'It Takes 200 Million Years for Rock to Become Sand' ... Kim Namjo 'Rock and Sand'

[Seoul District News] Jongno-gu Posts Poet Kim Namjo's Works 'Rock and Sand' and 'Becoming Human' on 'Flowing Poem Bulletin Board' ... Seodaemun-gu Publishes Environmental Fairy Tale Book 'Please Take Care of the Hongjecheon Dorongi Family' ... Gangdong-gu to Host 'Hello! Craft' Festival on 28th

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] 'It takes 200 million years for a rock to break down and become sand...'

Jongno-gu will post two poems by poet Kim Nam-jo on the 'Poetry Flowing in Jamunbak Creative Art Village Bulletin Board' on the 31st and hold a commemorative ceremony.

Earlier in March, the district installed bulletin boards around Gugi-dong to introduce works by famous artists in Jamunbak Creative Art Village, allowing residents to feel closer to poetry and enjoy a life enriched with culture. Careful consideration was given to the location, selecting the bus stop near Samsung Publishing Museum by Gugi Tunnel, which can be considered the starting point of Jamunbak Creative Art Village.

Following the works of poet Lee Geun-bae, the works posted this time on the bulletin board are two poems by Kim Nam-jo: "Rock and Sand" and "Becoming a Person."

Known as the 'Poet of Love' for her warm perspective on love and life expressed in her poetry, Kim served as a professor in the Korean Language and Literature Department at Sookmyung Women's University, a director of the Korean Writers' Association, president of the Korean Women Writers' Association, and a director of the Korean Broadcasting System.

She was also recognized for her contributions to the development of poetry, receiving the Moran Medal of the Order of Civil Merit in 1993, the Arts Academy Award in Literature from the National Academy of Arts in 1996, and the Silver Crown Cultural Medal in 1998.

The event celebrating the posting of the works on the 31st will be attended by Jeong Moon-heon, Mayor of Jongno-gu, Lee Soon-jong, Chairman of the Jamunbak Cultural Forum, and Kim Jong-gyu, Chairman of the Cultural Heritage National Trust. The program will begin at 11 a.m. with congratulatory speeches, a reading of Kim Nam-jo's poems, and commemorative photos.

The posted works will be changed quarterly through a public recruitment process by the Jamunbak Cultural Forum.

‘Jamunbak,’ 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 where many art museums such as the Kim Whanki Museum and numerous cultural artists reside.

Based on this, Jongno-gu opened the Jamunbak Art Residency in 2020 to provide cultural artists with a stable yet free working environment.

Additionally, in September, a three-day ‘Jamunbak Cultural Festival’ was held in venues such as the Gana Art Center and Whanki Museum, receiving enthusiastic responses.

Mayor Jeong Moon-heon said, “I hope everyone finds comfort in their hearts by encountering high-quality poetry here,” and added, “We will continue to accelerate the creation of a creative art village by utilizing the rich cultural and artistic infrastructure of the Jamunbak area.”

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Seong-heon) announced on the 27th that it has recently published a fairy tale book featuring the local natural environment, becoming the first local government in the country to do so.

The book, titled "Please Take Care of the Hongjecheon Salamander Family," anthropomorphizes salamanders and tells the story of a salamander family living in Ansan (鞍山), Seodaemun-gu, moving to the nearby Hongjecheon stream.

Additionally, there are 10 hidden egret illustrations in the book, providing young readers with the fun of finding hidden pictures.

Since the second half of this year, a five-member public-private-academic council has been responsible for topic selection, content planning, writing, reviewing, and proofreading, while illustrations and design were commissioned to a professional company.

The council includes an elementary school teacher, a daycare center director, an environmental instructor from the Seodaemun Two-Wheel Environmental Center, a supervisor from the Seoul Western Education Support Office, and a staff member from the district office’s Climate Environment Division.

The district will distribute 500 copies of this fairy tale book free of charge to local daycare centers, kindergartens, and small libraries.

It will also provide related teaching guides so that teachers and parents can educate young children about the environment.

Furthermore, to allow anyone to read and use the book, audio books and e-books will be produced through volunteer contributions and uploaded on the district website and the Seodaemun Two-Wheel Environmental Center blog.

Mayor Lee Seong-heon of Seodaemun-gu said, “We expect this friendly fairy tale book, tailored to children’s level, to effectively convey the importance of the environment to children.”

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) will hold the Gangdong Craft Festival ‘Hello! Craft’ on the 28th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the open yard of Gangdong-gu Office.

This event features 26 workshops centered around Angel & Darak Workshop and 4 social enterprises, with booths selling handmade craft products decorated with a ‘Halloween’ concept, along with various experience programs, performances, and events.

At the market selling handmade craft products, visitors can browse and purchase items such as handmade textile accessories, craft wooden items, and hand-drip coffee beans. Experience booths offer fun activities like decorating Halloween character candle lights, making rattan pumpkin baskets & Halloween coasters, and creating Halloween balloons, cookies, and soaps to enjoy an immersive Halloween atmosphere.

From 4 p.m., a spectacular musical performance and magic show will further enrich the craft festival. Additionally, candy baskets containing Halloween cookies will be provided, and a children’s toy claw machine event will be held.

On this day, the district plans to award certificates of appreciation to four representatives of Angel Workshop who have contributed to spreading craft culture and revitalizing the local economy in celebration of the craft festival.

For more details about the Gangdong Craft Festival ‘Hello! Craft,’ please contact the Job Policy Division of Gangdong-gu Office.