Dongjak-gu will host the "Noryang Water Gun Battle" at Noryangjin Soccer Field (688 Nodeul-ro) from Saturday through Aug. 17, giving children a safe and fun way to beat the relentless summer heat.
The event runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a lunch break from 1 to 2 p.m. During the Liberation Day holiday on Aug. 15 and 16, hours will be extended until 7:30 p.m.
To ensure the safety of visitors and staff, the event will operate on a 40-minutes-on, 20-minutes-rest cycle. Children and their guardians residing in the district may enter free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the venue.
The grounds will feature a large water slide, an assembly-type pool, a toddler pool, an air bounce and a fountain tunnel.
On weekends, age-group water gun battles will take center stage, complemented by magic shows, K-pop dance performances and nanta drumming, among other programs.
Particularly in response to this year's heat wave, the district has significantly reinforced safety management and visitor convenience.
Large shade canopies have been installed over all pools, and ample rest areas — including air-cooling zones, Mongolian-style tents and parasols — have been set up for breaks between water activities. A temporary parking lot for about 100 vehicles and a snack stand will also be available.
The district also plans to maintain a comprehensive operations center, continuously monitor attendance levels, station CPR-certified safety personnel and an ambulance on site at all times, and conduct regular water-quality inspections to ensure a safe and comfortable environment.
Three small children's water play facilities that opened July 25 have already drawn strong interest from residents, logging a cumulative 4,670 visitors through Wednesday.
Beyond the water events, the district is pursuing a broad heat-wave response plan that includes installing an outdoor air-conditioned dome called "Happy-dong," expanding smart shade structures and heat-relief shelters, operating a heat-refuge sauna, managing the health of vulnerable residents, distributing ice packs and bottled water, and expanding road-spraying operations.
"This year's Noryang Water Gun Battle was prepared with visitor safety as the top priority," Dongjak-gu District Mayor Ryu Sam-young said. "We will do our best to run the event so that children and families alike can enjoy the water activities with peace of mind and create cool memories, even in the heat."
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