[Photo] Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, Attends the 6th Nanum Bazaar

[Seoul District News] All proceeds from clothing, accessories, and food sales by 16 churches in Mapo-gu donated to Mapo Talent Development Scholarship Foundation and Warm Winter Fund for the Underprivileged ... Oh Seung-rok, Nowon-gu Mayor, attends Startup & Local Economy Festival ... 28th Seoul Yakryeongsi Bojeon Oriental Medicine Festival opens ... Seoul Gangseo-gu presents ‘26th Gangseo Citizen Awards’ ... Yangcheon-gu Youth-led Festival Switch ON & RUN

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, attended the 6th Sharing Bazaar held at the Mapo-gu Office Plaza on the 28th, purchasing items and participating in donations.

This Sharing Bazaar was organized by the Mapo-gu Church Council (President Pastor Yoo Yo-han) with the purpose of contributing to the spread of a donation culture through resource circulation and practicing sharing.

Sixteen churches in Mapo-gu participated, selling clothing, miscellaneous goods, and food items, with all proceeds donated to the Mapo Talent Development Scholarship Foundation and funds to help underprivileged groups have a warm winter.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, attended the ‘Startup & Local Economy Festival’ held at the outdoor stage of Junggye Neighborhood Park at 2 p.m. on the 28th.

Now in its 12th year, the ‘Startup & Local Economy Festival’ is an event designed to provide job seekers with information on various job sectors and startup-related information.

A total of 82 booths were set up to sell and exhibit excellent idea products from university startup incubation centers and startup clubs in the area, as well as products and services from outstanding local small and medium-sized enterprises.

The event proceeded with an opening declaration, introduction of guests, awards for outstanding entrepreneurs, greetings, congratulatory speeches, commemorative photos, and a tour of the venue, attended by Mayor Oh Seung-rok, other dignitaries, and about 100 Nowon-gu residents.

Mayor Oh said, “I hope this event becomes an opportunity for social economy enterprises and local residents to grow and harmonize together,” adding, “We will continue to discover various startup companies and strive to provide valuable job information to job seekers.”

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) announced that the ‘28th Seoul Yakryeongsi Boje-won Oriental Medicine Culture Festival,’ held around the Seoul Oriental Medicine Promotion Center and Yakryeong Central Road, opened on the morning of the 28th with the Boje-won ancestral rite parade and ceremony.

Hosted by the Seoul Yakryeongsi Association, the ‘Seoul Yakryeongsi Boje-won Oriental Medicine Culture Festival’ is an event to inherit the spirit of public welfare and respect for life of ancestors and to promote the development of traditional Korean medicine.

The day’s events began with the Boje-won ancestral rite parade and ceremony. The parade started in front of Jegi-dong Community Center, passed through Gyeongdong Market intersection and Yakryeongsi Gate, and proceeded to the front of the Seoul Oriental Medicine Promotion Center. The ancestral rite ceremony was held on the lawn on the first floor of the Seoul Oriental Medicine Promotion Center.

Following the opening ceremony, various events took place including ▲Boje-won healthy medicinal rice ball sharing event ▲free oriental medicine treatment and medication ▲oriental medicine eco-friendly healing camping zone. In the evening, a night event called ▲Oriental Medicine Starry Night (Citizen’s Night) is scheduled, where visitors can enjoy oriental medicine food sales and cultural performances.

The Oriental Medicine Culture Festival continues until the 29th, featuring on the 29th ▲Herb cutting contest ▲‘I am the Ttakji King’ competition ▲Seoul Yakryeongsi citizen singing contest ▲oriental medicine kimchi sharing event, along with the oriental medicine flea market ‘Hanbang-e Noljang(Jang)’ and a K-fashion show.

Choi Hong-yeon, Deputy Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, who attended the event, said, “I hope many residents participate in the Oriental Medicine Culture Festival running until tomorrow to enjoy and experience various oriental medicine cultures,” adding, “We will do our best to make oriental medicine culture more familiar to people.”

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Tae-woo) held the ‘26th Gangseo Citizen Award’ ceremony on the 28th to express gratitude to those who have contributed to community harmony and regional development.

The district held the award ceremony in the afternoon at the district office’s main conference room, presenting the ‘Gangseo Citizen Award’ to exemplary citizens who have become role models for residents through exceptional dedication and volunteer spirit.

The Gangseo Citizen Award was given in five categories: ▲community development ▲citizen harmony and volunteerism ▲environmental protection ▲cultural and sports development ▲public morals, selecting a total of nine recipients including one grand prize winner.

The grand prize was awarded to Shin Yeon-hee, head of the Hope Dream Group in Gayang 3-dong. Shin was highly praised for practicing neighborly love through numerous volunteer activities for the socially vulnerable, such as delivering side dishes and sharing kimchi for disadvantaged groups and bathing services for elderly living alone.

In the community development category, Kim Yeon-sik, chairman of the Yeomchang-dong Residents’ Autonomy Committee, received the award for promoting resident communication and harmony through initiatives like local film screenings and residents’ general meetings.

The citizen harmony and volunteerism category recognized Na Hye-sim, a member of the Hope Dream Group in Deungchon 2-dong, for discovering welfare blind spots and enhancing welfare for marginalized groups, and Kim Jeong-hwan, a member of the Gayang 1-dong Residents’ Autonomy Committee, for supporting local festivals and contributing to COVID-19 quarantine activities.

In the environmental protection category, Lee Yong-hyun of Gayang 3-dong was acknowledged for improving congested road traffic conditions and contributing to various environmental cleanup activities.

The cultural and sports development category honored Moon Jong-hyun of Balsan 1-dong for promoting the Balsan Village cultural festival and expanding grassroots sports, and Oh Nam-sook, chairman of the Banghwa 1-dong Residents’ Autonomy Committee, for supporting the Gaehwasan sunrise event and contributing to local cultural development through events like the Banghwa Ssamji Village Happiness Sharing Festival.

The public morals category selected Han In-sook, a member of the Hope Dream Group in Hwagok 3-dong, for practicing love and sharing with neighbors in need such as elderly living alone and disabled persons, and Hong Jae-sook of Banghwa 3-dong for filial piety by devotedly caring for her elderly mother-in-law.

Mayor Kim Tae-woo said, “Despite the very difficult situation over the past three years due to COVID-19, Gangseo-gu exists today because of those who have dedicated and volunteered for regional development and the socially vulnerable,” adding, “Together with residents, we will protect the socially vulnerable and make Gangseo-gu the brightest district in Seoul.”

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Ki-jae) held the youth-led career and future festival ‘Switch ON&RUN’ at Yangcheon Park on the 28th.

Planned and operated by a youth autonomy committee composed of about 50 middle and high school students in the area, the festival featured a rich program including future job career experience booths tailored to youth perspectives, youth club operation booths, talent shows, invited performances, and exhibitions.

Especially, special performances such as invited singer Lee Bo-ram (WSG Wannabe), cheerleading performances, and magic shows drew explosive responses from the youth, greatly enhancing the festival’s excitement.

Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) held a traditional autumn harvest on the 28th at the Yangjaecheon rice farming learning center near Yeongdong 4-gyo, with about 200 participants including children from the Little Farmer School and district office staff.

This year, due to flooding at the rice farming learning center, the harvest volume was about 5% of the average year, so the event was conducted mainly as an experiential activity for participating children.