Seocho-gu Opens 'Bangbae Youth Center' Specialized in Youth Culture and Arts

District Opens 'Bangbae Art Youth Center' Specialized in Youth Culture and Arts on the 16th
Basement 1 to 4th Floor, Total Area 1760㎡, Featuring ▲1st Floor Art Space, Youth Cafe Nodak Nodak, ▲2nd Floor Podcast Studio ▲3rd Floor Creative Art Room, Media Art Room, ▲4th Floor Teen Space, Music Room, Movie Room

3rd Floor Creative Art Room

The Bangbae Youth Center in Seocho-gu has been transformed into an ART-exclusive space where young people can freely express their cultural and artistic talents and creativity.

Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) completed the remodeling of Bangbae Youth Center and reopened it as Bangbae ART Youth Center on the 16th.

The district explained that “Bangbae ART Youth Center is the nation’s first youth center specializing in culture and arts among local governments, equipped extensively with various cultural and artistic equipment and dedicated facilities.” ‘ART’ not only means ‘art’ but also stands for A(ART), R(Relationship), and T(Talent), symbolizing a space where youth build relationships through art and showcase their talents.

Seocho-gu, rich in cultural infrastructure such as the Seoul Arts Center, National Gugak Center, Music Culture District, and Seoripul Instrument Street, recognized that Seocho youth have many opportunities to experience culture and arts during their growth. Therefore, the over 20-year-old aging youth center was completely remodeled into the Bangbae ART Youth Center.

Bangbae ART Youth Center spans from basement level 1 to the 4th floor, covering a total area of 1,760㎡.

Main spaces include ▲1st floor lobby and art space, caf? ‘NodakNodak’ ▲2nd floor podcast studio ▲3rd floor creative art room, media art room, one-person media studio ▲4th floor teen space, music room, movie room ▲5th floor cozy rooftop room.

The center is equipped with cutting-edge cultural and artistic equipment, spaces, and programs, offering youth who dream of careers in culture and arts various job experience opportunities.

Especially notable is the 3rd floor youth cultural and artistic creative space. The creative art room is furnished with electronic whiteboards, professional tools, and easels for activities such as DIY woodworking, creative crafts, and art. The media art room is equipped with tablet PCs, large electronic whiteboards, and plotters, enabling digital creative activities like tablet drawing, animation, emoticon, and art book production.

The 4th floor is designed as a space for youth performances, music production, and movie viewing. The music room offers music creation experiences and vocal training, while the movie room hosts film screenings and mini preview events. The district plans to provide youth, who have faced difficulties due to expensive equipment, tuition fees, and lack of practice spaces, with opportunities to pursue their dreams here.

The 1st floor is arranged as a youth artwork exhibition and relaxation space as well as an activity program area. At the youth caf? ‘NodakNodak,’ visitors can view masterpieces on digital frame TVs, and youth artworks can be appreciated in the wall gallery. There is also an ‘Art Space’ that runs physical programs such as yoga, broadcast dance, and strength training. Here, youth can monitor their mental health using stress and fatigue measuring devices and receive psychological therapy and one-on-one counseling linked with the 2nd floor ‘Youth Counseling Welfare Center.’

This youth center reflects youth opinions from planning and design to program composition. Features such as bean bag chairs placed by the open glass windows, the youth caf? name ‘NodakNodak,’ and the installation of the media art room all incorporate youth feedback. Additionally, the results of a ‘Youth Cultural and Artistic Activity Demand Survey’ conducted in May with 1,248 local youth were also reflected in the program design.

Cho Yoon-sang (18, male), chairman of the Bangbae ART Youth Center Youth Operating Committee, said, “I am proud that youth opinions were incorporated from the center’s concept to design and programs,” adding, “I look forward to seeing friends here develop their cultural and artistic literacy, express their talents, and nurture their abilities.”

Opening Ceremony

The center will operate a total of 34 programs starting January next year, including art, music, liberal arts, and physical education. Going forward, it plans to focus on cultural and artistic programs reflecting regional characteristics and youth needs, club activities, and nurturing creative cultural and artistic professionals.

On the 16th, the district held an opening ceremony for the ‘Bangbae ART Youth Center,’ attended by about 250 people including youth families, local residents, and representatives of the entrusted corporation. The event featured congratulatory performances, facility tours, vision declarations, and ART CLASS experience events.

Operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays until 6 p.m., and closed on public holidays.

Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, “We expect Bangbae ART Youth Center to serve as a refreshing rain to quench the cultural and artistic desires of youth,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to create a happy Seocho where young people grow into talents in the cultural and artistic fields.”

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