Gwangju was part of Mahan during the Samhan Period and Baekje during the Three Kingdoms Period and was called Mujinju. The city was called Muju during the Unified Shilla Dynasty and started to be called Gwangju for the first time in the 23rd year of the Goryeo Dynasty under the reign of King Taejo (A.D. 940). It was called Mujin-gun in the 12th year of the Joseon Dynasty under the reign of King Sejong, Gwangsan-hyeon in the 20th year under the reign of King Seongjong and Gwangju-mok in the 33rd year under the reign of King Youngjo.

Its name further changed to Gwangju-myeon in 1910, Gwangju-eup in 1931, Gwangju-bu in 1935, and finally Gwangju-si on August 15th, 1949. Gwangju-si was elevated to a direct-controlled city on November 1st, 1986, and its name was changed to Gwangju Metropolitan City on January 1st, 1995. Gwangju is a transportation center as it is located at the center of the Honam Region and manages the core functions of the Southwestern territory of Korea. Nam-gu is located on the southern part of Gwangju Metropolitan City, and it borders with Dong-gu on its east with Gwangju Stream as a boundary, Hwasun-gun and Naju-si, Jeollanam-do to the southeast and Seo-gu and Gwangsan-gu to the northwest. As the transportation gate of the region, Seo-gu was separated on March 1st, 1995 and the district office was relocated from Bongseon-dong to the new building in Baegun Square in March 2013.