2023 Nowon Youth Festival 'We Are All Alumni of Nowon' Held

Published 13 Sep.2023 07:42(KST)

Event titled "We Are All Alumni of Nowon" to be held at Hwarangdae Railroad Park at 2 PM on the 16th
Celebration performances by Nowon-born singers Yang Da-il and Punch, street dance team, and DJ
"Find the Alumni" event, participatory graffiti wall exhibition, flea market, food trucks, and more

Last Year's Event

Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will hold the "Nowon Youth Festival" in celebration of Youth Day.

Marking its second year, the "Nowon Youth Festival" will be held on the 16th from 2 PM at Hwarangdae Railroad Park under the theme "We Are All Alumni of Nowon."

The festival differentiates itself from other youth festivals by focusing on a "large-scale alumni reunion," inspired by the fact that Nowon-gu has the highest number of educational institutions among Seoul's autonomous districts, including seven universities in the area.

Rather than limiting the concept to "alumni based on alma mater," the meaning is expanded to connect local youth through all networks based on workplaces, activities, and the community. The plan is to unite youth as "alumni of Nowon," creating new relationships in a modern society where connections are often broken and aiming to restore a sense of locality.

The festival consists of ▲ Alumni for Sight ▲ Alumni for Play ▲ Alumni for Shopping ▲ Alumni for Food.

At the Alumni for Sight event, starting from 4:30 PM, street dance teams and DJ performances will take place on stage. Representing Nowon-gu, street dance teams specializing in B-boying, hip-hop, and locking will provide entertainment under the theme "Alumni who became musicians and dancers." At 7 PM, the opening ceremony will be followed by performances from singer Yang Da-il, beloved by many music fans for songs like "Sorry" and "Confession," and singer Punch, known for popular drama OSTs such as "Stay With Me" from Goblin and "Everytime" from Descendants of the Sun. Both singers share the commonality of being from Nowon-gu.

At the Alumni for Play event, a "Find Your Alumni" activity will be held. Visitors will select one of the five legal neighborhoods of Nowon-gu at the comprehensive information booth near the entrance, receive a name tag in the color representing that neighborhood, and wear it. By completing various missions, participants can receive eco-friendly hats, T-shirts, and other goods as prizes.

Additionally, a sculptural work by famous illustrator Myung Min-ho and a participatory graffiti wall will be set up as photo zones for visitors.

Moreover, attendees can experience making their own graffiti stencil eco-bags using watercolor mini sprays. Booths from seven local university clubs, Nowon Orang, the Youth Tomorrow Job Center, and the Nowon Work-Life Center will also be available to showcase youth policies. In cooperation with Kwangwoon University Campus Town Project Group, various consulting booths themed "Startup Secrets Told by Alumni" will be operated.

The Alumni for Shopping event will also take place. In collaboration with the Nowon Green Campus Town Project Group, young sellers based in Nowon will be recruited to run a flea market where visitors can purchase bouquets, hand-knitted bags, pet dishes, and more. Additionally, about ten food trucks will be stationed to create a lively food scene at the reunion.

Since February, the district has formed a youth festival planning team consisting of 10 members, including youth activists, cultural and artistic experts, university and related institution officials, focusing on creating a youth-led festival that reflects the opinions of young people. The festival will recruit 30 youth helpers, providing benefits such as volunteer hours and goods, to ensure a safe, youth-driven event.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, "I hope young people come out to enjoy the festival, build new relationships, and take time to reflect on the neighborhood they live in. We will continue to provide opportunities for youth to gather and communicate and spare no support to make Nowon a place where young people want to stay for a long time."