Capturing the Unique Charm and Flavor of All 19 Neighborhoods... Continuing From Saturday Through Nov. 7

From Science Trips to Healing Concerts, a Colorful Stage for Resident Harmony

Gangdong-gu Office
Gangdong-gu Office

Gangdong-gu, Seoul, will hold the "2026 Neighborhood Festival," organized by resident autonomy councils across its 19 neighborhoods, from Saturday through Nov. 7.

The festival is a flagship resident self-governance initiative, with each neighborhood's resident autonomy council independently planning and running events tailored to local characteristics and resident demand. By creating and taking part in the festivities themselves, residents broaden communication with their neighbors and strengthen bonds within the community.

The festival will run for about two months across all 19 neighborhoods of Gangdong-gu, opening Saturday with the 2026 Giriul Festival in Gil-dong and closing Nov. 7 with the Amsagol Festival in Amsa 1-dong. Each neighborhood plans to offer a variety of programs tailored to local conditions and resident interests. These will include village festivals, sports festivals, music performances, hands-on experience events, and presentations of autonomy hall programs.

Seongnae 1-dong, in particular, will present an unusual science-based experience program themed "A Happy Science Trip." Meanwhile, Cheonho 1-dong's Byeokdong Village Resident Festival and Amsa 3-dong's autonomy hall program presentation will be held alongside senior citizen events, creating an intergenerational gathering for elderly and younger residents.

Gangdong-gu District Mayor Lee Su-hee said, "As each neighborhood has prepared its festival with rich local character and resident ideas, I hope this year's festival becomes a meaningful time for neighbors to communicate and enjoy themselves together." Lee added, "We will continue to actively support resident self-governance so that residents, as the true owners of their communities, can directly participate in and decide on local affairs."

Gangdong-gu is supporting a range of resident self-governance projects centered on the 19 neighborhood autonomy councils, enabling residents to identify and resolve local issues themselves. The second-half neighborhood festivals are likewise being carried out as resident-led self-governance activities, planned and run directly by residents.


seouldream01@heraldcorp.com