Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun spent Saturday visiting a series of autumn neighborhood festivals held across five dong — Seogang-dong, Gongdeok-dong, Mangwon 1-dong, Sinsu-dong and Yeonnam-dong — joining residents to celebrate the fall foliage season.
The day began at 10 a.m. in front of the Seogang-dong community center, where residents gathered for "Wow! ON — The Village Is a Festival," a celebration themed around Wausan, a hill that serves as a defining local landmark of the neighborhood.
Comedian Kim Seong-won emceed the opening, which featured a launch performance, a pungmulnori folk percussion show, and recitals by community center groups including a choir, an ocarina ensemble and a wellness dance class. A food market added to the festive atmosphere.
Inside the community center, a photo zone was set up around the theme of "Wau" — a reference to a reclining ox — alongside magic shows and balloon art for children, giving families a range of activities to enjoy together.
At Soui Elementary School in Gongdeok-dong, about 700 residents turned out for the 2026 Gongdeok-dong Algong Dalgong Neighborhood Festival.
The event featured an art competition exhibition, board games and a K-pop contest organized by elementary and middle school students, as well as a charity bazaar and flea market that brought neighbors together in a warm community spirit.
At noon, the sixth Mangwongyeong Jeong Festival opened in the courtyard of the Mangwon 1-dong community center.
The festival included a pungmulpae street parade, community center program showcases and performances by invited singers, along with experience booths and a food market that drew visitors from Mangwon Market and local residents alike.
At the same time, the 14th Sinsu Cheolri Village Market opened in front of the Sinsu-dong community center, while the 2026 Yeonnam-dong Community Harmony Festival got underway along Donggyo-ro in Yeonnam-dong.
Across all five festivals, residents took the stage in celebrations they had prepared themselves, and hands-on programs for families deepened the bonds between neighbors as the autumn season grew richer.
Visiting each festival, District Mayor Yoo expressed gratitude to the festival organizing committees in each dong. "Thanks to the special affection and dedication that residents poured into creating these festivals for their own neighborhoods, the village celebrations have become all the more vibrant," he said. "Every resident is the star of these festivals, so I hope everyone enjoys them to the fullest. Mapo-gu will spare no effort in building an even more lively community."
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