Children, youth and families come together for cultural experiences at the Geumseong-gwan lawn plaza in Naju.
The Geumseong-gwan lawn plaza in Naju, South Jeolla Province, was transformed into a festive gathering space where children, youth and families could learn, experience and share the values of generosity, mutual respect and local pride.
Naju city held the "2026 Children and Youth Together Growth Festival" at the Geumseong-gwan lawn plaza on Saturday, drawing families and residents to the historic site for a day of activities and performances.
Held under the theme "Learn together, respect each other, and draw tomorrow," the event was organized by Naju city and coordinated by the children and youth working subcommittee of the Naju Community Social Security Council.
One of the day's most popular programs was a thrift bazaar in which children took on the role of "mini shopkeepers," selling or exchanging items from home they no longer used. Through the activity, participants picked up basic concepts of economic activity while also experiencing the value of recycling and sharing.
Seven experience booths run by local children and youth organizations were also set up at the venue.
The Naju Youth Training Center operated a "toy playground" where children made playthings from recycled materials such as egg cartons and bottle caps. The Gwangju-Jeolla-Jeju regional office of the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service ran a financial literacy booth called "Savings grow! Credit grows!" tailored to children's level of understanding.
The South Jeolla Central Child Protection Agency held a parenting education session for guardians to raise awareness of children's rights and welfare, while the cooperative Seongan Saramdeul conveyed the importance of carbon neutrality and environmental protection through a "make your own plant friend" activity.
The Naju Community Child Center Association ran the thrift bazaar with children as vendors, while the Naju Child Care Support Center and the Community Social Security Council secretariat prepared hands-on activities and food programs for visiting families.
Each participating organization also ran a child abuse prevention campaign alongside its activity booth, raising public awareness of children's rights and safety.
On stage, youth band performances, dance acts and talent shows kept the energy high throughout the day as visitors moved between booths and joined in the various activities.
Participants in the experience programs received coupons redeemable for warm fish-shaped pastries, adding to the enjoyment for family visitors.
A poetry contest titled "Naju Love, Naju Pride" — in which participants composed four-line acrostic verses using the Korean characters for "Naju" — also drew numerous entries filled with affection for the city and creative ideas.
A student named Oh Yu-sol was selected as the top winner by on-site public vote. Oh's entry read: "My own travel destination — don't hesitate, come to Naju. A Naju full of love! Come to Naju, full of romance," drawing praise for its wit and warmth in capturing the city's appeal.
"It was meaningful to watch the children run the bazaar and take part in all kinds of activities under the autumn sun," one attendee said. "It was great to make good memories together as a family."
Naju Mayor Yun Byeong-tae said he was deeply impressed to see children actively participating and expressing their love for the community while learning the values of sharing and consideration. "We will continue to work with the Community Social Security Council and related organizations to create diverse cultural and experiential opportunities where children and youth can grow up healthy and all residents can come together," he said.
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