The nights are becoming dazzling in areas such as Hongdae Red Road in Mapo-gu, Omok Park in Yangcheon-gu, Anyangcheon in Yeongdeungpo-gu, and Hongjecheon in Eunpyeong-gu.
This is because the autonomous districts governing these areas are making the night streets more splendid through the creation of light streets and hosting light festivals.
Creation of Light Streets in Major Commercial Areas Including Hongdae Red Road in Mapo-gu
The nights in Mapo now sparkle with light all year round. Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) has embarked on creating light streets that highlight the unique characteristics of major tourist commercial areas, including Hongdae Red Road.
Mapo-gu plans to activate tourism by providing differentiated attractions through light streets using light sculptures, reflecting the preferences of the MZ generation who enjoy posting photos on social networking services (SNS).
The light streets being created this time are not temporary but will be managed and operated year-round by installing lighting that matches the scenery and themes of each location.
The installation areas include sections R1~R2 and R5~R6 of Hongdae Red Road, Yonggang-dong and Dohwa-dong known for their food, Daehyeong-dong and Yeonnam-dong adjacent to the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, and Mangridan-gil, popular among the MZ generation.
Especially in the R5~R6 section of Hongdae Red Road, which attracts nearly 520,000 foreign tourists annually, a clock tower sculpture will be created along with splendid string light decorations to be used in the 2024 New Year's Eve event, the 'Red Road Countdown.'
A district official said, "Since the light streets will be operated continuously, we are focusing on installing them sturdily so that they do not spoil the daytime aesthetics and can withstand strong winds."
All installation areas, including Red Road R5~R6, will feature a 'Tree Milky Way' path where lights are mounted on trees. Various colorful light forms will be installed to create a Milky Way path that brightly illuminates the streets at night.
Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, "This is not a one-time event for the year-end and New Year but aims to revitalize tourism in Mapo-gu and be utilized for various events. We hope both Mapo residents and tourists will happily enjoy the newly created light streets throughout Mapo this year."
Meanwhile, the 'New Year's Red Road Countdown' event will be held under the clock tower light street at Hongdae Red Road R6 on December 31. Hosted by announcer Lee Jae-yong, passionate performances by singers Choi Su-ho and Jin-wook from 'Mr. Trot 2' will enliven the atmosphere. Around midnight, everyone will energetically welcome the 2024 Gapjin Year with a countdown, followed by a New Year performance and a congratulatory concert by singer Ahn Sung-hoon.
Yangcheon-gu to Host the 3rd Yangcheon BicheNara Festival at Omok Park and Yeonui Park from December 22 to February 29
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced that from December 22 to February 29 next year, the '3rd Yangcheon BicheNara Festival (YBNF)' will be held for two months at Omok Park and Yeonui Park, filling the winter gardens with colorful lights.
Following last year's Paris Park and Anyangcheon, this year's festival will be held at the newly renovated Omok Park and the beloved ecological learning site Yeonui Park, offering a romantic winter night to all residents ahead of Christmas and the New Year.
Omok Park features a light sculpture mysteriously depicting trees at the center of the corridor central garden, with radial string lights extending up to the second-floor skywalk, adding a sense of spaciousness. The skywalk floor is decorated with multicolored circular bulbs reminiscent of the Milky Way, and in the direction of the children's forest rest area, tree lights and snowflake-shaped lights create a 'Forest of Light.' Towards Forest Lounge I, character lights shaped like Christmas presents are installed, and next to Omok Art Museum, a blue heart tunnel is set up. The deck walking area has a unique photo zone in the form of a frame with trees and snowmen, and string lights guiding visitors extend to the park's outskirts.
At Yeonui Park, themed 'BicheNara Colorful Forest,' visitors can find large tree lights using the park's symbol, three poplar trees, a 'Bridge of Light' wrapping the deck walkway through the wetland center, entrance sculptures on both sides, character and rainbow lights symbolizing the Gapjin Year of the Dragon, three-dimensional light sculptures of trees, and trees draped with multicolored bell-shaped lights, creating unique photo spots throughout.
The lighting ceremony marking the start of the 3rd Yangcheon BicheNara Festival will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 22, at the central garden of Omok Park. As this day is also the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, a 'Concert in the Forest' featuring carols and pop songs will warm the deepening winter night, followed by the lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. to kick off the two-month light festival.
Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, "This winter, we hope families create unforgettable memories together in the nearby urban gardens where the 3rd Yangcheon BicheNara Festival returns."
Yeongdeungpo-gu to Host Anyangcheon Night Light Festival from December 23 to January 1
An emotional 'Night Light Festival' that will brightly illuminate the winter nights will take place at Anyangcheon.
Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that from December 23 to January 1 next year, the 'Anyangcheon Night Light Festival' will be held for 10 days, adorning Anyangcheon with splendid lights.
The 'Anyangcheon Night Light Festival,' themed 'A Special Time Only Met at Night,' will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. along the embankment walking path from Mokdong Bridge to Yangpyeong Bridge, the waterside area around Eoseom (artificial island), and Yangpyeong 2 pedestrian overpass. Each section, divided into four themes, will feature various light sculptures, landscape lighting, and illuminated walking paths to beautifully decorate Anyangcheon.
At Eoseom, the artificial island within Anyangcheon, a large Christmas tree evoking the year-end atmosphere will be installed. The nearby 'Eoseom Photo Zone' includes a photo zone with the large tree, a sparkling tree forest, and a 7-meter-wide large coloring guestbook. 'Awesome Place' offers various experiences under blacklight, such as making neon trees, creating fluorescent landscapes, fluorescent face painting, and playing glow-in-the-dark traditional games under the moonlight. The 'Black Forest' walking path illuminated by blacklight features interactive lighting that responds to people's movements and showcases the sparkling creatures of Anyangcheon under the lights.
Since this is the first festival, the district will hold a lighting ceremony with residents to mark the festival's start. Residents can apply in advance on a first-come, first-served basis through the district's integrated reservation system to attend the Christmas tree and Black Forest lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. on the 23rd.
Additionally, the festival will feature 'cultural experimental projects' planned and executed by residents themselves to revitalize urban waterside culture.
Since being selected as Seoul's only 'Legal Cultural City,' the district has been striving to expand cultural infrastructure and opportunities for cultural enjoyment. Especially after Anyangcheon was selected in Seoul's 'Waterside Vitality Hub Creation Contest' last September, the district is accelerating efforts to develop the Anyangcheon waterside space into a new vitality space where culture, economy, rest, and leisure coexist. The plan is to spotlight Anyangcheon as an emotional waterside space and a vibrant area for festivals, performances, and play.
Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, "We hope you spend a special year-end with Anyangcheon reborn in light at the first Night Light Festival this year. As Seoul's representative waterside hub city, the district will continue to pay attention so that Anyangcheon becomes a living space for rest, culture, and leisure for residents and a new vitality space."
Eunpyeong-gu Creates Night Lighting Street around Bulgwangcheon
Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced the opening of the 'Bulgwangcheon Starlight Street,' providing attractions and resting spaces by installing night lighting around Bulgwangcheon (from Eungam Station to Jeungsan Station).
The location is the Bulgwangcheon area extending from Eungam Station to Jeungsan Station. The Starlight Street period lasts until early April next year, and operating hours are daily from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. The lighting ceremony will be held at 5:20 p.m. on the 22nd.
The 'Bulgwangcheon Starlight Street' was created to comfort residents' weary hearts and convey hope during the year-end and New Year season. LED landscape lighting installations symbolizing mystery and hope, such as the Mysterious Shelter, Mysterious Garden, Milky Way Tunnel, and Emotional Photo Zone, have been set up.
This place will also feature a unique cultural space with hopeful messages displayed. Various cultural events will be held in the future, making it a landmark resting space in Eunpyeong-gu.
Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said, "Through the creation of this Starlight Street, I hope Bulgwangcheon becomes a place where people can enjoy time with their loved ones. I send a message of comfort and hope wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year as we wrap up this year well."
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