Installation of Half, Tiger, and Cow Sculptures at Wangsimni Square in Seongdong-gu

In May, the Family Month, non-face-to-face events such as the 'Seongdong Family Rock Festival' and 'Dignity of Middle Age' are prepared... Take a walk and make memories while viewing the rice straw sculptures exhibited at Wangsimni Square with light benches installed

Rice straw sculpture installed at Wangsimni Plaza Harp

Straw Sculpture of a Tiger Installed at Wangsimni Plaza

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) is preparing various events for Family Month in May, offering safe and enjoyable programs for families to create precious memories amid prolonged COVID-19 restrictions on outdoor activities.

The Seongdong-gu Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Support Center is hosting a non-face-to-face program, the talent show “Seongdong Family Rak (樂) Festival.”

Participants can create and submit videos showcasing their talents; outstanding works will be selected and publicly shared on YouTube, with prizes awarded. Families and organizations alike can participate, providing an opportunity for local residents stressed by COVID-19 to reveal their hidden talents.

A program called “Dignity of Middle Age” has also been prepared for middle-aged and older men. It aims to discover hobbies and talents of men preparing for their second life, share concerns among peers, and plan for the future together.

Additionally, the family group counseling program “Hangadeuk,” designed for single-parent families with elementary school children, supports family problem-solving through activities such as emotion cards, physical activities, life graphs, and creating family mottos.

All programs can be accessed through the Seongdong-gu Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Support Center website.

For families who prefer outdoor activities, a walk at Wangsimni Plaza is also worth noting.

In March, Wangsimni Plaza completed the first phase of landscape improvement, including facility and greenery maintenance and the installation of artistic light benches along the plaza’s grass lines. From the 20th of this month to the 19th of next month, three sculptures made of rice straw will be exhibited.

The exhibited works are large rice straw sculptures about 3 meters tall, featuring lively expressions of a tiger, an ox, and a harp. This exhibition was promoted through a free exhibition proposal by rice straw sculpture artist Park Yoon-sung.

Rice straw sculptures use rice straw, a byproduct after harvesting rice, to create traditionally familiar subjects such as livestock and scarecrows. The sculptures can be freely viewed and photographed for one month, evoking nostalgia for hometowns among residents tired from COVID-19 and providing new sights for children who have never experienced rural life.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “We have prepared safe and enjoyable programs for residents going through difficult times due to COVID-19. We will continue to do our best to discover diverse cultural content.”

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