[Seoul District News] Seodaemun-gu Creates Autumn Flower Path with Over 56,000 Trees Along Hongjecheon & Composed of 5 Themes Including History, Education, Nature, Culture, and Arts of Seodaemun... Jongno-gu Hosts 10th Jamunbak Cultural Festival from 23rd to 25th, Starting with Honorary Road Naming Ceremony for Lee Eoryeong-gil & Gana Art Center, Whanki Museum Offer Docent Tours, Art Market, and Craft Programs... Nowon-gu Holds Senior Citizens' Day Ceremony at Nowon-gu Citizens' Hall on 23rd at 10:50 AM
Independence Gate model and Taegeuk pattern decorated with flowers at Hongjecheon Waterfall Square in Seodaemun-gu
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Seong-heon) recently created flower paths along the approximately 670m walking trail from Hongjecheon ‘Pokpo Madang’ to ‘Hongyeon 2-gyo’ to let citizens enjoy the autumn atmosphere, and will open it to the public until the end of next month.
This area is themed ‘A Hongjecheon Outing with Autumn Flowers’ and is divided into five concepts: Seodaemun’s history, education, nature, culture, and art.
About 39,000 plants including yellow cosmos, cockscomb, and chrysanthemums prepared by the district, along with about 17,000 plants sponsored by NH Nonghyup Life Insurance (CEO Kim In-tae), create a beautiful autumn landscape.
The district decorated the ‘Seodaemun History’ section with a model of the Independence Gate and the Taegeuk pattern, and the ‘Seodaemun Education’ section with a dinosaur figure representing the Seodaemun Natural History Museum.
In the ‘Seodaemun Nature’ section, visitors can see a model of the beacon mound located at the summit of Ansan (鞍山) within the district, and in the ‘Seodaemun Culture’ section, a busker (street performer) model of Sinchon made using recycled jeans and flowers is displayed.
In the ‘Seodaemun Art’ section, creative works made by students of Chugye University for the Arts using flowers welcome citizens.
The unique flower sculptures installed in each section are expected to be popular autumn photo zones.
After strolling along the autumn flower path, visitors can continue to the Ansan Jarak-gil trail connected to the Hongjecheon Pokpo Madang to better feel the deepening autumn.
Lee Seong-heon, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, “I hope the flower path along Hongjecheon will be a small gift of autumn days to citizens tired from the prolonged infectious disease outbreak.”
Jongno-gu (Mayor Jeong Mun-heon) will hold the ‘10th Jamun Bak Cultural Festival’ from the 23rd to the 25th in the area called ‘Jamun Bak,’ meaning outside Jahamun.
This event was prepared to build a regional cultural platform connecting cultural artists and residents active mainly in the area, and to promote the beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural and artistic resources of the area.
This year’s theme is ‘Jamun Bak·Art Road·Login.’ It aims to provide diverse programs by uniting senior, mid-career, and emerging artists across generations and to offer high-quality cultural and artistic experiences to citizens exhausted by COVID-19.
Before the official start of the festival, at 4 p.m. on the 23rd, a ceremony will be held at Yeongin Literature Museum (81 Pyeongchang 30-gil) to confer the honorary road name ‘Lee O-ryeong-gil.’
The honorary road name ‘Lee O-ryeong-gil’ covers about 700m from in front of Gana Art Center at 28 Pyeongchang 30-gil to the end of Pyeongchang 30-gil. It will be a time to honor former Minister of Culture Lee O-ryeong, who lived in Jamun Bak for over 40 years and laid the foundation for Korea’s cultural policy.
On the same day at 5 p.m., the male choir ‘Imaestri,’ led by music director Yang Jae-moo, will perform at the opening ceremony at Gana Art Center (28 Pyeongchang 30-gil).
On the 24th and 25th, docent tours and craft programs will be held at Hwan-gi Museum, Seoul Museum, and Pagakjeong, respectively. Additionally, at Hwajeong Museum, an art market and exhibition involving residents, artists, and young creators will take place.
‘Jamun Bak,’ which includes Gugi-dong, Buam-dong, Sinyeong-dong, Pyeongchang-dong, and Hongji-dong in Jongno-gu, is noted as a self-sustaining cultural and artistic village with many art galleries and museums and numerous cultural artists residing there.
Based on this, Jongno-gu opened the Jamun Bak Art Residency (5 Pyeongchang 31-gil) in September 2020 to provide cultural artists with a stable yet free working environment and opportunities for growth through mutual exchange.
Mayor Jeong Mun-heon said, “We plan to introduce the artistic worlds of artists actively working domestically and internationally based in Jamun Bak, providing diverse attractions to residents and tourists,” adding, “We will strive to create a cultural tourism belt in the area encompassing Jamun Bak and the Blue House.”
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will hold the 26th Senior Citizens’ Day commemorative event with Kim Deok-su Samulnori troupe on the 23rd.
As of June 2022, the population of seniors aged 70 and over in the district is 58,820, about 11.5% of the total residents. The district conducts various senior citizen events to support the increasing elderly population’s leisure and welfare, and this commemorative event is part of that effort.
The ceremony, held from 10:50 a.m. on the 23rd at the Nowon-gu Citizens’ Hall auditorium, is organized ahead of the upcoming Senior Citizens’ Day (October 2) to express respect and gratitude to exemplary seniors in the community and to commend those who have contributed to improving senior welfare.
A special performance by Kim Deok-su Samulnori troupe is scheduled before the ceremony, raising great expectations. Kim Deok-su, who has introduced Korean traditional sounds worldwide, serves as co-chairman of the Nowon Tal Festival Promotion Committee, assisting in planning and operating the festival, and through this connection, will present a stage for local seniors at this event.
The performance will feature about 10 members including the troupe leader. Over 30 minutes, the auditorium will be filled with lively Korean traditional sounds through performances such as prayers, pan-nolum, Samdo Seoljanggo, Samdo Nongak rhythms, and janggu solo.
Following the performance, the main ceremony will include a reading of the senior citizens’ pledge by the senior association representative, and awards will be presented to 36 seniors who have been role models through dedication to society and neighbors, as well as residents and organizations contributing to senior welfare.
Outside the venue during the ceremony, related organizations such as ‘Nowon Senior Club,’ ‘Nowon Job Support Center,’ and ‘Nowon Senior Welfare Center’ will hold side events. The district has invested about 546 million KRW to operate a ‘Visiting Mobile Health Bus’ providing simple health checkups and consultations such as blood pressure measurement for seniors.
Additionally, throughout October, the month of seniors, various senior events tailored to each neighborhood’s characteristics will be held across Nowon-gu. The district plans to support up to 2.1 million KRW per neighborhood, considering the senior population and number of senior centers, to assist event progress.
Meanwhile, Nowon-gu, which joined the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities in 2020, is leading efforts to create an age-friendly city environment and culture. It focuses on discovering senior jobs and supporting leisure and cultural enjoyment for seniors.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “On the occasion of the 26th Senior Citizens’ Day, I want to express respect and gratitude to seniors who are the foundation of our society,” adding, “We will continue to carefully manage everything from improving urban environments for seniors’ convenience to leisure welfare for a vibrant life.”
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