Gwanak-gu in Seoul announced Monday it is accepting applications for the "Cheer! Cooperative Mission Program," a mini sports day event held as part of the 2026 Cheongazl festival. Now in its fifth year, Cheongazl — a portmanteau meaning "a festival where youth enjoy themselves without a care" — is Gwanak-gu's signature youth festival, planned and run by young participants themselves. Held annually in September or October across the district since 2022, the festival features a range of programs including a random-play dance event, a mindfulness garden and club performances.
The cooperative mission program will run from 11:40 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the grand hall on the eighth floor of the Gwanak-gu District Office. Up to 100 students between the ages of 10 and 18 attending elementary, middle or high schools in the district may apply on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are open through Sept. 18 via a QR code on the promotional poster.
The program is designed to move beyond conventional knowledge-based education, giving young participants a chance to be physically active, work in sync with one another and experience the joy of teamwork. It comprises seven hands-on mission games: a hula-hoop relay in which players pass the hoop along using their whole bodies, an air-train relay in which teams of four run as one, a balloon tower challenge in which participants blow up balloons to build a towering column, and a communal group game in which everyone comes together. Details on each mission game are available via the QR code on the promotional poster.
Participants will divide roles among themselves for each mission and pool their efforts to reach a shared goal. Through the process, they can naturally learn to consider others and communicate, while also building lasting memories through active interaction with peers.
"With fewer opportunities these days for students to experience school sports days, we put together this program so that young people in our district can cheer each other on, work together and create happy memories," Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee said. "I hope the cooperative missions give participants a chance to experience the joy of doing things together with friends, appreciate the value of communication and build a healthy sense of community."
cook@heraldcorp.com
