Gwanak Starlight Walk... Seongdong Village Festival Held

[Seoul District News] Gwanak-gu and Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation to Host ‘Gwanak Starlight Walk’ from October 26 to November 30 to Revitalize ‘Sinsari Commercial Area’ & Starlight-Themed Landscape to Attract Visitors & Lighting Ceremony on October 27 at 6:30 PM & Busking Performances, Experience Programs Including Pilates and Leather Craft One-Day Classes ... Seongdong-gu to Hold Seongdong Village Festival on 22nd at 1 PM in Wangsimni Plaza to Promote Community Values & ESG Products, Waste Resources

2021 Gwanak Starlight Festival

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee), together with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation, will hold the ‘Gwanak Starlight Walk’ from October 26 to November 30 to revitalize the ‘Sinsari Commercial District.’

The ‘Sinsari Commercial District’ is a representative commercial area in Gwanak-gu, concentrated around Sillim Station, including Sundae Town, Sinwon Market, Seowon-dong Shopping Street, and Gwanak General Market. To secure competitiveness against changes in consumption patterns and the emergence of large-scale distribution companies, the district has been promoting the ‘Starlight Sinsari Commercial District Renaissance’ project since 2020, investing a total of 8 billion KRW over five years in collaboration with the foundation.

The ‘Gwanak Starlight Walk,’ as part of the ‘Starlight Sinsari Commercial District Renaissance’ project, aims to invigorate the local commercial district by attracting new customers through various attractions.

Along approximately 200 meters between Sillimgyo and Bongrimgyo bridges on the Starlight Naerincheon stream, three themed zones?Beginning of Starlight, Excitement of Starlight, and Companionship of Starlight?are created with ‘starlight’ lighting inspired by General Gang Gam-chan, a representative figure of Gwanak-gu, offering visitors visual enjoyment.

Various performances are also prepared. Until January 14 next year, every Friday and Saturday, ‘Music Flowing Starlight Naerincheon’ will feature young emerging artists expanding the range of performances including orchestras. Events such as calligraphy and eco-friendly pot making will also be available for visitors to experience.

Additionally, utilizing spaces such as party rooms and study cafes within the commercial district, one-day classes teaching jewelry crafts, leather crafts, yoga, and more will be operated to maximize customer visits and consumption.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “The ‘Gwanak Starlight Walk’ is a great opportunity to experience the Starlight Sinsari Commercial District Renaissance,” adding, “I hope families and couples visit ‘Starlight Sinsari’ to enjoy responsible consumption and create wonderful memories.”

2019 Village Festival

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it will hold the ‘Seongdong Village Festival’ at 1 p.m. on October 22 at Wangsimni Square.

The Seongdong Village Festival has been held annually since 2013 as a community event, but due to COVID-19, it was held online for the past two years, leaving local residents with some regret. This year, on the 22nd, it will be organized as a festival with various communities participating at Wangsimni Square.

On the day of the event, residents, institutions, and organizations involved in village communities or participating in public projects will operate experience booths, photo zones, and air bounces, along with performances.

There will be 27 experience booths open to everyone, including coffee hand drip experience, ESG product experience, zero waste practice, traditional percussion instrument making, and soap making using recycled materials. Additionally, eight teams composed of various age groups from elementary to university students will perform magic shows, K-pop dance, traditional Korean music, and other resident performances.

The district aims to revive and spread the spirit of community within the region through this event and expects it to be a festival that brings local residents together during the deepening autumn days.

Mayor Jung Won-oh said, “This event is a village festival held at Wangsimni Square for the first time in a long while after the prolonged COVID-19 situation,” adding, “I hope it brings some vitality to the residents through various experience booths and performances and contributes to the activation of the village community.”

Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) will hold the ‘Healing Walking Meditation in the City’ experience at 2 p.m. on the 22nd at the Gangnam Healing Center Gaepo Branch.

Held in collaboration with the Korea Meditation Association, this event is designed to provide residents exhausted by the economic downturn and the COVID-19 pandemic with an opportunity to find physical health, inner peace, and happiness. Participants will learn meditation methods and postures during a ‘breathing meditation’ session, followed by a ‘walking meditation’ starting from the Gangnam Healing Center (Gaepo) and returning via the Gaepo Neighborhood Park walking trail.

The experience lasts 90 minutes and will be held three times on October 22, November 5, and 12. Participation is limited to 90 residents who register in advance, and the event is free of charge.

Meanwhile, the district will conduct a well-dying special lecture for 20 seniors aged 60 and above at the Gangnam Healing Center (Gaepo). Held every Thursday in November, the lectures will cover topics such as discussions on death, advance medical directives, and photo humanities. Applications can be made by contacting the New Design Division.

Mayor Jo Seong-myeong said, “I hope residents experience healing time by walking through urban parks with a lighter heart through walking meditation,” adding, “Gangnam-gu will continue to operate various healing programs that improve residents’ happiness and quality of life during the 8th local government administration.”

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) announced that starting from the 22nd, it will hold the ‘Dongjak Chung-hyo-gil Walk’ event in collaboration with the Dongjak Commercial District Revitalization Project Group.

‘Dongjak Chung-hyo-gil’ is an urban walking trail with historical significance in Dongjak, passing by the National Cemetery to honor the spirits of patriotic martyrs and reflect on the spirit of filial piety.

This event is designed to promote residents’ health through walking and revitalize the commercial district. It will be held six times a day every weekend from the 22nd until the 6th of next month, totaling 36 sessions.

The walking course covers about 2 km of a section of Chung-hyo-gil starting from the Namseong Sage Market Customer Support Center (47 Dongjak-daero 29-gil) and takes about 90 minutes.

This year, course guides will introduce and explain local landmarks while walking, providing participants with a richer experience.

Additionally, a busking performance will be held at 2 p.m. in front of the Customer Support Center on the event day for participants and market customers to enjoy together.

All participants will receive bottled water and snack packs, and those who complete the course will be awarded Namseong Sage Market gift certificates, with prizes also given through an online raffle.

The event is open to everyone, and participants can register in advance via QR code or offline at the participant registration booth on the first floor of the Namseong Sage Market Customer Support Center. For more details, contact the Dongjak Commercial District Revitalization Project Group.

Mayor Park Il-ha said, “I hope many people participate in this event to feel the autumn atmosphere and have opportunities to talk together,” adding, “We will do our best to prepare various measures for coexistence between local residents and merchants.”