Seoul council speaker urges city to 'soar like a kite' carrying citizens' hopes

Seoul Metropolitan Council Speaker Im Man-gyun of the Democratic Party of Korea flew kites with residents ahead of Chuseok on Sunday, reflecting on the spirit of community that brings families and neighbors together.

Im attended the 2026 Seoul Hanmaeum Kite-Flying Festival at Nakseongdae Park in Gwanak-gu, where he joined citizens in writing messages of hope on kites before launching them to mark the start of the event.

Held under the slogan "Flying citizens' hopes high into the sky," the festival was organized to foster intergenerational communication and civic harmony through the traditional pastime of kite flying.

"The higher each kite carrying a citizen's wish rises, the greater Seoul's hope will grow," Im said in his welcoming remarks. "I hope this becomes a warm occasion where families and neighbors cheer each other's dreams and connect with one another."

He added that while a kite rides the wind to climb skyward, it needs a sturdy string to fly in the right direction. "The Seoul Metropolitan Council will work to strengthen its ties with citizens and ensure that their wishes are faithfully reflected in policy and the budget," he said.

Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee, Gwanak-gu Council Speaker Pyo Tae-ryong, and Seoul Metropolitan Council members Kim Jeong-ae, Kim Jeong-u and Gong U-seok also attended and joined residents in the festivities.

The event featured a range of programs, including kite-making workshops, expert kite-flying demonstrations and family kite-flying sessions. Children and teenagers built their own kites and learned about traditional culture and the principles of flight, while parents revisited childhood memories.

Multicultural families and foreign residents also took part, experiencing a traditional Korean pastime firsthand. Citizens of different generations and cultural backgrounds shared a moment of connection and harmony as their kites filled the same sky.

Im said the city should expand participatory festivals that allow residents to enjoy traditional culture close to their daily lives and create lasting memories with family and neighbors. "The council will pay close attention to ensuring that festivals linking local history and cultural resources with hands-on civic experiences continue to grow," he said.