Gangseo District Wins Grand Prize at Korea Cultural Value Awards for Heojun Festival and More

Ranked Number One Nationwide for Everyday Cultural Policies

Gangseo District in Seoul (District Mayor Jin Kyohun) announced on the 17th that it has won the highest honor, the Grand Prize, at the 2025 Korea Cultural Value Awards.

This award recognizes Gangseo District's diverse cultural policies, which were evaluated as the best in the nation. These include the activation of local cultural facilities such as the district’s signature Heojun Festival, the Gyeomjae Jeongseon Art Museum, and Gangseo Artrium, as well as the creation of distinctive cultural streets.

Jin Kyohun, the mayor of Gangseo District, is declaring the opening of the 22nd Heojun Festival. Provided by Gangseo District.

Now in its sixth year, the Korea Cultural Value Awards is a leading domestic cultural policy award, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Cultural Value Research Association. A total of 25 organizations are selected by comprehensively evaluating the policy achievements of metropolitan and basic local governments and cultural foundations nationwide. The evaluation is conducted quantitatively and qualitatively based on seven indicators, including regional identity, resident participation and communication, the economic impact of the cultural industry, and accessibility to the arts.

Gangseo District received high marks across its overall cultural policies, including the hosting of unique local festivals such as the Heojun Festival and Sagaksagak Festa; the operation of major cultural facilities like the Heojun Museum, Gyeomjae Jeongseon Art Museum, and Gangseo Artrium; the creation of cultural spaces such as Magok Cultural Street and Heojun Theme Street; the operation of the district choir and theater troupe and the establishment of support systems for young and street artists; and the provision of customized performances for vulnerable groups.

In particular, the Heojun Festival, themed around Gangseo District’s representative historical figure Heo Jun, has established itself as a medical and health culture festival that showcases the district’s history and identity. Last year, more than 150,000 visitors participated, making it a leading cultural brand of the region.

This year, the 23rd Heojun Festival will be held from October 18 to 19, with the venue expanded from the traditional Seoul Botanic Park area to include Magok Jungang-ro and Magok Plaza. New content that combines tradition and advanced technology, such as AI-restored videos of Heo Jun and AI-based healthcare experience booths, will also be introduced to encourage participation from residents and tourists.

Jin Kyohun, Mayor of Gangseo District, said, “Our consistent efforts to implement policies that allow residents to enjoy culture close to their daily lives have resulted in the precious achievement of being ranked number one nationwide. We will continue to do our best to create a refined city where culture flourishes in every corner of daily life.”