The district becomes the first and only in South Korea to earn a fourth UNICEF Child-Friendly City certification, marking the milestone with a media performance pledging the four principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and an unveiling ceremony; the youth-led Summer Beat festival draws crowds despite rain.
Seoul's Seongbuk-gu said it successfully wrapped up its "4th Child-Friendly City Certification Ceremony and 2026 Youth Summer Festival" on Saturday, held at the district office's Baram Plaza and the Seongbuk Art Hall on the fourth floor — celebrating the district's distinction as the first and only local government in South Korea to earn a fourth UNICEF Child-Friendly City certification.
The event was originally planned around the outdoor Baram Plaza and lawn area, but rain on the day forced organizers to move the ceremony and main stage program indoors to the Seongbuk Art Hall. Despite the weather, large numbers of young residents and community members turned out to mark the milestone.
The first part of the program, the certification ceremony, was attended by Seongbuk-gu District Mayor Lee Seung-ro, National Assembly members, Seongbuk-gu council members, heads of youth-related organizations and groups, and representatives of children and youth. District Mayor Lee and four youth representatives performed a media video piece pledging to uphold the four core principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, followed by an unveiling ceremony for the 4th Child-Friendly City certification plaque.
The second part of the program, the youth summer festival "Summer Beat," was organized by the Seongbuk Youth Culture Center.
The festival carried added significance as a project proposed and selected by children and youth themselves through Seongbuk-gu's participatory youth budgeting program. An opening performance kicked off the event, with youth club groups taking the stage in a variety of acts that drew enthusiastic applause.
Across the outdoor festival grounds, experience booths promoted World Youth Day and Seongbuk's status as a child-friendly city. Programs tailored to young visitors — from water play to hands-on craft activities — drew a strong response from attendees.
Kim Seo-yeon, speaker of the children and youth council, said she was proud to live in a district that became the first in the country to earn a fourth certification. "I hope Seongbuk-gu becomes a place where children and youth are the true owners, shaped by our own voices," she said.
District Mayor Lee said a Seongbuk where children are happy is a Seongbuk where everyone is happy. "I regret that the weather prevented us from showing everything we had prepared, but I am grateful for the passion the young people brought to the venue," he said. "We will continue to be the strongest partner for children and youth as they pursue their dreams."
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