The First Festival Program for the Visually Impaired in Seoul Debuts at Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
High-Quality Sensory Experience Content Featuring Auditory, Tactile, and Gustatory Elements
Yeongdeungpo District (headed by District Mayor Choi Hokwon) announced that its 'Spring Flower Companion Barrier-Free Guided Tour Program' has been selected as an exemplary case in the education and culture sector in the 2025 Seoul City Vulnerable Group Companion Index Performance Evaluation.
The Vulnerable Group Companion Index is an indicator that numerically evaluates how much the support activities for vulnerable groups by Seoul City and its autonomous districts have provided practical assistance to citizens' lives. The results are used for policy development and budget allocation.
This year's selected 'Spring Flower Companion Barrier-Free Guided Tour' is the first festival program in Seoul specifically designed for the visually impaired, and it was first introduced at last year's Yeouido Spring Flower Festival. Aiming to create a festival that anyone can enjoy regardless of disability, the program expanded participation opportunities for the visually impaired by adding various sensory experiences such as tactile and auditory elements.
The main programs included: ▲ Enjoying spring flowers through performances (auditory), ▲ Experiencing spring flowers by touch (tactile), ▲ Tasting spring flowers (gustatory), and ▲ Han River yacht experience (physical sensation). A video guide accompanied participants to vividly convey the festival atmosphere. In addition, collaboration with private organizations such as the Seoul Tourism Organization, Yeongdeungpo District Visually Impaired Association, and Fairmont Ambassador Hotel enhanced the overall quality of the program.
Last year, a total of 119 people, including visually impaired individuals and activity assistants, participated. In a satisfaction survey, the program received an average score of 4.77 out of 5, earning high praise. Participants shared their impressions, saying, "Touching the flowers while listening to the explanations made the shapes and colors feel much more vivid than usual," and "I mustered up the courage to attend the spring flower festival for the first time and rode a yacht for the first time in 57 years. I hope there will be more opportunities like this in the future."
Based on this achievement, the district plans to expand cultural accessibility for marginalized groups in various fields such as festivals, tourism, and education, and to continuously discover field-oriented barrier-free tourism programs, aiming to create a community where differences do not become barriers.
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