. Walk past and smile at the nice guard guy on your left, and then go past the shop entrance way, and go straight to the pool which is downstairs.
Notes:
– This used to be the friendliest pool in the city. I have often been greeted openly by random strangers in English and in Korean in the pool and in the ‘lounge’ room just off the foyer down stairs after a swim. I think that there is new management of the actual pool now who are more focused on the money, and the last few times I’ve looked to swim the place has been very crowded, probably due to all the people suddenly supplied by the all the new apartment blocks right across the road. The nice guard guy just inside the doors on the ground level is still there though, and he will probably look after your bike or horse if you lock it up just outside and smile and nod politely at him on the way in. He sits at his desk just the inside of the doors.
– The best times to swim here [used to be] in the mornings at 8-9am and 11.50-12.30pm M.,W.,F., and, any other time you like when it’s open and there are no classes
(ie. Tues., Thurs., Sat. & Sun. mornings, and any afternoon after the lunch break).
– Considering that every other pool open for single-entry ‘free swimming’ is also 25 meters, and while the entry fee remains w3,000, if you can get to it, this place presents the best value for money.
Google maps – Kia Swimming Pool / 기아수영장
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Nam Gu Culture Center swimming pool
Bongsun Dong
Daily, 6am – 12pm, 1pm – 9pm
Sundays and holidays 9am – 6pm
Note: closed for daily lunch break every day 12 – 1pm
‘Free swimming’ optimum times: Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat. 1.30 – 6pm
Tues., Thurs. 1.30 – 9pm
Fee:
- One swim – w4,000
– One month – w60,000
– Membership for 3 and 6 months also available.
Location:
- The culture center is at the top of the road and just next to Emart in Bongsun Dong, just opposite the Kenya Espresso Café. The front desk where you buy your ticket is just inside the front door on the ground level, and the pool is down stairs to the left of the main entrance.
Notes:
- This pool is run on pretty much the same lines as the Dong Gu Culture Center in Huk Dong -
yes, they really will kick you out of the pool and ensure it is completely empty so that everyone does stretching together for 10 minutes before lessons -
… even if you are NOT a part of the swimming class.
As a result, the best times for uninterrupted ‘free swimming’ are when there are no lessons being taught.
– You can pay for membership for a number of months.
– There is a children’s learner pool to one side.
– There is a seating section for the small, only occasionally open restaurant (lunch only I think) and a snack shop just inside the front door to the right.
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Dong Gu Culture Center
Huk Dong
Fee: – Single day swim w4,000
– One month w60,000
– Membership for 3 and 6 months also available
– One month including health club (weights room) membership w80,000
Schedule: Mornings, Mon. – Sat. 6am – 1pm
Lessons daily at 9, 10, and 11am
(so compulsory group stretching for all in the pool for ten minutes at the top of those hours)
Afternoons, Mon. – Sat. 2pm – 8pm
Lessons Mon., Wed., Fri. at 6, 7, and 8pm
(so compulsory warm-up stretching out of the water at the side of the pool for EVERYBODY for ten minutes at the tops of those hours – yes, including those NOT taking lessons).
Location:
– On the main road through Huk Dong, on the left when headed from town towards Hwasoon, just past the lights by the bridge next to the river. It is a big yellow building set back from the road and pavement, with the reception desk and the pool on the second floor but the men’s changing rooms and the gym on the third floor.
Notes:
- The best times for lane swimming are M.,W.,F. after lunch up until 6pm, or Tuesday and Thursday any time after lunch.
Mid-afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays tends to be the best time.
– During lesson times the total number of ‘free swimming’ lanes is reduced to one … which is usually full of many people (ten or more) doing walking exercise.
– Yes, they really will kick you out of the pool so that it is completely empty so that everyone can do stretching together for up to 10 minutes before lessons.
– There is a small free minibus which parks out front and travels the local suburbs dropping people off. This also provides a wonderful opportunity to practise Korean for free with very friendly, helpful and fit older housewives and grannies who will try to establish for the nice driver guy exactly the right point on his route for you to get out of the bus.
– There is a small toast and juice bar downstairs on the ground level, on the right as you enter the main doors.
– This is probably the worst-organised pool in which I’ve ever swum. It has the highest number of people per lane, with the biggest mix of levels, and yet there is rarely any lane speed defined by signs at either end, with the result that people of different levels constantly have to avoid each other. The attendants are instructors, not life guards, and so tend to play computer games rather than keep an eye on the pool. The male changing-room attendant is a very nice gentleman; however, the rest of the staff only communicates in order to interrupt your swimming so as to kick you out of the pool because they want you to stretch with everyone else.
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Hyundae Department Store Sports Center swimming pool
‘Free Swimming Hours Schedule’:
Mon/ Wed/ Fri. 8 – 10am, 12 – 3pm, 4 – 6.30pm.
Tues/ Thurs/ Sat. 8 – 10am, 12 – 10pm, 4 – 6.30pm.
Sundays and holidays 8am – 6pm
Entry Fee: One swim – w5,000
One month – w70,000
Three months – w189,000
Six months – w349,000
Twelve months – w680,000
Swimming pool and Health club combined membership
One month – w98,000
Three months – w280,000
Six months – w529,000
Twelve months – w999,000
NOTE: The department store including the swimming pool is shut for their monthly holiday usually one Monday every month. This Monday changes every month: sometimes it is the third week in the month, other times maybe it is the first week. This holiday date is not decided and publicized until the end of the preceding month. For Chuseok 2010 the store and pool were shut for the two days of the Wednesday of Chuseok and the Thursday thereafter.
Notes:
- Of all the swimming pools in town this is the warmest with a resultant murkiness and sometimes a slight lack of clarity of vision within the water.
– The children’s/ beginner’s pool is 80 centimeters deep.
– Hours quoted above are when some lanes of the pool are open to ‘free (lane) swimming’. Lessons are available in and outside those times.
– Pool reception is on the tenth floor, and the pool is on the eleventh floor inside the actual department store. There are nice restaurants the ninth level and the food court is on the first level below ground (B1).
- In the male shower room there is a small steam room, and also a spa-style hot pool and cold water pool. [Female shower room - ?]
- Towels and soap are available free of charge in the shower rooms.
- When you return your key the receptionist should give you a blue receipt or if you pay by credit card then she/ he will give you a small white printed docket receipt. If you keep that receipt and collect ten of them (of either colour), you can return them all on your eleventh visit and swim for free. Huzzah! (Assah!)
- Usually closed at least one Sunday of the month (sometimes on the second Sunday, sometimes on the third; more information pending…)
– Phone (062) 510-7909
Location:
Hyundae Department store is on the right-hand side of the big road directly in front of Gwangju train station (towards the river), and about 500 meters along. If you enter the main doors at ground level, turn right and take the elevators to the 10th floor. If you want to swim on a Monday the department store will likely be closed, so go around to the single door rear entrance/ exit down behind the right-hand side street and take the elevators up.
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Chumdan Sports Center
Location:
- 3rd floor, same building as the bowling alley.
‘Free swimming’ schedule:
Monday – Saturday (closed on Sundays)
8 – 9am, midday – 5pm
Fee: w4,500
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Yeomju Dong Gymnasium swimming pool
(next to the World Cup Stadium)
Open hours
Mon. – Sat. – ‘Free swimming’ (lanes open) 1pm – 8.30pm.
Sundays & public holidays
5.30 – 8.am,
9 – 12 midday,
1 – 7pm.
Fee:
- w4,000 for single entry
– w52,00 per month
Location:
- next to /east/on the city side of the World Cup Stadium, and just around the corner from the Pungam Lotte Mart.
Notes:
- This is a 50 meter pool although unfortunately for the general public we can only swim width-wise across the pool; the length is only opened up for race events. The upside of this general setup is that it is the pool in town with the largest number of lanes, and so consequently it is typically the least cramped, or, least likely to have other swimmers competing for space in your lane.
A further side benefit to the large number of lanes coupled with the depth is that in the deeper end of the pool the swimmers tend to be of a more consistently high ability (and so thus are less likely to get in the way of other higher level swimmers).
– The pool in the room through the far side door is very deep, and is for spring-board diving and for scuba-diving lessons, although if there are no classes on it seems to be available for exploring and quiet, informal use.
– There is a small snack shop outside, and a covered, outdoor seating area for eating.
- Closed on the second Sunday of every month.
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Outdoor Pools
Family Land
- The 50 meter length pool at Family Land is actually an overgrown children’s paddling pool. It is very shallow with a depth barely above knee-height on an adult, but it is possible to swim a length. I wouldn’t want to try showing off flip-turns here though.
- It is also subject to the daily ‘shut for lunch break’ hours when you could use the golden opportunity to go see how completely depressed-looking the animals in the ‘zoo’ there are these days.
- It is also subject to hourly ‘break’ sessions wherein you will be asked to remove yourself (or your child) from the pool, ostensibly to prevent risk from ‘heart attack’ (and in reality so the ‘life guards’ [*cough*] can go out back for a cancer stick [*hack*, *hawk*, *cough cough cough*, *spit*]).
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Damyang Resort
This 25 meter pool is part of a spa-resort complex which goes by two different names including ‘Damyang Resort’, and ‘Damyang Spa and Tourist Hotel’. The complex includes chalets for rent, and jymjilbang or steam rooms to share.
The pool has an even 1.3 meter depth. The entry fee for the pool is w11,000 for adults and w9,000 for children.
The pool is open every year from June through to August or September [t.b.c.].
Hours are from 9am – 7pm, daily.
To find out more up-to-date details from the pool manager, phone Lee Gon Wook: 010-4556-4323 or (061) 380-5111 [Korean only].
Next to the main pool outside is an even more shallow paddling pool for younger children, and also a hot pool (called the ‘Warm Pool’) for sauna style soaking.
The website has the obligatory ‘English’ page, however, this page contains only barest of information and all links are dead. The Korean page’s links are all active and may be useful. To find that information and photos of the pools, go to the index list across the top of the page which says ‘Hot-Spring’ and when the pop-up list appears, click on the third option, which says ‘수영장’ (Swimming Pool).
Website: http://www.damyangspa.com
Active Map Location:
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Thanks!!!