Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Joins Volunteers to Hand-Make 7,000 Rice Cakes for Chuseok

The Dongdaemun-gu Volunteer Center in Seoul held a chuseok sharing event Wednesday, hand-making songpyeon rice cakes under the theme "Spreading Warmth for the Chuseok Holiday" and delivering them to vulnerable residents across the district.

The event, held at the Dapsimni 1-dong Volunteer Center, drew more than 60 participants, including District Mayor Choi Dong-min, volunteers from 15 neighborhood volunteer camps and four civic organizations in Dongdaemun-gu.

Participants hand-shaped more than 7,000 songpyeon with care. The finished rice cakes were then delivered to about 480 households identified as needing attention and support.

Recipients were selected with the help of each neighborhood community center. Volunteers from the dong-level camps visited the homes in person to deliver the rice cakes and check on residents' well-being and living conditions.

The center also purchased dough and other ingredients from traditional markets and small local businesses in the district, aiming to ease the burden on small merchants and boost the local economy. Volunteers embraced the dual purpose of the event — sharing with neighbors while supporting local commerce through purposeful spending.

District Mayor Choi rolled up his sleeves alongside the volunteers, shaping songpyeon himself and adding personal meaning to the spirit of sharing.

"I am delighted to take part in this meaningful event — making songpyeon together with volunteers and delivering warmth to our neighbors for chuseok," Choi said. "I am deeply grateful to every volunteer who joined in the songpyeon sharing. Your warm hands coming together make our society brighter and more caring. Dongdaemun-gu will continue to put people and neighbors at the center of everything we do, building a community where everyone can feel that warmth."