Breathing New Life into the Stagnant Region with a Non-Face-to-Face Online Festival... Successfully Concluding 19 Programs across 6 Fields from Plogging to Live Commerce
Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, is expressing his gratitude to the residents who participated in the festival at the opening ceremony on the 14th.
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The '2021 Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival,' Seoul's representative historical and cultural festival honoring the patriotic spirit of General Gang Gam-chan, who led the victory in the Battle of Gwiju 1,000 years ago, successfully concluded with widespread participation.
Hosted by Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) and organized by the Gwanak Cultural Foundation (CEO Cha Min-tae), this festival was held non-face-to-face to prevent the spread of COVID-19, presenting a new paradigm for local cultural festivals in the upcoming 'With Corona' era.
Last year, the district and foundation held the 'Gwanak On&Off Festival Salon' to prepare development plans for festivals in the post-COVID era, and this year's Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival was perfectly reborn as an online festival through various citizen-participation online programs.
Additionally, the festival space was expanded from Nakseongdae Park to Byeolbitnaerimcheon, and the festival was safely completed by strictly adhering to quarantine rules such as venue disinfection and pre-event PCR testing.
The festival featured a total of six categories and 19 programs, delivering a vivid sense of presence through online live broadcasts.
On the first day of the festival, the 14th, the opening ceremony was broadcast live on YouTube, marking the start of the festival. Various events followed, including an online choir of Gwanak residents, the lighting performance of Gang Gam-chan lanterns, and an LED media performance.
The opening ceremony video received great acclaim, accumulating over 3,000 views shortly after the festival, and online viewers shared diverse impressions such as, “The LED media performance highlights the prowess of an IT powerhouse,” and “The innovative production opens a new horizon in the online era, which is moving.”
The 'Gang Gam-chan Golden Bell Goryeo,' held on the 14th and 15th, attracted over 300 participants from across the country, achieving great success, and the 'Nakseongdae Night Star Party,' observing the fourth star Mungokseong of the Big Dipper at Seoul National University Observatory, drew a total of 171 participants, continuing the festival's popularity.
'Live Commerce Byeollando 21' received enthusiastic responses from residents through special discounts and review events. Broadcast on the 14th via HCN local TV and YouTube channels, it revitalized the local economy by selling various products made by Gwanak youth, including crafts, accessories, daily hanbok, and painting kits, at discounts of up to 50%.
Notably, this festival was significant for showcasing a citizen-led festival. Nineteen citizen cultural planners who completed the advanced course at the Gwanak Citizen Cultural Planning School participated in all processes from planning to operation of the 'Project 9472 Starlight Heroes.'
Through diverse historical experience programs such as Singoenari Botjim Flex, Gang Gam-chan GO, Goryeochon, and Gang Gam-chan Camping, enjoyed by both children and adults, a high participation rate among residents was achieved.
Mayor Park Jun-hee stated, “Despite the difficult conditions due to COVID-19, the active participation and cooperation of many residents led to the successful conclusion of this year's Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival. We will strive to advance further as a cultural city starting with this festival.”
CEO Cha Min-tae of the Gwanak Cultural Foundation said, “We wanted to convey the spirit of General Gang Gam-chan’s heroic determination to overcome difficulties and COVID-19. We look forward to meeting more citizens in an offline festival next year.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
