"My Story Became a Poem"... Special Graduation Ceremony for Seniors in Dasan-myeon, Goryeong-gun

Dasan-myeon Healthy Village Project
Graduation Ceremony of "Giehaengmun Maeum School"

An unusual graduation ceremony was held at the village hall of Beolji 2-ri, Dasan-myeon, Goryeong-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, on June 19. Elderly participants, wearing graduation caps, received diplomas and framed poems they had written themselves, making for a special moment filled with both tears and laughter.

This graduation ceremony marked the final day of "Giehaengmun Maeum School," an emotional recovery program promoted by Goryeong-gun. The event was organized as part of the "Dasan-myeon Healthy Village Project" to help alleviate feelings of isolation and depression among the elderly following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program ran for a total of 10 sessions, held every Thursday since April. Elderly participants reflected on their lives and expressed their stories in writing and speech, exploring various themes such as "Precious People" and "My Own Place."

One participant, Park Sunja (alias, age 76), shared, "I never imagined someone would listen to my story with such care," and added, "Today is a day when I am the main character."

O Namjin, the "Giehaengmun Keeper" who led the program, said, "Each elder's life was like a poem," and emphasized, "The diploma is not just a certificate of completion, but a symbol of respect for the time they have lived."

The response from the local community has also been warm. Sung Hyunduk, chairman of the Dasan-myeon Health Committee, commented, "Once again, I realized that sharing memories is, in itself, a way to heal the heart."

Lee Namcheol, mayor of Goryeong-gun, stated, "Giehaengmun Maeum School is a meaningful initiative that goes beyond health to honor life itself," and pledged, "We will continue to expand and support resident-centered emotional recovery programs in the future."