Connecting Cities and Rural Communities... "Urban-Rural Empathy Festival" Successfully Held in Pohang

Various Hands-on Programs Such as Seedling Planting,
Lunchbox Making, and Flea Market
Inspire Empathy Among Citizens

The "We Are All Farmers - Urban Farming Festival," a venue for fostering empathy and exploring ways for cities and rural areas to coexist, was held successfully on the 14th with the participation of about 1,000 citizens.

The "We Are All Farmers Urban Farming Festival" was held on the 14th at Dongbin Culture Warehouse 1969, where Mayor Kangdeok Lee of Pohang City visited the site. Photo by Pohang City

This event, hosted by Pohang City and the Pohang City New Vitality Plus Project Promotion Team, was designed to shed new light on citizens' perceptions of agriculture and to seek models for urban-rural coexistence.

Originally scheduled to take place outdoors at the Songdo Pine Forest Children's Forest Experience Center, the event was moved indoors to Dongbin Culture Warehouse 1969 due to a forecast of rain.

Despite the sudden change of venue, the site was lively thanks to the high level of interest from citizens.

People of all ages, from young children to the elderly, visited the event. In particular, children who attended with their parents had the opportunity to naturally experience and learn about agriculture by participating in various programs such as planting seedlings, making urban farm lunchboxes, and a flea market.

At the venue, a flea market operated by the Pohang City New Vitality Plus Action Group was held, where local agricultural specialties and handicrafts were displayed and sold.

In addition, there were experience zones for families, including a picture book rest area, picnic zone, and seedling planting activities, which received a great response.

The event also featured a diverse array of cultural performances. After a flute quintet, an acoustic band, and a ukulele trio, a talk show with young return-to-farm participants was held, providing a meaningful opportunity to enhance understanding between urban and rural communities.

Throughout the venue, interactive programs such as the "Little Farmer Costume Event," "Urban-Rural Card Quiz," and "SNS Certification Event" were held, further enhancing the festive atmosphere.

One citizen who participated in the event said, "Agricultural festivals like this are rare in Pohang, so it was a refreshing and meaningful experience to enjoy agriculture with my child in the city. It made me think about rural communities in a new way, and I hope more events like this will be held in the future."

Mayor Kangdeok Lee stated, "The fact that so many citizens visited despite the rainy weather shows the deep interest in Pohang's agriculture. I believe this festival has become an opportunity for cities and rural areas to understand each other more deeply. We will continue to promote these experiential exchanges to open a path for mutual growth between urban and rural communities."

Pohang City plans to hold a second "Urban-Rural Empathy Urban Farming Festival" this fall, featuring even richer and more diverse content.

The city aims to establish this festival as a sustainable event that breaks down barriers between urban and rural areas and centers on empathy and hands-on experiences for mutual prosperity.