Songpa-gu Hosts New Year's Event at Olympic Park

January 1 Sunrise Event at Olympic Park Mangwolbong... 30m LED Display of East Guardian 'Cheongryong'
Hopeful Bell-Ringing Ceremony Praying for Development and Well-being, Abundant Attractions Including Cultural Performances and Experience Booths

On the first day of the new year 2024, Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) will hold the New Year's event "2024. New Year's Celebration" with citizens at Mongchontoseong Mangwolbong in Olympic Park.

Mangwolbong in Olympic Park is a peak where visitors can enjoy the sunrise from an open ridge, making it a popular urban sunrise spot visited by about 10,000 people every year to welcome the new year.

The "2024. New Year's Celebration" held here will be divided into a performance stage and experience booths, operating for two hours from 6:30 a.m. Despite the cold midwinter dawn, a rich program has been prepared including cultural and artistic performances such as pungmulnori (traditional Korean percussion music), vocal music, and celebratory songs, as well as various experience booths where visitors can pray for their New Year's wishes.

In particular, the upcoming year, Gapjin Year (甲辰年), is the year of the Blue Dragon, the guardian deity of the East, which is closely related to Songpa-gu located in the eastern part of Seoul. Accordingly, the district plans to vividly depict the Blue Dragon soaring powerfully into the sky by installing a large 30-meter-wide LED screen on the hill of Mangwolbong.

First, the main performance will open joyfully with the "Songpa Folk Preservation Society Pungmul Team" performing the front yard ▲Gilnori of Songpa Sandae Nori, Seoul's only mask play. Then, the male vocal ensemble ▲Epronfty will take the stage, elevating the atmosphere with powerful and sweet melodies.

During the performance, an ▲interview video featuring the New Year's wishes of our neighbors will also be screened. Video letters from this year's protagonists, including Dragon zodiac residents, police officers, firefighters, cultural and artistic groups, and environmental officials who quietly work hard in their respective roles, will add meaning to the event.

Then, around 8 a.m., as the first sunrise of the new year rises, the highlight of the event, the ▲ringing of the Bell of Hope, will take place. Following this, the passionate celebratory song by ▲musical actor Seo Do-jin, who is also active in dramas, will resound, magnificently concluding the sunrise event.

Besides the main event, various experience activities await residents throughout the venue. Activities full of New Year's anticipation such as bell-ringing experience, writing wish papers, calligraphy for the New Year, tarot and fortune-telling, along with a photo zone where visitors can take pictures with the cute district mascots Haha and Hoho, add to the fun.

Additionally, to ensure safe crowd management, safety personnel, police and firefighters, and volunteer patrol teams will be deployed throughout the site to prepare for any emergencies. Especially this year, safety poles will be additionally installed to prevent fall risks that may occur due to the nature of the venue, ensuring thorough safety measures.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, "With the soaring energy of the Blue Dragon, I hope that all residents, the true owners of this land, will leap forward vigorously this year." He added, "We expect many family visitors to come for new resolutions. We have prepared with safety as the top priority, so please come with peace of mind and enjoy the first sunrise of 2024."