27th Jongno Residents' Day... 'Online Live Broadcast' to Maintain Social Distancing

Online Live Broadcast of the 27th Jongno Residents' Day Ceremony at 11 AM on the 8th... Held Without Inviting Residents to Maintain Social Distancing... Watch on Jongno TV and Jongno-gu YouTube Channel... Includes 'Resident Award Presentation' Honoring Exemplary Residents, Mayor Kim Young-jong's Commemorative Speech, and Special Healing Performances for Residents

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong), which is leading social distancing efforts, will replace the ‘27th Jongno Residents' Day Ceremony’ with an online commemorative event, live-streamed on the internet from 11 a.m. on the 8th.

‘Jongno Residents' Day’ is set annually on May 9th by the Jongno-gu ordinance enacted in 1994. This day was established to foster a sense of community and pride among residents, promote the inheritance and development of local culture, and encourage resident harmony. It was proclaimed with reference to the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.

According to the Annals, at that time, a special pavilion was built and a bell cast in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province was hung, which the king personally came to see. Because the street with the bell pavilion was located in the middle of the four main gates, the road was called ‘Jongno’ (Bell Street), and thus the current name of Jongno-gu was born.

Furthermore, since the bell was hung on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month in the 7th year of King Taejo’s reign (1398), converting this lunar date to the solar calendar results in May 9th. Therefore, Jongno-gu designated this day as Residents' Day, marking the origin of its precious name.

Before the ceremony begins, a pre-event video titled ‘We Are the Vaccine of Jongno’ featuring interviews and support messages from participants working hard across society to overcome the COVID-19 crisis will be broadcast.

The Jongno Residents' Day online commemorative ceremony will be held without inviting residents from 11 a.m. at the Cheongun Literature Library. It can be viewed via Jongno TV (http://tv.jongno.go.kr) or the Jongno-gu YouTube channel, and will proceed in the order of ▲Opening Declaration ▲Jongno Residents' Award Presentation ▲Commemorative and Congratulatory Speeches ▲Healing Concert.

The Jongno Residents' Award will be presented to 10 individuals across 9 categories: ‘Community Development’, ‘Establishment of Social Order’, ‘Resident Harmony’, ‘Local Culture and Arts’, ‘Promotion of Sports for Life’, ‘Filial Piety and Good Deeds’, ‘Model Youth’, ‘Environmental Protection’, and ‘Local Economic Development’.

The healing concert will feature Lee Jung-pyo, a gayageum performer and visiting professor at Seoul Institute of the Arts, who plans to offer four familiar songs including ‘Don’t Worry’ to comfort and provide rest to residents weary from the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

Mayor Kim Young-jong said, “The Jongno Residents' Day ceremony, which has invited numerous residents every year, will be held online without an audience this year as part of social distancing measures. I bow my head in gratitude to all residents who warmly support and show interest in the district’s administration. On this meaningful day, I hope everyone takes a moment to put aside the hardships of daily life and enjoy a healing time.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.