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{{Short description|City in Gyeonggi, South Korea}}
{{Redirect|Kwangmyong|the North Korean intranet|Kwangmyong (network)}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Gwangmyeong
| native_name        = {{lang|ko|광명시}}
| translit_lang1     = Korean
| settlement_type    = [[Cities of South Korea|Municipal City]]
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Hangul]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ko|광명시}}
| translit_lang1_type2 = [[Hanja]]
| translit_lang1_info2 = {{lang|ko|{{linktext|光|明|市}}}}
| translit_lang1_type3 = {{nowrap|Revised Romanization}}
| translit_lang1_info3 = Gwangmyeong-si
| translit_lang1_type4 = {{nowrap|McCune–Reischauer}}
| translit_lang1_info4 = Kwangmyŏng-si
| image_skyline      = File:Gwangmyeong.jpg
| image_caption      = Deokan-ro, Gwangmyeong
| image_map          = Gyeonggi-Gwangmyeong.svg
| map_caption        = Location in South Korea
| coordinates        = {{coord|37.476|N|126.866|E|type:city_region:KR-41|format=dms|display=it}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|South Korea}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Korea|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Gyeonggi Province]] ([[Seoul Capital Area|Sudogwon]])
| population_blank1_title = Dialect
| population_blank1  = [[Seoul dialect|Seoul]]
| area_total_km2     = 38.5
| population_as_of   = September 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jumin.mois.go.kr/|title=Population statistics |date=2024|website=Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety}}</ref>
| population_total   = 277,564
| population_density_km2 = auto
<!-- government type, leaders -->| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = mayor
| leader_name        = Park Seung-won ({{Korean|hangul=박승원|labels=no}})
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = <!-- etc., up to leader_title4 / leader_name4 -->
| parts_type         = [[Administrative divisions of South Korea|Administrative divisions]]
| parts              = 18 villages
| image_flag         = Flag of Gwangmyeong.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = Historical Symbol
| image_blank_emblem = Gwangmyeong logo.png
}}
'''Gwangmyeong''' ({{Korean|hangul=광명시}}; {{IPA|ko|ˈkwaŋ.mjʌŋ}}) is a [[Administrative divisions of South Korea|city]] in [[Gyeonggi Province]], South Korea. It borders [[Seoul]] to the east, north and northeast, [[Anyang, Gyeonggi|Anyang]] to the southeast, [[Siheung]] to the southwest, and [[Bucheon]] to the northwest. It is home to one of the world's largest [[IKEA]] stores at 59,000 square meters (640,000 square feet),<ref>{{cite web |title=The Biggest IKEA Store In The World Just Opened In South Korea |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/r-in-south-korea-ikea-opens-biggest-store-to-lure-tiny-households-2014-12 |website=Business Insider |access-date=26 February 2021 |date=18 December 2014}}</ref> along with a large [[Costco]] store and a Lotte Premium Outlet.

== History ==
Gwangmyeong area was part of the old (or original) [[Siheung County]] as with Yeongdeungpo, Guro, and Geumcheon areas. It belonged to West ({{lang|ko|서면}}, seo-myeon) and South townships ({{lang|ko|남면, nam-myeon}}) of original Siheung County. In 1914, the two townships were merged into West township of "expanded" Siheung County.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

In 1963, the northern part of Gwangmyeong (at that time, the northern part of West Township in Siheung County) area was merged into an expanded Seoul (i.e. districts for urban planning in Seoul. {{lang|ko|서울시 도시계획구역 seo-ul-si do-si-gae-hoeg-gu-yeog}}) as with [[Gwacheon]] (at that time Gwacheon was a township in Siheung County) and Sindo township of Goyang County (now parts of the city [[Goyang]], which borders Seoul). The neighbourhood of Gwangmyeong (Gwangmyeong-dong) and Cheolsan (Cheolsan-dong) were developed as a residence zone next to Seoul and it was provisionally planned to be administratively merged with [[Seoul]]. In 1974, Gwangmyeong-ri and Cheolsan-ri became a part of the county branch of Gwangmyeong ({{lang|ko|광명출장소}} gwang-myeong-chul-jang-so) and in 1979 southern part of Gwangmyeong area became Soha town ({{lang|ko|소하읍}} so-ha-eub). In 1981, the annexation to Seoul foundered as Seoul's unexpected rapid growth greatly concerned government officials. Consequently, the county branch of Gwangmyeong and Soha town merged and formed a new city of Gwangmyeong, instead of being annexed to Guro District, Seoul.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gwangmyeong.grandculture.net/Contents/Index?contents_id=GC031C010105|script-title=ko:디지털광명문화대전에 오신 것을 환영합니다.|website=gwangmyeong.grandculture.net|access-date=2013-06-03|archive-date=2013-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000859/http://gwangmyeong.grandculture.net/Contents/Index?contents_id=GC031C010105|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the 1980s and the early 1990s, many apartment complexes were built in Cheolsan-dong and Haan-dong. The population increased up to 300,000. {{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} In 1995, the Seoul-Gwangmyeong boundary was readjusted, in which a tiny part of Cheolsan-dong was merged into the newly created [[Geumcheon District]], Seoul. In 2004, [[Gwangmyeong Station]] was open, and in 2010, apartment complexes in Soha-dong were built up.

== Districts ==
[[File:Gwangmyeong_City_Hall.JPG|thumb|left|Gwangmyeong City Hall]]
There are 18 administrative districts (''[[Dong (administrative division)|dong]]'' in [[Korean language]]) in Gwangmyeong. Specifically, these are: Gwangmyeong Dong (from 1-7; Gwangmyeong 6-dong is also known as Okgil dong), Cheolsan Dong (4 dongs), Ha-an Dong (4 dongs), Soha Dong (2 dongs; The southern part of Soha 2-dong is also known as Iljik dong), and Hak-on dong (Gahak-dong and No-onsa dong). In 1995, a tiny section of Gwangmyeong was ceded to [[Seoul]]'s newly created [[Geumcheon District]].

== Disputes on municipal annexation to Seoul ==
[[File:Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do 20240606 01.jpg|thumb|Iljik dong]]
Due to its history of being part of the urban planning districts of [[Seoul]] until December 1982, the living sphere of Gwangmyeong is similar to Seoul's [[Yeongdeungpo District|Yeongdeungpo]] ({{lang|ko|서울 영등포 생활권}} seo-ul yeong-deung-po saeng-hwal-kwon) rather than 'Western Gyeonggi's living sphere' ({{lang|ko|경기 서부 생활권}} gyeong-gi seo-bu-saeng-hwal-kwon) such as [[Bucheon]] and [[Anyang]]. The [[sewage system]] is linked to Seoul, though the nearest sewage treatment plant is located on the boundary between Gwangmyeong and Anyang, and the city heavily relies on Seoul's [[telephone]] and [[transport]] systems ([[Telephone numbers in South Korea|local dial code]]. The phone area code for Gwangmyeong is Seoul's 02 and many [[Seoul Buses|Seoul buses]] and [[Taxicab|taxis]] are in business in that city); advertisements of firms in Yeongdeungpo area can be easily seen in the city. Gwangmyeong not belonging to Seoul, Gwangmyeong residents have to go to a district court office and a reserve soldier's drill camp (of the 51st Infantry Division, Capital Corps) in 'farther' Ansan other than a district court in nearby Sinjeong-dong and a reserve soldier's drill camp (of the 52nd Infantry Division, CDC) in Anyang.

Proponents of the incorporation in Seoul argue that by [[Annexation|annexing]] the city into capital Seoul, in which Gwangmyeong City of Gyeonggi Province becomes Gwangmyeong District of Seoul, the discord between a life zone and administrative districts, in terms of metropolitan governance, can be resolved. They also insist that by the annexation, residents in Gwangmyeong can benefit from metropolitan services and governance of Seoul Metropolitan City, especially in public transport. Congressman and former mayor of Gwangmyeong Baek Jae-hyeon presented a special bill for "municipal annexation to Seoul for Gwangmyeong" on the floor in September 2009,<ref>A news article.(in Korean) http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0002855678</ref><ref>The original text of the proposed bill.(in Korean) http://www.ok100.or.kr/view.php?id=sub31&no=12 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120011/http://www.ok100.or.kr/view.php?id=sub31&no=12 |date=2015-04-02 }}</ref> though his attempt turned out in vain at last. Opponents insist that the annexation would tarnish municipal [[autonomy]] in Gwangmyeong and it would also worsen balanced development of non-capital areas on the national level. The central government once proposed that Gwangmyeong be merged with [[Bucheon]] other than being annexed to Seoul.

== Education ==
There are nine high schools, ten middle schools, and 21 elementary schools in Gwangmyeong. Prior to 2013, middle school students who wished to go to high school had to take the entrance exam. Gwangmyeong-buk High School and Jinseong High School are traditionally well known for higher standards of students' academic ability.

=== Libraries ===
*Gwangmyeong Central Library (광명 중앙도서관 gwang-myeong-jung-ahng-do-seo-gwan)
*Cheolsan Library (철산 도서관 cheol-san-do-seo-gwan)
*HaAn Library (하안 도서관 ha-an-do-seo-gwan)
*Chunghyeon Library (충현 도서관 chung-hyeon-do-seo-gwan)
*Soha Library (소하도서관 so-ha-do-seo-gwan)
*Cheolsandong Library (철산동 연서 도서관 cheol-san-dong-yeon-seo-do-seo-gwan) Completed in June 2020

== Residential areas ==
Since Gwangmyeong is a [[commuter town]] bordering Seoul, it's mostly a residential area. The northwestern part of Gwangmyeong, namely Gwangmyeong-dong, is mostly composed of low-storeyed detached houses, while the eastern part, namely Cheolsan-dong and Haan-dong, consists of high-storeyed apartment complexes. Throughout the late 2000s, old public low-storeyed apartment complexes (저층 주공아파트 jeo-cheng ju-gong-ah-pa-teu) in Cheolsan-dong were rebuilt into private high-storeyed apartment complexes (고층 민간아파트 go-cheng min-gan-ah-pa-teu). In 2010, some parts of Soha-dong was developed to newly built public apartment complexes.

== Shopping ==
[[File:2015년 6월 29일 IKEA 광명점 외부 전경.jpg|thumb|One of the world's largest IKEA stores located near the [[KTX]] [[Gwangmyeong Station]] in the [[Seoul Metropolitan Area]], South Korea.]]
Gwangmyeong is home to one of the world's largest [[IKEA]] stores, with the second largest store located in [[Goyang]], and a large [[Lotte Department Store|Lotte]] Premium Outlet that is connected to the IKEA. The city is also home to a large [[Costco]] warehouse which also serves as the headquarters of Costco Korea. A large Korean-style traditional market, Gwangmyeong Market, is located in the Gwangmyeong crossroads with [[Gwangmyeongsageori Station]]. Modern shopping malls are in [[Cheolsan Station]], Haan crossroads, and Soha-dong ([[E-mart]] and [[Costco]]). Gwangmyeong residents can also use shopping malls ([[Lotte Mart]] and [[Homeplus]]) in nearby Guro District and Geumcheon District. Clothes outlets are located in nearby Gasan-dong in Seoul.

== Medical services ==
A local general hospital, Gwangmyeong Sungae Hospital is in Cheolsan-dong and it is recently affiliated with Medical School of [[Kwandong University]]. There are two university hospitals. One is [[Korea University Medical Center]] at Guro (구로고대병원 gu-ro-go-dae-byeong-weon) that is located in nearby Guro-dong, Seoul and other one is Chung-ang University Hospital at Gwangmyeong (중앙대학교광명병원 joong-ahng-dae-hak-gyo-gwang-myeong-byeong-weon) that is located near [[Gwangmyeong station]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://med.cau.ac.kr/site/homepage/menu/viewMenu.do?menuid=001005003 | title=중앙대학교 의과대학 의학전문대학원 }}</ref> A public medical centre is in southernmost Haan-dong.

Many private clinics are located along with business areas in the city.

== Climate ==
Gwangmyeong has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dwa''), but can be considered a borderline [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cwa'') using the {{convert|-3|C}} isotherm.
{{Weather box
| location = Gwangmyeong (2004–2020 normals)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y

| Jan high C = 2.5
| Feb high C = 5.6
| Mar high C = 11.3
| Apr high C = 17.8
| May high C = 24.0
| Jun high C = 28.0
| Jul high C = 29.4
| Aug high C = 31.0
| Sep high C = 26.8
| Oct high C = 20.7
| Nov high C = 12.5
| Dec high C = 4.3
| year high C = 17.8

| Jan mean C = -1.1
| Feb mean C = 1.6
| Mar mean C = 6.7
| Apr mean C = 12.8
| May mean C = 18.7
| Jun mean C = 23.2
| Jul mean C = 25.6
| Aug mean C = 27.0
| Sep mean C = 22.6
| Oct mean C = 16.3
| Nov mean C = 8.8
| Dec mean C = 0.8
| year mean C = 13.6

| Jan low C = -4.3
| Feb low C = -2.0
| Mar low C = 2.8
| Apr low C = 8.6
| May low C = 14.4
| Jun low C = 19.3
| Jul low C = 22.8
| Aug low C = 24.1
| Sep low C = 19.2
| Oct low C = 12.6
| Nov low C = 5.2
| Dec low C = -2.5
| year low C = 10.0

| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 11.5
| Feb precipitation mm = 26.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 38.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 64.2
| May precipitation mm = 96.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 126.4
| Jul precipitation mm = 412.8
| Aug precipitation mm = 231.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 153.8
| Oct precipitation mm = 47.9
| Nov precipitation mm = 58.4
| Dec precipitation mm = 21.7
| year precipitation mm = 1288.8

| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 3.0
| Feb precipitation days = 3.6
| Mar precipitation days = 5.5
| Apr precipitation days = 7.6
| May precipitation days = 7.3
| Jun precipitation days = 8.2
| Jul precipitation days = 14.6
| Aug precipitation days = 11.2
| Sep precipitation days = 7.6
| Oct precipitation days = 4.6
| Nov precipitation days = 7.0
| Dec precipitation days = 5.2

| source = [[Korea Meteorological Administration]]<ref name= KMA>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220129211110/https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf
| archive-date = 29 January 2022
| url = https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf
| title = Climatological Normals of Korea (1991 ~ 2020)
| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration
| access-date = 7 June 2023
| language = ko}}</ref>
}}

== Transportation ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2025}}
[[File:Gwangmyeong Station and skyline.jpg|thumb|Gwangmyeong skyline with Gwangmyeon Station visible between the buildings]]

=== Railroads ===
* [[Korail]]
;* [[Seoul Subway Line 1]] [[Doksan Station]] Gwangmyeong Shuttle
;;;([[Geumcheon-gu]], [[Seoul]]) ← [[Gwangmyeong Station|Gwangmyeong]]
;* [[Korea Train Express|KTX]]
;;;([[Seoul]]) ← [[Gwangmyeong Station|Gwangmyeong]] → (Southern [[Gyeonggi]] Province)
* [[Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation|SMRT]]
;* [[Seoul Subway Line 7]]
;;;({{stn|Gasan Digital Complex}}) ← [[Cheolsan Station|Cheolsan]] — [[Gwangmyeongsageori Station|Gwangmyeongsageori]] → ({{stn|Cheonwang}})

=== Buses ===
* Hwayeong Bus Corporation: a local bus firm in Gwangmyeong
* Many Seoul buses are in business in Gwangmyeong, as their garages are located in that city.

=== Taxis ===
As of 1999 (provisional)/2004 (permanent), Gwangmyeong's taxi business district was consolidated to Guro and Geumcheon, Seoul. The taxi fare is the same as that of Seoul taxis.

== Attractions ==
The tombs of [[w:ko:이순신 (1553년)|Yi Sun-sin]] (not to be confused with the more famous [[Yi Sun-sin|admiral of the same name]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?cid=200000000&docId=1251140&categoryId=200001208 |script-title=ko:이순신묘}}</ref> and Lee Won-ik<ref>{{cite web|url=http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?cid=1592&docId=542949&categoryId=1592|title=He was Yeonguijeong in the era of Gwanghaegun}}</ref> are in the city, just north of [[Gwangmyeong Station]]. Lee Won Ik's cultural relics are also on display near the site. The city is also home to the [[Gwangmyeong Velodrome]], the largest domed structure in South Korea.

[[Gwangmyeong Cave]], a former mine, now tourist attraction, is located near [[Gwangmyeong station]].

== Industry ==
The city, though small, hosts many firms. In total, there are 630 companies employing 11,636 people.

The city was officially planned to promote small businesses. Such workers can take merits of getting fee for rent, land and even revenue for investment.<ref>{{cite news |author=광명시 |script-title=ko:해외전시회 참여 중소기업 임차료 등 지원 |agency=[[Newsis]] |date=2008-01-16}}</ref>

=== Kia Motors Sohari Plant ===
In 1973, The [[Kia Motors]] located its [[Kia Design and Manufacturing Facilities#Sohari Plant|Sohari Plant]] in Soha-dong, Gwangmyeong, becoming the country's first integrated automobile assembly plant.<ref name="edm1">{{cite web
  | title = Kia Motors Overview
  | publisher = Edmunds.com
  | url = http://www.edmunds.com/kia/history.html}}</ref>

As Kia's car factory nearest to Seoul, it has convenient access to labor and other resources and can conveniently provide completed goods to the Seoul metropolitan area.<ref>City official page</ref>

== Notable people ==
;Entertainers
*[[Onew]] ([[Shinee]]) – born in Gwangmyeong
*[[The Quiett]] – born in Gwangmyeong
*[[Yoo Yeon-jung]] ([[WJSN]]) – born in Gwangmyeong
*[[Kim Jun-hyun (comedian)|Kim Jun-hyun]] – attended school in Gwangmyeong
*[[Park Hyun-bin]] – born in Gwangmyeong

== Twin towns – sister cities ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in South Korea}}
Gwangmyeong is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Domestic and overseas exchange city|url=http://www.gm.go.kr/pt/eng/engAg/engSc/PTEN0008.jsp|website=gm.go.kr|publisher=Gwangmyeong|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], United States
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jecheon]], South Korea
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Yesan]], South Korea
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Taean]], South Korea
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Seocheon]], South Korea
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Liaocheng]], China
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Osnabrück]], Germany
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yamato, Kanagawa|Yamato]], Japan
{{div col end}}

== See also ==
* [[Geography of South Korea]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gm.go.kr/pt/eng/index.do City government website] {{in lang|en}}
* [http://council.gm.go.kr/main_2011/main/main.html City Council website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616051345/http://council.gm.go.kr/main_2011/main/main.html |date=2017-06-16 }} {{in lang|ko}}

{{Gyeonggi}}
{{Metropolitan cities of South Korea}}
{{Most populous cities in South Korea}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Gwangmyeong| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Gyeonggi Province]]