[Photo] Noh Hyun-song, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Attends Gyeomjae Culture and Arts Festival

[Seoul District Photo News] Gangseo-gu Hosts the 6th Gyeomjae Cultural Arts Festival at Gyeomjae Jeongseon Art Museum and Gungsan Area with Various Cultural Events and Experience Programs... Yudonggyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, Attends the 26th Mapo-gu Mayor's Cup Taekwondo Tournament on the 11th... Dongdaemun-gu Holds the 11th Coming-of-Age Ceremony in Celebration of Coming-of-Age Day

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Roh Hyun-song, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, attended the ‘6th Gyeomjae Cultural Arts Festival’ held at the Gyeomjae Jeongseon Art Museum and Gungsan area in Gangseo-gu on the 11th.

The arts festival, attended by about 1,000 local residents, began with an opening ceremony and featured various cultural events throughout the venue, including the Gyeomjae National Outdoor Sketching Contest capturing the scenery of Gungsan where Gyeomjae used to stroll, a Samulnori performance, mime and magic shows, and dance team performances.

In particular, experiential programs that residents from children to adults could directly participate in and enjoy were held, such as eco-bag decorating, calligraphy wish fan making, and animal fabric mirror making.

Mayor Roh Hyun-song said, “The Gyeomjae Cultural Arts Festival is a participatory cultural and arts festival where artists, residents, and youth come together to enjoy and inherit the artistic spirit of Gyeomjae Jeongseon and the true-view painting culture. I hope it will be a time to heal hearts tired from COVID-19 through diverse cultural and artistic programs.”

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, attended the ‘26th Mapo-gu Mayor’s Cup Taekwondo Competition’ held at the Mapo-gu Citizens Sports Center on the 11th.

The Taekwondo competition was organized by the Mapo-gu Sports Council. On the day, Mayor Yoo awarded certificates of commendation to two individuals who contributed to the development of Taekwondo in Mapo-gu and encouraged the participating athletes.

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) hosted the 11th Coming-of-Age Ceremony commemorating Coming-of-Age Day, organized by the Dongdaemun branch of the Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association, held at the Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 11th.

Coming-of-Age Day is celebrated annually on the third Monday of May to congratulate young people who have just become adults. The Coming-of-Age Ceremony is a ritual performed to remind them of their responsibilities to the nation and society as adults.

Following the tradition of holding the ceremony on an auspicious day of the year, this year’s event was held in June. Ten new adults participated in the event, which was especially meaningful as it was the first ceremony held since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ceremony proceeded through three rites. ‘Samgarye (三加禮)’ is the rite of dressing the new adults in appropriate traditional attire; ‘Chorye (茶禮)’ is the ritual teaching the etiquette of drinking alcohol; and finally, ‘Myeongjarye (命字禮)’ is the rite of bestowing a new adult name, or ‘ja,’ on the new adults.

The new adults had the opportunity during Samgarye to try on traditional clothing in order: casual wear, formal wear for going out, and ceremonial attire. Through the subsequent events, they learned about proper conduct as adults, filial piety toward parents, and love for others, concluding with a coming-of-age oath pledging to take responsibility for their own judgments and actions.

Additionally, the eleventh Coming-of-Age Ceremony in Dongdaemun-gu was enriched by a high-quality performance by ‘Pine Tree,’ a Korean traditional music emotional band fitting the ceremony.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “I hope the participants who are coming of age through this event will grow into adults who serve their elders and care for those younger. I also ask parents and surrounding adults to watch over the new adults with much interest and affection so that they can fulfill their responsibilities as adults and grow into sound members of society.”