Twelve teams of young founders and creatives take over the outdoor plaza at Haengbokan Department Store on Thursday and Oct. 9 to sell products, showcase work and gather real customer feedback to expand their market reach.
Yangcheon-gu will host the "2026 Yangcheon Youth Pop-Up Day" at the outdoor plaza in front of Haengbokan Department Store from Thursday through Oct. 9 to help young entrepreneurs and cultural artists break into new markets.
The event puts into practice a top proposal from last year's Youth Policy Competition, giving young founders and artists a hands-on venue to sell and promote their products and works directly to consumers, gauge real-time customer reactions and test their market potential — going well beyond a conventional exhibition.
A total of 12 companies made up of residents or active participants aged 19 to 39 in Yangcheon-gu will showcase products and works reflecting their individual styles. Visitors can browse scarves and ID tags designed to highlight pets' personalities, handcrafted traditional confections with a modern twist, cosmetics formulated for sensitive skin, and design goods and accessories inspired by everyday scenes — all in one place. Some booths will also run hands-on workshops in leathercraft and bead art.
There will be plenty for visitors to enjoy on site. Attendees who follow participating vendors on social media can earn same-day purchase coupons based on the number of accounts they subscribe to, and games and interactive activities introducing Yangcheon-gu's youth policies will also be on offer. Street performances by young artists will be held three times a day, adding energy to the event.
The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both days, and admission is free and open to all.
The district has been consistently broadening youth participation in local governance so that young residents' voices translate into real policy. Alongside the Youth Pop-Up Day, two other proposals selected at last year's Youth Policy Competition have been turned into active projects: a community revitalization program for young people in Sinwol-dong, and a welcome kit to help young single-person households who have recently moved to Yangcheon-gu settle into the area.
Beyond policy participation, the district is also supporting young residents' financial independence and growth. Through its Young Entrepreneurs Incubation Project and the Yangcheon Startup Support Center, the district is expanding the foundation for new businesses, while pursuing a broad range of youth policies covering employment, housing and lifestyle — including expanded subsidies for national certification exam fees and monthly rent support for young residents. These efforts earned the district this year's Communication Award at the Youth-Friendly Constitutional Grand Prize, organized by Youth and Future, an association affiliated with the National Assembly Secretariat.
"I hope this event gives young people the chance to present their ideas and products in a real market setting and discover new possibilities," Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Ki-jae said. "We will continue to provide meaningful support so that young people's proposals lead to tangible opportunities and growth."
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