Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Songpa-gu and 9 Other Seoul Districts to Hold Autumn Festivals Throughout the Weekend
This weekend marks the peak of Seoul's autumn festivals.
Twelve autonomous districts including Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Songpa-gu, Mapo-gu, and Guro-gu are hosting autumn festivals.
Although the daytime temperature in Seoul rises to a somewhat hot 29 degrees Celsius at 3 p.m., the faces of citizens immersed in the festivals are filled with broad smiles.
Gangnam Festival Opens on the 17th at COEX in Gangnam-gu
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) held the opening ceremony of the Gangnam Festival on the 27th at the east plaza of COEX. The event featured aerial acrobatics, a joint performance by a traditional Korean singer (sorikkun) and rappers, an original K-POP musical, K-POP kids dance, and symphony pieces performed by the Gangnam Symphony Orchestra and choir.
Starting with the opening ceremony, the '2024 Gangnam Festival,' held until October 3rd across Gangnam areas including COEX and Apgujeong Rodeo, is a festival where anyone can create and enjoy their own Gangnam style under the slogan 'COME BE YOUR GANGNAM STYLE.' Visitors can enjoy a total of 11 programs including ▲Opening Ceremony ▲Gangnam Fashion Festa ▲Open Air Concert ▲Yeongdong-daero K-POP Concert ▲Gourmet Travel & K-Culture Zone ▲International Peace Marathon, among others.
Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, "The Gangnam Festival, a representative global festival of Gangnam-gu, is a festival where residents, the local community, and sister cities participate together. Starting with the opening ceremony that embodies Gangnam's past, present, and future, we hope everyone enjoys various festival programs and creates unforgettable memories in Gangnam."
The district will hold the '2024 Gangnam Festival' at COEX and Apgujeong Rodeo from September 26 to 29 and on October 3.
Performance director Park Kal-lin serves as the general director, planning the festival under the slogan 'COME BE YOUR GANGNAM STYLE,' where everyone can create and enjoy their own Gangnam style. Additionally, the festival emphasizes the latest trend of 'eco-friendliness,' with participation from residents, companies, and domestic and international sister cities, realizing cooperation and coexistence through sharing with marginalized groups, transforming it into an ESG festival.
This festival is centered around the main stage at the east plaza of COEX. The stage, specially designed with a large LED screen and a protruding design that communicates with the audience, hosts spectacular performances daily. The festival program consists of 11 events: 6 main programs including ▲Opening Ceremony ▲Gangnam Fashion Festa ▲Open Air Concert ▲Yeongdong-daero K-POP Concert ▲Gourmet Travel & K-Culture Zone ▲International Peace Marathon, and 5 sub-programs including ▲Festival Pre-show ▲Late-night Healing Theater ▲I am also a K-POP Star ▲Fashion Exhibition ▲Street Performance.
Main Programs: K-POP Musical, Fashion Show, Concert, Gourmet Travel, Marathon!
The opening ceremony will be held on the 27th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:10 p.m., marking the grand start of the festival. The ceremony, designed to embody Gangnam's past, present, and future values, featured aerial acrobatics, a joint performance by a sorikkun and rappers, an original K-POP musical, and K-POP kids dance. The Gangnam Symphony Orchestra and choir performed a symphony piece inspired by K-POP.
On the 28th, from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Fashion Festa will take place. The fashion show, previously held at the Starfield Library, returns to Apgujeong, the fashion street, offering an immersive outdoor fashion show. As an ESG Festa, it will showcase upcycled and naturally dyed clothing, a pet fashion show involving residents, and trendy attractions of Apgujeong featuring local fashion designers and Apgujeong Rodeo shops.
On the 28th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Open Air Concert will be held. Targeting the 70s and 80s generation with a retro vibe, seven teams including ▲Kim Wan-sun ▲Kim Won-jun ▲Roo'ra ▲Young Turks Club ▲Zaza ▲Koyote ▲Cool (Lee Jae-hoon) will perform.
On the 29th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Yeongdong-daero K-POP Concert will take place. Yeongdong-daero will transform into a concert venue for about 10,000 spectators. Eight top-tier artists including ▲Guckkasten ▲Laki ▲Solar ▲Apink ▲Oh My Girl ▲ONEUS ▲Lee Mujin ▲ITZY will perform, promising the best K-POP concert.
From the 26th to the 29th, the Gourmet Travel & K-Culture Zone will operate at the COEX K-POP Plaza. Visitors can enjoy various food booths and trucks offering Korean, vegan, halal, and dessert options, idol makeup experiences, ESG management company brand zones, and upcycling experience zones.
On October 3rd at 8 a.m., the 21st International Peace Marathon will be held along Bongeunsa-ro in front of the Samseong 1-dong Community Center. Marathon categories include full course (42.195 km), half course (21.0975 km), 10 km, and 5 km. About 8,000 participants including the U.S. Eighth Army Command in Korea, foreigners, marathon club members, and residents are expected to join. Entry fees will be donated to children suffering from war and hunger worldwide and to neighbors in need in Gangnam-gu.
Sub-programs as rich as the main programs... Enjoy the pre-festival and late-night healing theater
The festival pre-show (eve event) was held on the 26th. It included a popera congratulatory performance (12 p.m. to 1 p.m.), the Hungarian National Dance Company (4 p.m. to 5 p.m.), and a traditional Korean music crossover performance (7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.). At Apgujeong Rodeo, designer Ji Chun-hee's fashion show was held as part of the pre-festival fashion show. On the 28th from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the K-POP cover dance finals of 'I am also a K-POP Star' will be held, including a random play dance where the audience can dance together.
From the 26th to the 28th, the Late-night Healing Theater operates daily from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. the next day. After the main stage performances, silent films, pet-themed, and 'Gangnam in the World' themed healing short videos are screened.
Additionally, from the 23rd to the 29th, side events such as natural dyeing from Naju, upcycling fashion, and Gangnam fashionista photo exhibitions will be held at COEX lobby and Gangnam Station. As a pre-promotion event (from the 19th to the 25th), busking, magic shows, balloon art, and string quartet performances will take place throughout Gangnam-gu to heat up the festival atmosphere.
Collaborating with companies, caring for marginalized groups, and evolving into a festival coexisting with the community
This festival is a collaborative platform created by 16 companies united around COEX and local businesses. Companies such as K-Town4U, Shinsegae Food, Mannadang, Canon Korea, and Sansu Beverage directly participate in the festival programs. The committee companies promote the festival to domestic and international tourists through online and offline promotions and events.
Sharing events also attract attention. On the 26th, Megabox offers free movie screenings to 100 multicultural families. On the 29th, COEX Aquarium and the global nonprofit Make-A-Wish collaborate to provide free aquarium admission and merchandise to children with incurable diseases, who will also attend the Yeongdong-daero K-POP Concert.
Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, "This Gangnam Festival is a festival that embodies the values of cooperation and sharing within the latest cultural contents such as concerts and fashion shows. Through diverse programs that everyone can relate to and enjoy, we will promote Gangnam's dynamic culture to the world."
Dreamlike Music Festival ‘2024 Seoripul Festival’ Held on the 28th-29th
Held on the car-free Banpo-daero (from Seocho Station Intersection to Seocho 3-dong Intersection, 900m)
Under the theme ‘Seocho is the Music A-Z,’ featuring 39 performances and over 100 programs for children and families
Seocho's day and night rise in beautiful harmony, and music continuously echoes along the vast Banpo-daero.
Seoul's cultural and artistic city Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) will hold the ‘2024 Seoripul Festival’ on the 28th and 29th along the 10-lane Banpo-daero filled with diverse music.
Hosted by Seocho-gu and organized by the Seocho Cultural Foundation, the Seoripul Festival is an urban music festival held annually in September. Since its first event in 2015, it has grown into a representative autumn music festival attracting nearly 980,000 visitors through 2023.
This year marks the 7th festival, themed ‘Seocho is the Music A-Z,’ meaning a festival created by everyone?from top domestic artists to amateur artists, from classical to K-Pop, and from staff to volunteers.
The venue is the Banpo-daero area (subway Line 2 Seocho Station to Seocho 3-dong Intersection), the core axis of the nation's only music culture district. The scale reaches approximately 28,500 square meters, covering a 900-meter section of the 10-lane road.
During the two days of the festival, exciting music will fill Banpo-daero, and various programs for children and families will be held. The car-free 10-lane road will become a place for free indulgence and healing where visitors can eat and enjoy freely.
Banpo-daero, transformed into a cultural street filled with music, features three main stages: the 3,000-seat ‘Main Stage,’ the 10-meter ‘Welcome Stage’ near Seocho Station, and the truck stage ‘Joy Stage’ near Gyodaeipgu Samgeori. Various performances from classical to jazz, K-Pop, and dance will continuously fill the autumn streets for 48 hours.
This year, unique programs utilizing morning and nighttime hours have been prepared, creating a packed festival from dawn to midnight. In addition to the usual festival hours from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., on the 28th from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., the ‘Seoripul Silent Disco’ allows participants to enjoy their own rhythm through headphones in a quiet night, and on the 29th from 7 a.m., the ‘Seoripul Good Morning Yoga’ will be held.
Over 100 special programs for children and families unique to Seocho are also available. The 10-lane road becomes the largest sketchbook on the ground for families to draw together. The festival-exclusive handmade crafts market ‘Seoripul Art Salon’ and the outdoor library ‘The Music Library’ on the lawn are also prepared.
The district plans to make this festival a sustainable and mutually beneficial event created with local residents. The first youth volunteer group ‘Seoripul Runners’ will actively participate as partners in creating the festival.
Beautiful Canvas Spread on Banpo-daero: ‘The Largest Sketchbook on Earth’
On the first day, the 28th, starting at 1:30 p.m., the exciting opening parade by the Crown Marching Band will signal the start of the event, followed by ‘The Largest Sketchbook on Earth,’ where the vast asphalt transforms into a canvas.
Starting at 2 p.m., ‘The Largest Sketchbook on Earth’ is the festival's most popular program, where participants freely draw with chalk on the 10-lane Banpo-daero street, the world's largest sketchbook, expressing creativity. It offers a real experience of what was only possible in imagination, providing a sense of liberation and escapism.
Following last year, students from Baekseok Arts University will support various preliminary sketches symbolizing music. People of all ages can participate, drawing and coloring their own pictures to create unforgettable memories. Approximately 100,000 colorful chalk pieces needed for participation will be provided free on-site.
‘Seoripul Choir Festival’ Uniting Through Music and Famous Artists’ Opening Performance
At 3 p.m. on the 28th, the ‘Seoripul Choir Festival’ will be held on the Main Stage, uniting people beyond religion, gender, and age through music. About 320 members from seven choirs including Buddhist, Christian, and Catholic groups will present beautiful harmonies.
Participating choirs include Gwanmunsa Geumgang Choir, Declare Ensemble of Sarang Church, Seocho Catholic Church Choir, Seocho-gu Women's Choir, Seocho Father Center Seoripul Men's Choir, Yangjae Comprehensive Social Welfare Center Somdari Choir, and Seoul National University of Education Alumni Choir Sahyanggain. This year, the Yongsan-gu Choir and the acapella group ‘Only Voice,’ known for their fantastic medley on MBC’s ‘Hangout with Yoo,’ will also perform as congratulatory acts.
The opening performance starting at 7 p.m. features the ‘Seocho Symphony Orchestra & Seocho Orchestra Academy,’ returning from a New York performance in early September, offering rich music from classical, Korean traditional music, and popular music artists. Vocalists John Park and Jung In will perform, and the eternal diva of popular music, Jung Hoon-hee, will collaborate with the Seocho Symphony Orchestra. Violinist Park Soo-ye and the project group ‘SG FOREST’ led by Korean traditional music composer Kang Sang-gu will also present splendid stages. Jazz artist Laure Zaehringer from Paris 15th district, a sister city overseas, is expected to captivate the audience with a wonderful jazz performance. The MCs are KBS announcers Lim Ji-woong and Lee Sun-young.
Passionate Stage of Aspiring Young Musicians: ‘Seoripul Junior Concert’
From 3 p.m. on the 29th, the ‘Seoripul Junior Concert,’ showcasing passionate performances by young musicians nurtured by Seocho-gu, will be held for the second consecutive year.
Starting with the opening performance by ‘Hanbit Pungmul Club’ of Seoul National University of Education Affiliated Elementary School, performances by ‘Bom Junior Orchestra’ of Seocho Smart Youth Center, ‘Bangbae Pureun Children’s Choir’ of Bangbae Art Youth Center, child violinist ‘Ensemble M Junior,’ and ‘Seoul Jamwon Elementary School Orchestra,’ designated as a 1-person-1-instrument leading school in Seocho, will delight the audience with heartwarming smiles.
Emotional Melodies, Group Singing at the Closing Performance, and Fireworks Lighting Up the Early Autumn Night
On the last day of the festival, the 29th, at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage, an emotional closing performance will mark the end of the festival amid the cool autumn night.
Hosted by KBS announcer Nam Hyun-jong, singer Paul Kim, known for hits like ‘Shall We Have a Cup of Coffee’ and ‘Every Day, Every Moment,’ will enchant with his sweet voice. The duo Davichi will perform popular songs such as ‘I’ll Be Your Side,’ adding a romantic atmosphere with the evening sunset. Following them, the ‘Heritage Mass Choir’ will deliver a spectacular performance, and the band ‘Jannabi’ will heat up the mood with enthusiastic group singing from the audience.
Finally, a beautiful fireworks display will conclude the festival, decorating the night sky like starlight.
From Dawn to Midnight: Packed Festival with ‘Seoripul Silent Disco’ & ‘Seoripul Good Morning Yoga’
A dance party filled with EDM enjoyed only among ourselves in a quiet night begins. This special event is held in the heart of the city on a cool autumn night, where participants wear headphones and enjoy the music silently.
On the 28th at 9 p.m. at the Welcome Stage, about 1,000 people will enjoy the ‘Seoripul Silent Disco.’ Participants wear wireless headphones provided on-site and enjoy their own rhythm with a DJ-curated playlist, offering a unique experience where they can dance freely without worrying about others despite the late hour. Applications can be made on the Silent Disco website or on-site.
On the 29th at 7 a.m., the unique program ‘Seoripul Good Morning Yoga’ will be held. This special yoga session, held only once a year, takes place in the building forest of Banpo-daero with 200 participants. It lasts about 50 minutes, helping participants loosen up their stiff bodies with fresh morning air and look forward to the festival’s second day.
Over 100 Rich Programs for Children and Families to Enjoy
The 2024 Seoripul Festival adds various programs for families to experience and enjoy along with the uplifting music. It offers 39 performances and 71 experience programs that enhance the festival atmosphere, 5 popular rides for children, and 6 photo zones for memorable pictures, totaling over 100 programs providing colorful enjoyment for children and families.
At the festival entrance, the ‘Healing Zone’ features an outdoor library on the lawn. With about 1,000 books from Seocho-gu Banpo Library, visitors can relax freely in bean bags and chairs while reading. The ‘Play Zone’ and ‘Smart Zone’ offer various experience programs. Popular last year, ‘Finding My Personal Color’ (personal color diagnosis) is available along with ▲instrument making ▲resin art experience ▲drawing experience ▲autonomous driving car experience ▲VR safety experience, and the exclusive handmade crafts market ‘Seoripul Art Salon’.
During the two days, the Welcome Stage and Joy Stage will feature ‘Seoripul Music Live,’ a live stage showcasing local artists’ gems. From traditional Korean music, classical, jazz, and popera to classical string ensembles, brass instruments, dance, and practical music, visitors can enjoy diverse performances and discover their favorite artists.
Various events will add to the festival’s fun. These include ‘Find the Seoripul Festival’ where visitors take photos of festival promotions around Seocho-gu and post on SNS, ‘Mission! Seoripul Hidden Word Search’ where participants find words at festival booths, and ‘Seoripul 1-Minute Diary’ capturing festival moments in short videos to share the lingering feelings. These events are available both online and offline.
Additionally, commemorative items such as T-shirts, grip-toks, and eco-bags celebrating the 2024 Seoripul Festival are sold to enhance the event experience. These products are available at the general information booth.
Festival Protecting the Environment, Coexisting with the Community, and Created Together
This festival is prepared as an event that protects the environment, coexists with the community, and is created together.
First, a ‘Mobile Tumbler Coffee Truck’ promoting eco-friendly green consumption will provide free drinks to 2,000 residents daily who bring their own cups. Recycling and food waste collection bins are installed throughout the venue, and after the festival, 15 cleaning vehicles will be used to ensure a clean and beautiful finish.
Discount benefits are also provided to activate nearby businesses. About 50 restaurants near the venue offer discounts upon festival participation certification. Additionally, local gift certificates worth 33.5 billion KRW (Seocho Love Gift Certificate, Seocho Ttaenggyeoyo Gift Certificate) and online discount coupons worth 20 million KRW are issued to support small business owners.
The first youth volunteer group ‘Seoripul Runners’ will also play an active role. The name combines ‘Runner’ and ‘Learner,’ meaning people who run for the festival and grow together by learning. The 167 young volunteers selected in September are expected to contribute actively.
A Safe Festival Where All Visitors Can Enjoy with Peace of Mind
To ensure convenient and safe viewing for visitors, safety measures have been thoroughly considered. Prior to the event, the Seocho Police Station and Seocho Fire Station conducted final inspections of hazards, personnel deployment, and emergency measures within the venue, carefully reviewing crowd flow to disperse crowds during peak times.
During the festival, security and safety personnel will patrol regularly, and a virtual reality safety experience booth will educate visitors on how to respond to disaster situations vividly. Three medical booths will be set up with 35 medical staff and support personnel and three ambulances ready to respond quickly to emergencies.
Traffic control will also be implemented to minimize inconvenience and ensure safety. From midnight on September 28th (Saturday) to 4 a.m. on September 30th (Monday), the 900-meter section of Banpo-daero from Seocho Station to Seocho 3-dong Intersection will be controlled in cooperation with Seocho Police Station and Seocho and Bangbae Model Drivers Association.
Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “The ‘2024 Seoripul Festival’ held in the cultural and artistic city of Seocho will be a high-quality music festival full of emotion and joy that all generations can enjoy together. We hope families enjoy a pleasant escape from daily life on the wide-open Banpo-daero transformed into a festival venue.”
Seogang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, declared the opening of the 24th Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival on the evening of the 27th.
Songpa-gu’s ‘24th Hansung Baekje Cultural Festival’ Opens on September 27
Theme: ‘The Power of Culture’ Showcasing the Charm of Culture and Arts Across Eras
Three days of high-quality comprehensive performing arts stages including traditional and modern dance, K-pop, and classical music
30 experiential activities and food markets... A festival for everyone, domestic and international, young and old
Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) will hold the high-quality cultural arts festival ‘24th Hansung Baekje Cultural Festival’ from the 27th to the 29th at the Peace Plaza in Olympic Park.
This year’s festival theme is ‘The Power of Culture Connecting Hearts.’ It signifies that the cultural power flowing for 2,000 years from the origin of Hansung Baekje culture extends beyond Korea to the world, connecting hearts and uniting people.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “The Hansung Baekje Cultural Festival continues to transform in line with Songpa-gu’s reputation as a leading tourist city in Seoul. We have planned a more modern, artistic, and entertaining festival so that residents and visitors from home and abroad can enjoy it together.”
Since 2022, the district has selected themes centered on ‘The Power of Culture’ to showcase the charm of culture and arts transcending eras. The 2022 theme ‘The Power of Culture Flowing Proudly’ evolved into 2023’s ‘The Power of Culture Crossing Rivers and Seas,’ presenting differentiated stages such as fashion shows, musicals, K-pop, and game music.
This year, the festival will present comprehensive performing arts with various variations over the three days. On a 55-meter giant LED stage shaped like Songpa’s skyline, fantastic performances ranging from traditional music to modern dance, popular songs, fusion music, and drone shows will be held.
First Day Opening Ceremony: A Feast of Light, Modern Dance, and Drone Show
The festival’s highlight, the opening ceremony, took place on the 27th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dance team ‘HOOK,’ known for powerful performances, and the Korea National University of Arts dance troupe ‘K-Arts’ opened the festival. Following this, the theme performance interpreting the theme poem with splendid media videos and modern dance was presented. Idol group ‘fromis_9,’ singer-songwriter Hong Isak, and rock band ‘Boohwal’ performed, showcasing the diversity of K-Pop.
The first day concluded with the festival’s first-ever drone show. Eight hundred drones flew over Mongchon Lake in Olympic Park, drawing Songpa-gu’s characters ‘Haha & Hoho,’ the tourist attraction ‘Lotte World Tower,’ and highlights of the Paris Olympics, raising expectations for the festival.
Earlier at 10 a.m., the ‘Songpa Residents’ Day Ceremony’ was held, recognizing residents who contributed to community development. This year, Korea National Sport University, which has contributed to Songpa-gu’s status as the Olympic host city and sports city, received the grand prize.
Second Day ‘Hansung Cultural Concert’: A Stage Full of Traditional Scents and Elegance
On the second day, the ‘Hansung Cultural Concert’ will be held, enjoying the elegance of traditional music.
From 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., the stage will feature ▲traditional music such as daegeum solo and jeongga ▲traditional dances including seungmu, chun-aeng-mu, and crane dance ▲and changgeuk (traditional Korean opera). Especially, the ensemble of 20 players led by Professor Choi Jin, a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property and professor at Kyowon University, will perform gayageum music, along with seonbi dance and yeoryeong dance, showcasing the deep charm of tradition.
Additionally, performances by the LED dance group ‘Saengdonggam Crew’ and fusion gugak group ‘AUX’ will bring joy blending tradition and modernity to the audience.
At 11 a.m., the ‘Hanmaeum Eoulmadang’ will showcase the talents and skills of residents. Twenty-three teams selected from each neighborhood community center program will compete.
Third Day Closing Ceremony: A Time United by Classical Music, Orchestra, and Musical
On the last day, the 29th, the closing ceremony will conclude the three-day journey at 7 p.m.
After screening highlight videos of the festival, the district symphony orchestra will perform. Visitors can enjoy K-Pop music reinterpreted as classical pieces, including BTS’s ‘Dynamite.’ Following this, performances by the Songpa-gu Choir and Songpa-gu Children’s Choir, and a musical gala concert featuring musical actors Kai and Ivy singing Broadway musical hits will take place. Finally, the male quartet ‘Fortena’ will deliver a moving message of harmony with beautiful voices accompanied by the symphony orchestra.
Permanent Programs Adding Fun with Unique Experiences and Food Markets
During the three days, family-friendly experience programs will be operated. Visitors can participate in six activities such as ▲Hansung Baekje treasure hunt ▲Earthen fortress building ▲Survival games, and 24 experiences including ▲Four Direction God card decorating ▲Traditional weapon making.
The district has prepared a waiting reservation system for visitor convenience, large shade tents for the late summer heat, and professional security personnel to ensure a comfortable and safe festival experience.
At the Olympic Park South Gate 4 parking lot area, the ‘Hansung Baekje Market’ food market will be held. Seventeen neighborhood residents and groups will participate, preparing various ‘K-food’ to satisfy visitors’ senses.
About 40 congratulatory delegations from home and abroad will attend this festival. Sister cities including Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan, and domestic sister cities such as Wonju, Gangwon Province, and Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, among nine cities, will visit and enjoy the festival together.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “The Hansung Baekje Cultural Festival has established itself as Korea’s representative festival attracting 300,000 visitors annually. We will offer an emotional experience created by ‘The Power of Culture’ through the high-quality cultural arts stage unfolding in Songpa-gu this coming weekend.”
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