From planning to execution, these community-run village festivals are shaped by residents' own ideas and hands — featuring performances from singer Tae Jin-a in Hwagok 1-dong, a puppet show in Hwagok Bon-dong, and a Jindo drum dance in Deungchon 3-dong, with food, activities and autumn memories right around the corner
Gangseo-gu in Seoul will hold resident-led autumn festivals tailored to the character of each of its 15 dong neighborhoods across the district.
The first event kicks off Friday in Deungchon 3-dong with the "Ieum Concert" at Pureumaee Children's Park and the community center parking lot. Experience booths offering macramé crafts and balloon art open at 4 p.m., followed at 5 p.m. by performances from school clubs and community center students showcasing skills in gayageum, ukulele and Jindo drum dance.
On Saturday, six neighborhoods will hold festivals simultaneously. Deungchon 1-dong hosts a "Recycling Festival" at Baekseok Children's Park, incorporating a waste-reduction campaign; Balsan 1-dong holds the "Balsan Village Festival" at Balsan Neighborhood Park; and Hwagok Bon-dong presents "Love It! Hwagok Bon-dong Residents Festival" at Bongjaesan Neighborhood Park, featuring a children's puppet show and a pungmul percussion parade.
Also on Saturday, Gonghang-dong holds the 18th Songjeong Hanmadang Jantchi at its community center; Banghwa 2-dong stages the "Heart-Pounding Our Village Festival" — complete with children's rides — at Banghwa 11 Welfare Center and Eunhasu Park; and Banghwa 3-dong presents the "Banghwa Eoulim Festival with Flea Market" at Banghwa Neighborhood Park, offering a residents' singing contest, food booths and a flea market.
On Oct. 24, Hwagok 4-dong's "Hwa4han Residents Festival" at its community center and Ujangsan-dong's "Forest Village Festival" at Ujangsan Neighborhood Park will each feature community center showcases and hands-on activities.
On Oct. 31, five more neighborhoods keep the autumn spirit going. Hwagok 3-dong holds the "Harmony Culture Festival" at its community center; Hwagok 6-dong presents the "Yeok Village Festival" at the Gangseo-gu Office parking lot on Hwagok-ro 302; Yeomchang-dong stages the "Residents' One-Heart Festival" at Yeomgyeong Middle School; Gayang 3-dong hosts "Culture Hanmadang" at Gyeongseo Middle School; and Deungchon 2-dong rounds out the day with the "Deungmarugol Mugunghwa One-Heart Festival" at Baekseok Village Square Park — all featuring residents' singing competitions and art exhibitions.
The autumn festival season closes with Hwagok 1-dong's "Big Neighborhood Small Concert" at Gangseo Atrium on Nov. 5, running from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event will feature popular singer Tae Jin-a alongside singers Yu Ha-rim and Park Bok-seon.
"The neighborhood resident festivals are a meaningful occasion for residents to share warmth with their neighbors and enjoy performances and talents that they have prepared with great care," Gangseo-gu District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon said. "I hope everyone will visit the festival nearest to them with family and neighbors and savor the richness of autumn."
Further details are available on the Gangseo-gu Office website under Notices and News, or by contacting the district's autonomous administration division or the relevant dong community center.
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