[Seoul District News] Dobong-gu, After 10 Years of Efforts Since First Proposing Seoul Arena Construction to Seoul City in 2012, Construction Set to Begin; April 4 Seoul Arena Complex Cultural Facility Private Investment Project Agreement Signed, Project Materializes; Construction Starts July 2022, Completion Expected 2025 ... Seodaemun-gu Ansan Cherry Blossom Concert Reunites After 3 Years ... Gangbuk Youth Startup Maru Opens ... Dongdaemun-gu Job Center Operates 'Visiting Job Counseling Office' ... Yangcheon-gu Recruits Youth for Employment Connection Program
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The push for ‘Seoul Arena,’ the nation’s first large-scale music-specialized performance hall to be built in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin), has gained momentum.
On the 4th, at Seoul City Hall, the Seoul Arena complex cultural facility private investment project implementation agreement ceremony was held, attended by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Dobong-gu Mayor Lee Dong-jin, Kakao Chairman Kim Sung-soo, Kakao CEO Namgoong Hoon, and other officials.
At the agreement ceremony, detailed matters such as the designation of the project operator responsible for the construction and operation of Seoul Arena and the project implementation conditions were finalized. Kakao, as a major investor, was designated as the project operator under the provisional name ‘Seoul Arena.’
Following this agreement, ‘Seoul Arena’ is scheduled to undergo essential procedures such as Seoul City’s ‘implementation plan approval’ and Dobong-gu’s ‘building permit’ in the first half of this year, with construction starting in July and completion expected in 2025.
‘Seoul Arena’ is a complex cultural facility consisting of a massive music-specialized performance hall with 18,000 seats (accommodating up to 28,000 standing), a medium-sized performance hall with 2,000 seats, a cinema, and commercial facilities. After completion, it is expected to attract 1.8 million visitors annually for cultural content such as K-POP concerts.
Dobong-gu, aiming to shed its image as a suburban bedroom community of Seoul, first conceived the idea of an arena performance hall in 2011 as the first local government to do so and proposed the construction of an arena performance hall to Seoul City in January 2012.
However, the project faced setbacks such as failing to be selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the arena performance hall, Seoul City’s announcement of rental apartment supply plans in Chang-dong, and delays in passing the eligibility review.
Nevertheless, Dobong-gu continuously proposed the ‘Chang-dong area urban regeneration project including Seoul Arena’ to Seoul City. In February 2015, Seoul City announced plans to develop Chang-dong and Sanggye as a new economic hub. Subsequently, in July 2017, it was included in the five-year national administration plan’s regional pledges, and in December 2018, private investment eligibility was secured, putting Seoul Arena on track after 10 years.
Dobong-gu plans to actively cooperate to ensure smooth construction and operation of Seoul Arena and continue policies to foster the music industry so that ‘Chang-dong’ can establish itself as a ‘music city’ where music consumption, production, and distribution occur simultaneously.
Lee Dong-jin, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “Chang-dong in Dobong-gu, led by Seoul Arena, is expected to play a role as a music industry hub with the establishment of the nation’s first specialized performance hall. Based on infrastructure such as the arena under construction and Seed Cube Chang-dong (startup and cultural industry complex), we will do our best to attract creators and help Chang-dong grow into a genuine base for music production and distribution.”
How about enjoying beautiful melodies under the fluttering cherry blossoms and feeling the freedom of spring after a long time?
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) will hold the ‘2022 Cherry Blossom Again - Seodaemun Ansan (鞍山) Footpath Cherry Blossom Concert’ at the outdoor stage of Yeonhui Forest Rest Area Cherry Blossom Yard near the district office from April 8 to 10. This is the first time in three years since 2019.
Ansan, standing 296 meters tall, slightly higher than Seoul’s Namsan (262m), is located in the center of Seodaemun-gu and is famous for Herb One, Metasequoia Road, and cherry blossoms.
Especially, about 3,000 weeping cherry trees, mountain cherry trees, and king cherry trees aged 40 to 50 years create a spectacular view every spring.
Along with the cherry blossoms, the ‘circular barrier-free footpath’ is also loved by many citizens, and the district has prepared high-quality performances in various genres to match this.
Four performances will be held over three days, featuring 13 teams showcasing genres such as pop songs, popera, dance performances, and fusion gugak (traditional Korean music). There will also be stages for female choirs and taekwondo demonstrations by residents, adding meaning to the concert.
The Yeonhui Forest Rest Area, where the concert stage is set up, is about a 5-minute walk from Seodaemun-gu Office.
On the first day of the concert, April 8, at 7 p.m., the Seodaemun-gu Women’s Choir, Jang Han-saem (violin), Doowop Sounds (a cappella), and Kyung Seo-yeji (pop songs) will perform.
On April 9 at 2 p.m., the Sun Taekwondo Demonstration Team (musical taekwondo), Spring Summer Acoustic (busking band), and Coffee Boy (indie band) will perform, followed by Arihyun (popera), Queen (fusion gugak), and Edel Line Klang Duo (crossover) at 7 p.m., adding excitement to the audience.
On April 10 at 2 p.m., the UA Dance Team, The Ade (pop songs), and An Sung-jun (trot) will close the concert. Each performance lasts about 80 minutes.
It is also recommended to take a walk along the Ansan footpath before or after the concert. Along the footpath, visitors can enjoy forests composed of metasequoia, acacia, pine, and spruce trees, and admire the panoramic views of Inwangsan, Bukhansan, and downtown Seoul.
Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, “We have prepared an event where beautiful flowers and music come together so that people can regain the joy of everyday life during the full bloom of spring.”
The district announced that eating and drinking are prohibited at the event site and urged visitors to use public transportation.
Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Kyum-soo) has opened the ‘Gangbuk Youth Startup Maru’ and officially started its operation. On the 5th at 10 a.m., an opening ceremony was held with district officials, council members, and local youth in attendance.
‘Gangbuk Youth Startup Maru’ was established to reflect the needs of young people and build a customized and integrated support system for protecting and promoting their rights and supporting startups. The plan was formulated in 2019, completed in February this year, and officially opened after about two months of preparation.
Gangbuk Youth Startup Maru is located at 123 Nohae-ro 23-gil (Suyu-dong), with one basement floor and five above-ground floors. Floors 1 to 3 house the Seoul Youth Center ‘Gangbuk Orang,’ while the basement and floors 4 and 5 accommodate the ‘Startup Support Center.’
Seoul Youth Center ‘Gangbuk Orang’ provides tailored services for local youth, including youth support information, support for youth community operations, and programs to activate youth spaces. The ‘Startup Support Center’ operates startup support programs such as recruiting and managing tenant companies, startup education, and consulting to assist young people lacking a startup foundation.
Park Kyum-soo, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “We expect Gangbuk Youth Startup Maru to serve as a platform that breathes vitality into the lives of local youth and prospective young entrepreneurs. We will actively support local youth to prepare for the future and work harder to make Gangbuk-gu a young city that attracts youth.”
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) will operate an on-site job counseling service called ‘Visiting Job Counseling Center’ at the Seoul Youth Center ‘Dongdaemun Orang’ starting in April.
The Visiting Job Counseling Center is a project aimed at residents who find it difficult to visit the Dongdaemun-gu Job Center due to time and location constraints or lack of information. For two months from April, it will operate every Monday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Seoul Youth Center ‘Dongdaemun Orang’ for youth.
Youth using the counseling center will receive one-stop services including personalized employment counseling, guidance on employment education programs, and job placement. High-demand services such as resume and self-introduction letter employment consulting will also be provided.
Applications to participate in the Visiting Job Counseling Center can be made by phone.
The district plans to expand the Visiting Job Counseling Center to various easily accessible locations such as community service centers in the second half of the year to eliminate blind spots in employment support services.
Residents needing job-seeking or recruitment information can visit the Job Center, which operates regularly on the first floor of Dongdaemun-gu Office. There, they can receive tailored job offers through one-on-one counseling with professional career counselors.
Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “We will continue to actively support providing one-stop employment support services and various job information to our residents to increase employment rates.”
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) is recruiting young people to participate in the youth employment linkage programs ‘Airport Security Screening Specialist Training Course’ and ‘Preliminary Social Worker Practical Job Training Course’ until April 29.
First, the ‘Airport Security Screening Specialist Training Course’ provides statutory education such as new special security guard training and initial security screening officer education, aiming for over 70% employment of graduates.
The professional training institution Korea Aviation Security Education Center is in charge of the program, and through a network of recruiting companies built on extensive experience and know-how, graduates will be employed by special security companies and work at airports and related companies.
This program, in cooperation with the local company Life Line (Saengmyeong-ui Jeonhwa), is open to any young person wishing to work in the social welfare field.
The Preliminary Social Worker Practical Job Training Course focuses on developing counseling skills with the goal of all graduates obtaining psychological counselor certification. It also supports cultivating practical skills through social welfare internships and employment-linked education courses.
Applicants must be young people aged 19 to 39 residing in Yangcheon-gu, and the recruitment period is until April 29. Ten people will be selected for each course (Airport Security Screening Specialist and Preliminary Social Worker) through interviews.
Youth wishing to participate in the employment linkage programs can download the application form from the district office website’s ‘Notices,’ fill it out, and submit it via email to the person in charge. For more details, contact the Employment Economy Division.
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