Gwangju Biennale Attracts Crowds of Young Art Lovers

The Gwangju Biennale has attracted more than 130,000 visitors since it opened on April 7.

Organizers said Thursday that some 500,000 people are expected to visit this year's art festival.

It began in the southwestern city in 1995. In 2020 it was postponed for a year and fell out of its regular step but attracted 60,000 people the following year despite the coronavirus pandemic.

To make up for the hiatus, this year's biennale will last three months until July 9 instead of the usual two and the number of exhibition halls is the largest ever, featuring 79 artists from 31 countries.

"The number of young visitors has increased significantly over the last decade as they became more interested in art," a staffer said. "We also get a lot of loyal visitors who come every time."