Songpa-gu to Hold 'New Year's Celebration' at Mangwolbong, Olympic Park at 7 AM on January 1
Full of Various Events Including Hopeful Bell Ringing Ceremony, Pungmul Nori, Musical and Vocal Performances, and New Year's Fortune Telling
Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it will hold the ‘2025 New Year’s Celebration’ to watch the first sunrise of the new year at 7 a.m. on January 1st at Mangwolbong in Olympic Park.
Mangwolbong (望月峰) in Olympic Park is a peak that protrudes prominently along the Mongchon Fortress walking trail and is a popular sunrise viewing spot visited by about 10,000 visitors every year. Located within Olympic Park, it offers excellent accessibility from the city center and is ideal for enjoying the majestic sunrise rising along the open ridgeline.
The ‘New Year’s Celebration’ for the Year of Eulsa will take place from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on January 1st at Mangwolbong in Olympic Park. The event is richly prepared with various programs including ▲ pungmul (traditional Korean percussion) performance, musical music, and vocal performances to celebrate the new year ▲ ringing of the Bell of Hope ▲ sunrise viewing event ▲ writing wishes on wish papers to pray for new year hopes, and checking the new year fortune, among other diverse activities.
First, ▲ the sunrise celebration performance will begin with a traditional procession by the Songpa Folk Preservation Society’s pungmul team to uplift the festive mood. Following this, musical singers Ryu Jeong-jun and Jang Seon-mi will perform songs celebrating the new year, and a male quartet consisting of tenors Kim Hong-gi, Kim Hyun-wook, Oh Kyung-geun, and bass Kim Hyun-ho will elevate the atmosphere with a powerful and grand classical vocal performance.
At 7:50 a.m., attendees will watch the ‘Residents’ New Year Wish Video’ containing the hopes and wishes of Songpa-gu residents for the year, and around 8 a.m., when the sun rises over Mangwolbong, the ▲ Bell of Hope ringing ceremony will take place.
At the moment the first sunrise of the new year appears, residents will ▲ gaze at the sunrise, enjoying the beautiful scenery of Mangwolbong and the magnificent sunrise. The event will conclude with a grand drum performance by the Songpa Folk Arts Troupe, continuing the emotional impact of the sunrise viewing.
Additionally, to create special memories on the first day of the new year, ▲ various events will be held. The ‘New Year’s Lantern Street’ will be operated to light the dark early morning path and safely guide residents to Mangwolbong. At Mangwolbong, there will be a program where participants write their new year wishes on wish papers and hang them on sotdae (traditional wooden poles with bird carvings).
Also, ▲ calligraphy writing of New Year’s greetings ▲ fortune telling for the new year ▲ traditional tea and New Year rice cake sharing are prepared.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “This New Year’s event is prepared not only for sunrise viewing but also with various attractions, so I hope many people come and enjoy the first sunrise rising vigorously at Mangwolbong.” He added, “I wish all Songpa-gu residents a year full of health and good fortune in 2025, the Year of Eulsa.”
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