Residents of villages adjacent to Hwangryonggang Jangnok Wetland, designated as the nation's first urban national wetland protection area, will hold a ‘single-use item-free’ festival for ecology and the environment.
According to Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 15th, the ‘2023 Eoryong-dong Village Festival Odongje’ will be held on the 20th at Hwangryong Waterfront Park.
Odongje has been held biennially since 2017 with the purpose of fostering communication and harmony among residents of five legal neighborhoods: Bakho, Seobong, Seonam, Sochon, and Unsu-dong. It was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 and is now marking its third event this year.
Although it is being held for the first time in four years, this year’s festival is even more special. For the first time, it will adopt a ‘Zero Waste’ format to highlight the ecological value and significance of Jangnok Wetland, the nation’s first urban national wetland.
All participants in the event are encouraged to enjoy food using personal tumblers and reusable containers instead of single-use items.
To raise awareness of the severity of the climate crisis and promote participation and practice to overcome it, the festival will operate a resource circulation market, workshops creating artworks using waste resources such as empty cans and waste paper, and a Gulling (play using discarded tires) booth in collaboration with Gwangsan-gu Yaho Center (Wolgok Youth Culture House).
There will also be the ‘Secrets of Hwangryonggang Jangnok Wetland Exhibition’ showcasing the ecological importance of Jangnok Wetland through photos, books, and videos. Alongside this, various events such as a children’s drawing contest, special performances by generation, and a traditional games competition for seniors will be held.
Prior to Odongje, on the 17th, to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, lawyer Park Jun-young will be invited to give a human rights lecture titled ‘Me, Us & Community Human Rights’ at the Story Flower Library Neoreunmaru.
Additionally, on the 18th and 19th, about 300 elementary and middle school students from Eoryong-dong will watch a resident-participation play adapted from the story of the Bakho-dong militia.
Park Won-cheol, chairman of the Eoryong-dong Odongje Promotion Committee, said, “This year’s Odongje will not only promote resident harmony but also raise awareness and participation in natural environment preservation, and serve as a festival to reflect on the spirit of May 18. We hope it will be a place where not only Eoryong-dong residents but also many citizens who love Jangnok Wetland can come together.”
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