Wolgye-dong Hanne Neighborhood Park Bicycle Rental, Youth Hangout 'Kkumkkuneun Ajiteu' Reborn... Playroom, Book Cafe, and Community Space Reflecting Youth Opinions
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) has opened a youth-exclusive space called 'Kkumkkuneun Ajiteu' where teenagers can relax with peace of mind and showcase their talents.
This is the fourth youth ajiteu following the Arcade Youth Ajiteu (Junggye 2,3-dong), Kkeullim Youth Ajiteu (Sanggye 6,7-dong), and Hakunamatata Youth Ajiteu (Sanggye 3,4-dong), which opened last year.
'Kkumkkuneun Ajiteu' was newly created by remodeling the north bicycle rental station of Hannae Neighborhood Park (Madeullo 86) located in Wolgye-dong.
It is a one-story building with a total floor area of 74㎡, equipped with a playroom featuring karaoke, dressing tables, and board games, a book cafe where visitors can relax and read in a comfortable atmosphere, and community spaces for club meetings.
A key feature of the youth ajiteu project utilizing idle local spaces is the active collection of opinions from local youth planning groups and facility-using teenagers from the development stage.
Additionally, each facility has a youth ajiteu committee, meaning that the youth themselves plan and operate spaces for rest, play, and culture, which is highly significant.
The district plans to support teenagers in expressing their creativity and autonomy by linking club and school-related youth projects with small online programs such as neighborhood learning centers.
Currently, due to COVID-19, the youth ajiteu operates with limited capacity and is open from Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, the district empathizes with the need for youth-exclusive spaces where teenagers exhausted by excessive competition and academic stress can find mental stability and recovery, and is focusing on expanding youth leisure facilities including youth ajiteu.
The ‘Meetup Center’ opened last year, utilizing the Induk Underpass in Wolgye-dong, is equipped with a mini theater, dance room, and media broadcasting room, establishing itself as a cultural creation space for local youth.
Since 2018, the ‘Ttukttak Project’ has also been underway in cooperation with local schools to create youth ajiteu within schools. ‘Ttukttak’ is a project where students, teachers, and village activists in architecture and arts collaborate to remodel idle spaces such as empty classrooms, corridors, and basements into desired spaces like book cafes, galleries, and community areas.
District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “We will continue to strive to expand spaces for youth so that they can freely express their talents and charm in a healthy environment.”
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