[Photo] Opening of the '2022 Gangnam Festival' · Opening of the '2022 Gwangjin Arts Festival'

[Seoul District Photo News] Gangnam-gu September 30 Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Gangnam Festival at COEX K-POP Square, Samseong-dong ... Gwangjin-gu September 30 ‘2022 Gwangjin Arts Festival’ Opening at Naru Art Center Communicating with Residents through Art ... Mujungryeokjidae Dobong, October 1-15 Exhibition ‘Reinterpreting Hidden Attractions of Dobong-gu through Illustrations’

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Seongmyeong Jo) held the opening ceremony of the 2022 Gangnam Festival on September 30 at the COEX K-POP Square in Samseong-dong.

The opening ceremony, titled "Drawing Gangnam," featured a performance with over 170 participants including performance groups, residents, and global Hallyu fans, introducing the representative contents of the Gangnam Festival on stage. Afterwards, everyone gathered to play the new concept pan game "Gangnam Sulrae," showcasing a grand harmony event.

Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kyungho Kim) held the opening ceremony of the "2022 Gwangjin Arts Festival," communicating with residents through art, on September 30 at the Naru Art Center.

Now in its second year, the Gwangjin Arts Festival is jointly hosted by the district office, Gwangjin Cultural Foundation, Gwangjin Cultural Center, and Gwangjin Arts and Culture Association to support the creative activities of local artists and provide residents with opportunities to enjoy art in their daily lives.

On September 30, at the opening of the festival, the "Gwangjin Artists Invitational Exhibition," District Mayor Kyungho Kim personally visited the exhibition hall at Naru Art Center to appreciate about 150 artworks including paintings, calligraphy, and photographs filled with the passion and efforts of local artists.

Mayor Kim said, "This arts festival will be a festival ground where excellent performances and works can be enjoyed and communicated with residents," offering congratulations and thanks to local artists.

Then, from 7:30 PM, the opening ceremony of the Gwangjin Arts Festival was held at the Naru Art Center Grand Theater. The ceremony, hosted with witty remarks by comedian Junhyung Park, featured performances by singers Yeonja Kim, Sin Inseon, and musical actress Jimin Hong, adding to the festival's excitement.

The Gwangjin Arts Festival runs from September 30 to October 27 around the Naru Art Center area, featuring a total of 23 diverse and distinctive programs including ▲ October 8 performance of Baebangi Gut and Seodo folk songs by intangible cultural asset holder Kyungbae Kim ▲ October 11 concert by the Gwangjin Symphony Orchestra ▲ October 19 Eolsu Gwangjin performance by intangible cultural asset Salpuri dance master Heeja Jeon ▲ October 22 traditional dance performance by the Gwangjin Dance Association and the musical "Protect 3 GO."

Additionally, special performances by "MB Crew," who lead the popularization of B-boy culture and attract attention domestically and internationally, as well as stages showcasing the talents of young artists such as Sejong University’s pungmul club "Teobeollim" and Konkuk University’s theater club "Kondaegukjang" will be held.

Especially outdoors around the Naru Art Center, art programs flowing naturally alongside residents' daily lives are prepared. On October 15, centered on the Naru Art Center plaza, "Picnic in Naru" will present unique performances of popular music, classical, and jazz to residents, and at the outdoor performance hall of Naru Art Center, "Naru-rang Busking & Flea Market" will be held every Friday until October 28, supporting art in everyday life with residents.

Related schedules and detailed information can be found on the official website of the Gwangjin Cultural Foundation.

Gwangjin District Mayor Kyungho Kim said, "I hope this arts festival will be an opportunity for residents and local artists to communicate through art and culture and share hope and emotion," adding, "We will continue to make efforts to support diverse cultural lives of residents and creative activities of local artists."

Dobong-gu (District Mayor Eonseok Oh) under the Dobong Cultural Foundation’s Gravity-Free Zone Dobong will hold an exhibition titled "Reinterpreting Dobong-gu’s Hidden Attractions through Illustrations" for two weeks from October 1 to 15.

This exhibition is presented by "Team Dobong," selected for the Gravity-Free Zone Dobong space support project "Art Station" for experimental artistic activities of young artists. "Team Dobong" is a name that contains the meanings of the place name "Dobong (道峰)" and "Dobong (都封)," meaning gathering and sealing various items together. It signifies six illustrators (Sowon, Gatguun, Ohu-bam, Yuji, Madi, Letsee) who understand local culture and aim for creative artistic activities. Composed of various professions and age groups, they plan to reinterpret Dobong-gu through illustrations reflecting their individuality and sensibility.

"Team Dobong" visualizes hidden spaces in Dobong-gu where old charm and nature blend, such as ▲ Dobongsan Mountain ▲ Changpowon ▲ Banghak-dong Ginkgo Tree ▲ Kansong Old House, aiming to show "Dobong-gu that anyone would want to travel to." The artists found unique attractions only in Dobong-gu and expressed them in works containing their own perspectives.

The Gravity-Free Zone Dobong youth artist space support project "Art Station" provides space for young artists in visual and performance fields. Utilizing the unique space characteristics of Gravity-Free Zone Dobong, which combines containers, three teams were selected to try experimental artistic activities. In June, a youth theater play program (co-creative group Wiro) was held, and in September, a mixed art exhibition (Team Orbit) reflecting the perspectives of young people from other regions met in Dobong was conducted.

The exhibition will be held from October 1 to Saturday, October 15 (excluding holidays) on the 2nd floor Nupnup Maru of Gravity-Free Zone Dobong. For detailed viewing hours and information, please refer to the Gravity-Free Zone Dobong blog.

Dobong District Mayor Eonseok Oh said, "I hope this exhibition allows young artists to fully showcase their talents in the youth space and provides residents with opportunities to experience diverse cultures."