Families, couples and friends pack the venue all day as experience and activity booths fill the festival grounds
The 24th Heo Jun Festival opened Saturday at Seoul Botanic Park in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, drawing tens of thousands of visitors on its first day.
The festival grounds were packed from early morning. Families with strollers, couples and groups of friends kept the atmosphere lively throughout the day.
Gangseo-gu District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon was present from morning until the close of the festival, personally overseeing visitor convenience and safety. He moved through the grounds greeting attendees and posing for photos, and also appeared on a broadcast to promote the event.
The festival kicked off at 7:30 a.m. with the fourth Gangseo Heo Jun Run, in which some 4,000 participants jogged through the Magok urban district, Seoul Botanic Park and Han River Citizens' Park.
From noon, interactive booths including a "Heo Jun Survival Game" and a random-play dance event added to the festive mood. Experience and activity programs for all ages filled the grounds, with highlights including AI-powered body-shape analysis and skin diagnosis alongside traditional Korean medicine, offering visitors a hands-on look at cutting-edge medical technology.
At the 6:30 p.m. opening ceremony, Jin took the stage in a traditional Heo Jun costume and performed a ceremonial drum routine. Singers Melomance and Ben then headlined the Heo Jun Concert, bringing the evening to a high-energy close. The festival runs through Sunday.
"I hope families, couples and friends will come to the Heo Jun Festival — Gangseo-gu's signature wellness festival where traditional Korean medicine meets the latest medical technology — and enjoy the wide range of programs and performances," Jin said.
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