Weekend Volunteer Program for Youth Operated at Mangusan and Bonghwasan in Jungnang-gu

Cultural Exploration and Nature Cleanup Activities with Local Culture Interpreters on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of Every Month

On the 23rd, students participating in the ‘Volunteer Play~Ja’ Bonghwasan course are listening to the local culture commentator's explanation.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) is operating the youth weekend volunteer program “Let’s Play Volunteer” combining volunteer activities and local cultural experiences until the end of November this year.

“Let’s Play Volunteer” is Jungnang-gu’s representative volunteer program that provides volunteer experience opportunities to students who find it difficult to participate in volunteer work during weekdays due to busy academic activities.

Since its inception in 2008, it has been held a total of 138 times with 4,642 participants, showing enthusiastic response from local youth.

The program is held on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month at Mangwoo Mountain and Bonghwa Mountain. In cooperation with Jungnang Cultural Center, participants listen to local cultural explanations by local culture narrators while exploring designated courses, conducting environmental cleanup activities, and solving quizzes related to the history of Jungnang-gu.

First, the second Saturday course is the Mangwoo Mountain course, held at Mangwoo History and Culture Park. Starting from the 13-District Uprising Army Tower, where anti-Japanese militia gathered, participants explore the graves of major famous figures such as Bang Jeong-hwan, Lee Jung-seop, Ji Seok-young, Han Yong-un, and Yu Gwan-sun, reflecting on the spirit of the independence movement.

Next, the fourth Saturday course is the Bonghwa Mountain course. Participants gather in front of the Onggi mural at Bongsudae Park to learn about the origin of the local specialty, Royal Pear, and visit the Onggi site and Onggi master, Goguryeo fortress, Bonghwa Mountain Dodang site, Achasan Bongsudae site, and the octagonal pavilion at Bongsudae Park.

Students from 4th grade elementary school to high school can participate, and participants are recruited on a first-come, first-served basis through the “1365 Volunteer Portal” starting two weeks before each operation day. However, elementary school students must participate with their parents. Participating students can receive 3 hours of volunteer time credit.

In addition, the district operates various programs to spread volunteer culture in the region, such as the “Haedoduri Family Volunteer Group” where the whole family volunteers together, the “Eternal Memory Volunteer Group” managing the graves of famous people in Mangwoo-ri Park, and the “Eonjaeho-ya Oriental Medicine Volunteer Group” providing oriental medical services to low-income residents.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “I hope many people participate in this program that can enhance understanding of local culture and cultivate a healthy volunteer mindset.”