Gwangmyeong is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It borders Seoul to the east, north and northeast, Anyang to the southeast, and Siheung to the southwest, Bucheon to the northeast. The Gwangmyeong City is home to the world's largest IKEA store at 59,000 square meters, along with a large Costco store and a Lotte Premium Outlet.
Gwangmyeong City area was part of the old Siheung County as with Yeongdeungpo, Guro, and Geumcheon areas. It belonged to West and South townships of original Siheung County. In 1914, the two townships were merged into West township of "expanded" Siheung County. In 1963, the northern part of Gwangmyeong area was merged into an expanded Seoul as with Gwacheon and Sindo township of Goyang County. The neighbourhood of Gwangmyeong and Cheolsan were developed as a residence zone next to Seoul and it was provisionally planned to be administratively merged with Seoul Metropolitan City. In 1974, Gwangmyeong-ri and Cheolsan-ri became a part of the county branch of Gwangmyeong and in 1979 southern part of Gwangmyeong area became Soha town. 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-gu, Seoul. 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. In 1995, the Seoul-Gwangmyeong boundary was readjusted, in which a tiny part of Cheolsan-dong was merged into the newly created Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. In 2004, Gwangmyeong Station was open, and in 2010, apartment complexes in Soha-dong were built up.
Districts
There are 18 administrative districts in Gwangmyeong. Specifically, these are: Gwangmyeong Dong, Cheolsan Dong, Ha-an Dong, Soha Dong, and Hak-on dong. In 1995, a tiny section of Gwangmyeong was ceded to Seoul's newly created Geumcheon-gu.
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 rather than 'Western Gyeonggi's living sphere' 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 ; 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 in 'farther' Ansan City other than a district court in nearby Sinjeong-dong and a reserve soldier's drill camp in Anyang. Proponents of the incorporation in Seoul argue that by 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, 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 9 high schools, 10 middle schools, 21 elementary schools. 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.
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 in Cheolsan-dong were rebuilt into private high-storeyed apartment complexes. In 2010, some parts of Soha-dong was developed to newly built public apartment complexes.
Shopping
Gwangmyeong is home to the world's largest IKEA with the second largest one located in Goyang, and a large Lotte Premium Outlets that is connected into 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 Gwangmyeong crossroads with Gwangmyeongsageori Station. Modern shopping malls are in Cheolsan Station, Haan crossroads and Soha-dong. Gwangmyeong residents can also use shopping malls in nearby Guro-gu and Geumcheon-gu. Clothes outlets are located in nearby Gasan-dong in Seoul.
Medical service
A local general hospital, Gwangmyeong Sungae Hospital is in Cheolsan-dong and it is recently affiliated with Medical School of Kwandong University. A university hospital, Korea University Medical Center at Guro is located in nearby Guro-dong, Seoul. A public medical centre is in southernmost Haan-dong. Many private clinics are located along with business areas in the city.
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 /2004, Gwangmyeong's taxi business district was consolidated to Guro and Geumcheon, Seoul. The taxi fare is the same as that of Seoul taxis.
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 of rent, land and even costs for investment.
In 1973, The Kia Motors located its Sohari Plant in Soha-dong, Gwangmyeong City, becoming the country's first integrated automobile assembly plant. 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.
Notable people
;Historical figures
General "Muuigong" Lee Sun-sin - a person with the same name of more famous Admiral "Chungmugong" Yi Sun-sin
