Chairwoman Jo Dong-hee champions broader social understanding of diverse family forms at 'Hamkkeoga' gathering in Seoul
Families may take many different forms, but the care and affection shared within them is no less real. A civic participation event aimed at deepening public understanding of diverse family lives and broadening social empathy for those differences was held in central Seoul.
The Saemaul Leaders Seoul Metropolitan Women's Association said it hosted the "2026 We Are One Family! Hamkkeoga" solidarity and support event at the Open Stage of Seoul Children's Grand Park on Oct. 27.
Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Single-Parent Family Support Center and coordinated by the Saemaul Leaders Seoul Metropolitan Women's Association, the event was backed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Its aim was to foster greater understanding of different family structures amid growing social diversity and to promote an inclusive community culture in which all families are treated with respect.
The event opened with a ceremony and inaugural performance, followed by a range of programs — an exhibition reflecting on the meaning of family, cultural and craft activity booths, and celebratory performances. Rather than simply viewing displays, participants were encouraged to engage hands-on, allowing them to absorb the value of family diversity through direct experience.
The centerpiece program, an exhibition titled "25 Doors, Hamkkeoga Stories," captured the spirit of the event. It told the stories of different families one by one, conveying the message that no family should face prejudice or discrimination simply because its structure or circumstances differ from others.
The exhibition moved away from a one-size-fits-all view of family, focusing instead on the idea that every family building its daily life in its own way deserves to be valued. It gave visitors a chance to reflect on their own families while gaining an understanding of the varied stories and values that their neighbors' families carry.
The cultural and craft booths and celebratory performances also served as spaces for families and community members to connect. Programs open to all, regardless of generation or family type, made it possible to experience the somewhat abstract concept of family diversity in a tangible, everyday way.
The event was also notable for moving beyond one-way outreach or education on family awareness, linking the issue instead to voluntary participation and lived experience. The underlying message was that sharing and empathizing with the stories of different families can be a starting point for reducing social prejudice and building a more inclusive community.
Through the event, the Saemaul Leaders Seoul Metropolitan Women's Association worked to expand the meaning of family beyond blood ties or traditional structures, reframing it as any relationship built on mutual respect and support. The association also focused on raising awareness of the importance of a community culture in which people extend their attention and encouragement beyond their own families to those of their neighbors.
The "2026 We Are One Family! Hamkkeoga" event concluded as a reminder that recognizing family diversity is not an act of special accommodation, but a fundamental value of a society that lives together with mutual respect.
7toy7@heraldcorp.com
