Gangnam-gu Council Speaker Lee Jae-jin and fellow council members attended the "2026 Gangnam Youth Festival" at Gangnam Square on Saturday afternoon to mark Youth Day, joining participants in various programs and engaging in conversation with young residents.
Organized under the theme "Time to Care for Myself, Time to Connect with Us," the festival was designed to offer a break from the bustle of daily life — giving attendees a chance to reflect on their physical and mental well-being through "wellness" activities while building new relationships around shared interests through "socialing" experiences.
Speaker Lee, along with council members Kim Yun-hee, Lee Jong-won (Na constituency), Kim Ji-ung and Yeom Hui-ok, watched performances and took part in activities including a fitness challenge and a keyring-making workshop, mingling with young attendees throughout.
The festival drew more than 500 young participants and opened with a lively DJ party attended by Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyeon-gi and other guests. The program then moved into a youth encouragement message ceremony, a congratulatory performance by rapper Han Yo-han, a busking set by singer-songwriter Jeon Ju-hong, and a series of one-day classes open to all, keeping the festive energy running high.
Particularly popular among the one-day classes were "Animal Flow," a full-body workout inspired by animal movements, and "Body Jam Dance," a session in which participants followed along to music and choreography — both giving attendees a chance to get moving and connect with one another.
The experience booths also featured an array of offbeat programs rarely encountered in everyday life. One standout was an "urban sauna bus" — a mobile sauna built from a converted vehicle — where visitors could warm up before plunging into cold water.
Other offerings included a coloring keyring workshop inspired by Gangnam landmarks, a traditional Korean knotting experience, stress checks using brainwave measurement and aromatherapy, health consultations based on star signs, mindfulness drawing, and a board game built around MZ-generation memes — giving visitors a wide range of options to suit their own interests and tastes.
In his youth encouragement message, Speaker Lee said: "I hope that today, just for today, you can set aside the heavy worries of school, employment and the future, and fully enjoy this festival prepared entirely for you — filling yourselves with health in body and mind." He added that he hoped the Sunday festival would give young people a chance to "communicate and stand together, forging connections that become a powerful source of inspiration for one another." Lee also pledged the council's continued support, saying, "The Gangnam-gu Council will always cheer on the youth of Gangnam with all our heart and spare no effort in supporting your endeavors and a better future."
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