[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters] Everyone Walks, Runs, and Plays... The Playground Created in Geumcheon-gu

Located in Doksan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, ‘Moduui School’ is a lifelong education institution that opened in 2017 and started its first semester in March 2018. It was established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and is operated by the Seoul Lifelong Education Promotion Institute.

The space, which had been a middle school for 45 years, was transformed into a learning and cultural space for all generations, but the playground remained a dirt and sand field. Recently, this place was transformed into ‘Moduui Playground.’ ‘Moduui Playground’ was created through a partnership between the Seoul Lifelong Education Promotion Institute, Nike Korea, and the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation to enhance children’s right to play and improve convenience for Seoul citizens. Notably, it is the first case in Korea created as part of Nike Korea’s environmental campaign ‘Move to Zero,’ which aims for zero carbon and zero waste. Clothes donated by consumers were reborn as textile panels used for storage lockers, and shoes were upcycled into chip materials for the lower part of the playground, used in parts of Moduui Playground.

'Everyone's Playground' opened on May 27 [Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Lifelong Education Promotion Institute]

‘Moduui Playground,’ covering a total floor area of 1,613㎡, was constructed as a customized field utilizing the trapezoidal-shaped site. The futsal and basketball courts, each consisting of three goals, were designed as spaces that respect the diversity of physical abilities so that anyone can use them, deviating from official regulations. The futsal court is a circular field with three goals installed to allow various users to participate. The basketball court also has three goals installed at different heights to accommodate different physical abilities. A badminton court and running track were also provided. Through meetings with citizens, the Seoul Lifelong Education Promotion Institute arranged badminton courts between the fields to meet the needs of local residents. Additionally, a running track was created to improve the existing dirt and sand playground, which was vulnerable to flooding and caused inconvenience to elderly residents during walks, thereby providing a more pleasant exercise environment.

On the 27th of last month, the opening ceremony of ‘Moduui Playground’ was held, where families with elementary school children experienced various physical activities. Model Song Haena and Cha Sumin, who appeared on SBS’s soccer entertainment program ‘Kick a Goal, Ladies,’ participated in the program with the children.

Children are enjoying futsal at the 'Moduui Undongjang' futsal court, which opened on May 27.
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Lifelong Education Promotion Institute]

The Seoul Lifelong Education Promotion Institute plans to operate physical activity programs for different life stages at ‘Moduui Playground.’ In the summer semester, which began recruiting from the 30th of last month, the program ‘Kick a Goal 4050: Soccer Edition’ to promote physical activity for women in their 40s and 50s and ‘Active Modu: Summer Semester Edition’ for elementary school students will be conducted.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said in a video congratulatory message at the opening ceremony, "I hope that ‘Moduui Playground’ will become a space where lifelong physical education programs for socially and physically vulnerable groups are provided, as well as a true intergenerational integration space where children can run and play and seniors can take walks."