Kimdaejung Convention Center parking: only 958 spaces while Outdoor Lot 2 is closed, so should you drive to a concert?
As of September 2026 the 김대중컨벤션센터 (Kimdaejung Convention Center) in Gwangju has only 958 parking spaces, the indoor lot (480) plus Outdoor Lot 1 (478), because the 565-space Outdoor Lot 2 is closed for repairs. Indoor parking is 700 won for 30 minutes, then 350 won per 15 minutes, 8,000 won a day; Outdoor Lot 1 is half that. For a 3,000-seat Multipurpose Hall show, the 3-minute walk from exit 5 of Kimdaejung Convention Center (Mareuk) Station on Line 1 is the safer plan. There are 116 lockers.
PUBLICAi Editorial Team6 min read
At a glance
- Facilities
- 김대중컨벤션센터
- Address
- 전남광주통합특별시 서구 상무누리로 30 (치평동)
- Seats
- 3,000
Contents7
- Should I drive to a concert at the Kimdaejung Convention Center?
- How many spaces are there, and which lot is closed?
- What does parking cost?
- How do I get there by subway or bus?
- Which hall is my show in: exhibition hall, Multipurpose Hall or Convention Hall?
- How many lockers are there, and where are the amenities?
- What are the three things to remember?
Everything below was checked on 17 September 2026 against the Kimdaejung Convention Center official website (parking guide, directions, amenities, and the exhibition hall, Multipurpose Hall and Convention Hall pages), and compared with the KOPIS registration on the 김대중컨벤션센터 venue page.
Should I drive to a concert at the Kimdaejung Convention Center?
For a Convention Hall event (up to 1,200 people) driving is usually fine; for a big Multipurpose Hall concert (2,000~3,000 people) the subway is much safer. Only 958 parking spaces are currently usable, so a sold-out show generates far more cars than spaces. Against the Multipurpose Hall's 3,000 capacity, one driver in three is already too many.
| Event size | Usual space | Driving verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,200 | Convention Hall (4F) | Manageable; arrive 1 hour early |
| 1,000~3,000 | Multipurpose Hall (exhibition building, 1F) | Busy; take the subway, or arrive 2 hours early by car |
| Concert plus a large fair on the same day | Exhibition hall + Multipurpose Hall | Very busy; public transport strongly advised |
When a fair runs in the exhibition hall on the same day, concert-goers and fair visitors share the same car parks. Check the event calendar on the official site for overlaps.
How many spaces are there, and which lot is closed?
Per the official parking page, the usable lots are the indoor car park with 480 spaces and Outdoor Lot 1 with 478, 958 in total. Outdoor Lot 2, 565 spaces, is marked "temporarily closed (under repair)" and is not in that figure. Until it reopens the centre runs at about 63% of its original 1,523 spaces.
| Car park | Spaces | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor | 480 | Underground 217 (9 accessible), ground level 263 (6 accessible) |
| Outdoor Lot 1 | 478 | 51 accessible bays |
| Outdoor Lot 2 | 565 | Temporarily closed for repairs (September 2026) |
Accessible bays are 15 indoors and 51 in Outdoor Lot 1, so Lot 1 is the easier place to find one if someone in your party uses a wheelchair or has trouble walking. Parking enquiries: 062-611-2231; cards accepted and tax invoices available.
What does parking cost?
Outdoor Lot 1 is exactly half the indoor rate. Indoors it is 700 won for the first 30 minutes, 350 won per 15 minutes after that and 8,000 won a day; Outdoor Lot 1 is 350, 175 and 4,000 won.
| Indoor | Outdoor Lot 1 | Outdoor Lot 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 30 min | 700 won | 350 won | Free (closed) |
| Each further 15 min | 350 won | 175 won | — |
| Daily maximum | 8,000 won | 4,000 won | — |
| Monthly, cars | 88,000 won | 44,000 won | 44,000 won |
| Monthly, large vehicles | Not allowed | 132,000 won | Not allowed |
For a 3-hour (180-minute) concert visit, the indoor lot comes to 700 won + 10 × 350 won = 4,200 won and Outdoor Lot 1 to 350 won + 10 × 175 won = 2,100 won. Four hours is 5,600 won indoors or 2,800 won in Lot 1, and longer stays stop at the daily cap. Large vehicles cannot enter the indoor car park, so campervans and big vans should head straight for Outdoor Lot 1.
How do I get there by subway or bus?
Take Gwangju Metro Line 1 to Kimdaejung Convention Center (Mareuk) Station, leave by exit 5 and walk straight for 3 minutes. That is the official directions page word for word, and it avoids both the parking hunt and the exit queue after the show. The address is 30 Sangmunuri-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju (1159-2 Chipyeong-dong); main number 062-611-2000.
By bus, the right stop depends on your gate.
| Destination | Nearest stop | Routes |
|---|---|---|
| Gate 5 | Kimdaejung Convention Center | Ilgok 38, Sangmu 64 |
| Convention building, Gates 1 and 2 | Kimdaejung Convention Center rear gate | Village bus 799 |
| Gate 3, Convention building | Jeonnam High School | Ullim 50, Jiwon 25 |
| Gate 4 | 518 Freedom Park | 518, Sangmu 63, Circular 01, Seat 02 |
For a concert in the Multipurpose Hall or the exhibition hall (exhibition building, ground floor) use the stops near Gates 1, 2 and 5; for a Convention Hall event (4F) use the convention-building stops. Match the hall name on your ticket to a gate before you set off.
Which hall is my show in: exhibition hall, Multipurpose Hall or Convention Hall?
Concerts at the centre can be in any of three spaces, and their floors, sizes and seating are completely different. The official facility pages give these specifications.
| Space | Location | Area | Capacity | Seating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibition hall | Exhibition building, 1F | 9,072 m² (halls A, B, C at 3,024 m² each) | 500 booths (3 m × 3 m) | No fixed seats |
| Multipurpose Hall | Exhibition building, 1F | 2,955 m² (halls 1 and 2 at 1,478 m² each) | Up to 3,000 | Includes 1,010 retractable tiered seats |
| Convention Hall | 4F | 1,518 m² (halls 1, 2, 3 at 506 m² each) | 1,200 theatre-style | No fixed seats |
The KOPIS record on the 김대중컨벤션센터 venue page lists the Multipurpose Hall at 3,000 seats and the exhibition hall and outdoor plaza at 0. The 3,000 matches the official maximum capacity; the part worth remembering is that only 1,010 of those are the fixed tiered seats.
The exhibition hall is a 9,072 m² column-free space that splits into halls A, B and C. With no fixed seats, standing shows and shows with temporary seating go here. No columns means nothing blocks the view, but the floor is flat, so what you see depends on who stands in front of you.
The Multipurpose Hall is where a concert almost always is. It is an auditorium-style space of 2,955 m² (78.3 m × 37.6 m, 12 m ceiling) holding up to 3,000 including 1,010 retractable tiered seats, and it can be split into halls 1 and 2 of 1,478 m² each. The tiered seats rise toward the back, so heads in front are rarely a problem, whereas temporary seats on the flat floor can have a worse view even when closer to the stage. Check whether your section is tiered or flat when booking. The 12 m ceiling allows large screens, which softens the disadvantage of rear seats.
The Convention Hall on the 4th floor is a column-free 1,518 m² space that splits into halls 1, 2 and 3 of 506 m² each with an 8 m ceiling. It takes up to 1,200 people theatre-style, 850 classroom-style or 600 for a banquet, and while its main use is conferences it also hosts small concerts and fan meetings. Being on the 4th floor, allow time for the escalators and lifts, and when 1,200 people leave at once the stairs can be faster.
How many lockers are there, and where are the amenities?
Per the amenities page there are 116 lockers in two locations on the ground floor of the exhibition building, paid, with different prices for small, medium and large. They stand in front of Multipurpose Hall 2; enquiries 062-611-2134. The information desk, convenience store, cafe and ATM cluster around the south gate (Gates 1 and 2) on the same floor.
- Information desk (062-611-2312, 2313): exhibition building 1F, south gate (Gates 1 and 2). Directions plus stroller and wheelchair loans.
- Emart24 (070-8808-8515): exhibition building 1F, south gate (Gates 1, 2, 5).
- Cafe The May (062-611-2345): exhibition building 1F, south gate (Gates 1 and 2).
- Gwangju tourist souvenir shop (062-611-3520): exhibition building 1F, south gate (Gates 1 and 2).
- Gwangju Bank ATM: on the plaza toward the south gate (Gates 1 and 2).
- Galbiyeon restaurant (062-373-9292): convention building, 2F.
Knowing there are only 116 lockers matters: at a 3,000-seat show they go fast, so if you need to store a bag, arrive well before doors open.
What are the three things to remember?
- There are only 958 spaces right now. With Outdoor Lot 2's 565 spaces closed for repairs, exit 5 of Kimdaejung Convention Center (Mareuk) Station on Line 1 is the first choice for a big Multipurpose Hall concert.
- If you drive, aim for Outdoor Lot 1 at half price (2,100 won for 3 hours); large vehicles cannot enter the indoor lot, so Lot 1 is their only option.
- With luggage, claim one of the 116 lockers in front of Multipurpose Hall 2 as soon as you arrive, and match the hall on your ticket to the right gate.
Verified on 17 September 2026 against the Kimdaejung Convention Center official website (parking, directions, amenities and facility pages). Whether Outdoor Lot 2 has reopened can change, so check the parking page or call 062-611-2231 before you go.
