Seocho-gu's Youth FESTA Brings Korea and France Together

"I hope people enjoy Korean and French culture at this year's Youth FESTA and create special memories with music."

Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-soo said this while announcing the district will hold the 2026 Third Seocho Youth FESTA x 140th Anniversary of Korea-France Diplomatic Relations Festival, "Bonjour, Fête!" The festival will run from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at the picnic area of Banpo Hangang Park and the Yebitseom outdoor stage to mark Youth Day, observed Sept. 19.

Now in its third year, the Seocho Youth FESTA is Seocho-gu's signature youth festival, planned and run directly by young people.

This year, the district partnered with the culture and arts organization AIM Arts & Culture to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and France. Together they turned Banpo Hangang Park into a stage where young people can enjoy Korean and French culture through hands-on programs and commemorative performances running from midday into the evening.

Starting at noon, 18 experience booths built around the themes of Korea, France and youth will operate at the picnic area of Banpo Hangang Park. The scene will be decked out in a red, blue and white color scheme. Visitors can follow a guided route through the booths to sample a variety of Korean and French culture.

First, the French culture zone will offer programs that let visitors experience French sensibilities through all five senses. These include making a signature scent of one's own in "French Perfume Making" and decorating France's iconic madeleine cookies. Visitors can also try a photo experience, donning a beret and costume to become a Parisian for a day, or get a caricature drawing capturing the mood of Montmartre. Other offerings include Marseille tarot and astrology readings.

In addition, the Korean culture zone will run programs offering a hands-on taste of K-culture. These include K-beauty styling that lets visitors try out K-pop idol looks, and a keycap keyring-making activity that blends traditional mother-of-pearl inlay craft with the tastes of the MZ generation. Visitors can also try making oranda, a sweet traditional snack, part of a lineup of Korean cultural content that has recently drawn global attention.

In particular, this year's FESTA will showcase programs built entirely from young people's own ideas. Seoripul Youth Crew, Seocho-gu's youth social-contribution organization, took part from idea development through program planning and on-site operations, delivering distinctive content shaped by young people's sensibilities.

Key programs include a "World Tour Passport" experience in which participants go through immigration checks and world-travel missions. Another program recommends French literature suited to one's taste and has participants make a beverage to pair with the chosen work. A third, "AI Time Photo," uses a single photograph to reveal a visitor's past, present and future selves.

As dusk falls, performances will continue at the Yebitseom outdoor stage. A pre-show set by the youth band Shall We Funk will kick things off with an upbeat performance. This will be followed by the Youth Day commemoration ceremony. As part of the "Seocho Golden Age 2: 100-Day Fast-Start Project," awards will be presented to the 10 winners of the "Real Youth Policy Top 10." These policies were proposed and chosen directly by young people.

Following the awards ceremony, the main performance will bring singer-songwriter Kyungseo to the stage, known for hits such as "Stars in the Night Sky" and "To My X." Against a backdrop of the Han River at sunset at the tail end of summer, her clear voice is expected to create a special moment for the audience.

Alongside this, a special performance marking the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations will also take place. It will trace the cultural exchange and friendship the two countries have built over 140 years through music. This will carry the Korea-France exchange mood from the daytime program smoothly into the evening performances.

"This FESTA is a festival built together through the ideas and passion of young people," Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-soo said. "I hope that this weekend, without having to travel far, people can enjoy Korean and French culture together at Banpo Hangang Park and create a scene of youth along with music."