Nostalgia

• Photographer
  Shim Sumin
• Photo Date
  2024

‘Nostalgia’ vividly captures the tangible effects of accelerated regional depopulation as more and more young people leave Gwangju for Seoul. By 2021, 43% of young residents had departed, with this figure rising to 56% in 2022 and a staggering 71% in 2023. This rapid outflow has left behind neglected areas, such as the abandoned bridge shown in the photo, which serves as a poignant reminder of a once-thriving community and its rich history.