Work, future, well-being, interests, relationships — diverse programs designed to connect every aspect of young people's lives. The 2026 Nowon Youth Week runs Monday through Saturday, with youth organizations rolling out programs in sequence. A Youth Day ceremony on Friday will honor 10 individuals for their contributions to youth development.
Nowon-gu in Seoul will host the 2026 Nowon Youth Week from Monday through Saturday, including a Youth Day ceremony on Friday to mark the national holiday.
Programs organized by local youth institutions began Monday and will roll out in sequence according to each organization's schedule.
The week was designed to raise awareness of youth policy and youth activities, giving young people direct access to programs across a range of fields so they can experience firsthand the policies and support projects available to them. Youth-related organizations and facilities across the district are taking part, offering programs tied to young people's everyday lives — covering employment and career development, personal finance and economics, culture and the arts, mental health, and networking.
The centerpiece of the week, the 2026 Youth Day Ceremony, will be held Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the small auditorium on the sixth floor of the Nowon-gu Office. The district mayor will present commendations to 10 individuals and organizations that have contributed to advancing youth policy, improving youth rights, and supporting community youth activities. Starting at 5:50 p.m., promotional booths run by local youth organizations will operate in the auditorium lobby ahead of the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, an economics lecture titled "2026 Nowon Youth Lifestyle Finance Class — Vision ON" will begin at 7 p.m. Economics professor Kim Gwang-seok will speak on the theme "2027 Economic Outlook: How Should We Respond?" covering domestic and international economic trends and strategies for navigating an uncertain economic environment.
Programs supporting youth employment and career development are also on offer. The Nowon-gu Youth Job Center's Cheongnyeon Naeil is running the 2026 Cheongnyeon Naeil Career Week through Friday. Activities include professional headshot photography, on-site job counseling, career talks by working professionals, one-on-one personal image consulting, an eDISC self-exploration workshop, and a wellness program to help ease job-search stress.
Thursday and Friday, the Seoul Youth Center Nowon branch will host "Youth, Celebrating Today — Make a Wish!" featuring photo zones, mini-games, DIY experiences, and a youth policy quiz, among other participatory programs.
The Nowon Youth Work-Life Center will hold "Everyone's Blind Date" on Thursday — an event combining values-based introductions with a nighttime walk along the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail. Additional programs focused on employment and social exchange will follow throughout the week.
The Nowon Youth Psychological Counseling Center is running "Mind Open Day: Youth, Open Your Heart!" through Friday. Visitors can drop in without a reservation for a single-session consultation with a mental health professional, and can also have their stress levels measured using the OmniFit system, with a follow-up interpretation session.
Culture Salon 5120 will open a group exhibition by artists Park Ye-na and Lee Hyeon-tae — "Oblivion Organ — Scheherazade Instrument" — with an opening reception and performance at 5 p.m. Friday. The exhibition runs through Nov. 14.
The district said it will continue supporting young residents so they can access a wide range of policies and services close to home, build their capabilities, and prepare for the future. Nowon-gu plans to incorporate youth voices and diverse needs into its policies, strengthen cooperation with local youth organizations, and steadily expand the policies and participation opportunities that young people can feel in their daily lives.
"It is important to help young people learn, take on challenges, and plan their futures right here in Nowon," Nowon-gu District Mayor Seo Jun-o said. "We will reflect the diverse voices of youth in our policies and build Nowon into a city where young people can work, live, and play."
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