A jazz band performs on a stage set up at the second-floor Grass Plaza of Yongsan District Office in central Seoul in this undated photo. Courtesy of Seoul Yongsan District Office
Yongsan District Office, which administers the Seoul neighborhoods of Itaewon, Hannam-dong, Bogwang-dong and Haebangchon, among others, announced a slate of cultural events for May to mark Korea’s Family Month.
The programs are designed to mark the month’s festivities across the district’s various neighborhoods, with non-Korean residents also welcome to attend the series of family-oriented events.
The events open Tuesday at the War Memorial of Korea with a children's cultural festival hosted by the Korea War Memorial Association. The festivities include face painting, balloon art and remote-controlled tank rides, alongside K-pop performances and demonstrations by the Marine Corps Band and a taekwondo team.
On Thursday, the district will hold a singing contest for older adults at Yongsan Arts Hall's main theater, Mir. Participants who advanced through preliminaries will take the stage, joined by trot singers Choi Dae-sung and MC Hojo.
The Yongsan History Museum will host a concert of traditional Korean music on May 16, featuring the ensemble Aranju. The 3 p.m. performance is themed around the district’s local history and culture, part of a broader effort to highlight Yongsan's heritage through the arts.
The Yongsan District Support Center for Child Care will stage a children’s ballet production of "Swan Lake" on May 28 at the Yongsan Arts Hall’s Garam theater. The program, which includes performances at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., is expected to draw roughly 500 infants and toddlers from local child care facilities.
A family outdoor film screening, "Dotjari Family Film Festival," is set for May 15 at 7 p.m. at the Yongsan Family Center. Registered families will receive portable beanbag chairs, picnic mats and popcorn. The program includes "Ponyo," "Monsters, Inc." and "Coco." A photo booth will open at 6 p.m. ahead of the screenings.
Also opening May 13 at the Yongsan Cultural Foundation is a group exhibition titled "Samgak G7: Redrawn Streets," running through July 12 and featuring seven midcareer artists exploring Yongsan's urban identity.
Every Friday evening in May, free outdoor music performances spanning jazz, pop opera and classical genres will be held near the foundation and Ichon 1-dong Community Center.
Source: Korea Times News
