The 11th Dream Space fair opens Wednesday at Nodeulnaru Park, drawing about 1,500 students from 17 schools across three showings; a special career lecture by magician Choi Hyun-woo is set for Nov. 13
Dongjak-gu will hold the 11th Dongjak Youth Career and Jobs Fair, "Dream Space," at Nodeulnaru Park (247 Noryangjin-ro) on Nov. 5.
Organized by the district and run by the Dongjak Career and Vocational Experience Support Center, the fair is designed to give young people hands-on exposure to a wide range of careers and practical guidance on planning their futures.
About 1,500 students from 17 local elementary, middle and high schools will take part across three showings running from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Residents with an interest in career and education pathways are also welcome to attend.
This year the fair expands its school participation to include eight specialized high schools in Seoul and three university student mentoring booths — among them one from Seoul National University — offering information on various academic departments and majors and helping students better understand campus life.
Built around a space-and-cosmos concept, the fair will operate more than 60 booths across five zones: SEARCH (career exploration), POTENTIAL (specialized high school pathways), ADVICE (university student mentoring by major), CHALLENGE (hands-on job experiences) and ENJOY (activities and events).
In the SEARCH ZONE, visitors can take aptitude assessments and consult with specialists to identify their interests and strengths.
The POTENTIAL ZONE introduces academic programs and admissions information for specialized high schools, while the ADVICE ZONE lets students sit down with university mentors to ask questions about choosing a major and navigating college life.
The CHALLENGE ZONE offers a broad range of career experiences — from popular fields such as forensic science, drone operation, nail artistry, photography and patisserie to disciplines students rarely encounter in everyday life.
The ENJOY ZONE rounds out the fair with event booths and hands-on programs — including tea-blending and aromatherapy sessions — designed for accompanying teachers and adult visitors.
On Nov. 13, the district office's fourth-floor auditorium will host a career lecture by Choi Hyun-woo, one of South Korea's best-known magicians, speaking on the theme "Cast a spell on your dreams and hopes — beyond prejudice."
Choi will share personal experiences of overcoming bias to pursue a dream, with the aim of helping young people discover new possibilities and take ownership of their career paths. A question-and-answer session and a hands-on magic activity for students will follow the talk.
For more information on the fair or the career lecture, contact the Dongjak Career and Vocational Experience Support Center.
Dongjak-gu District Mayor Ryu Sam-young said the fair would give young people a chance to explore diverse career fields and discover their own interests and potential. "We will continue to expand career education programs so that young people can plan futures that match their aptitudes and abilities," Ryu said.
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