'Greater happiness with citizens, Pride Pocheon!': diverse programs and entertainment lined up
Pocheon will hold its 24th Citizens' Day on Oct. 11 at Pocheon General Stadium and surrounding venues.
Held under the theme "Greater Happiness with Citizens, Pride Pocheon!", the event is designed to foster civic pride and community unity through a wide range of participatory programs and entertainment.
The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a ceremonial bell-ringing at Banyeolgak in Cheongseong History Park. The festivities then move to Pocheon General Stadium and sport-specific venues, where residents will compete in soccer, ssireum (traditional Korean wrestling) and group jump rope as part of a township sports festival. Students from community centers across the city's 14 townships will also showcase their skills at a residents' self-governance showcase.
Midday programming offers something for all ages, including an esports talk show and hands-on experience session with professional gamers from FN Pocheon, a performance by the 5th Corps military band and honor guard, and a display and experience booth featuring military equipment including helicopters.
Pre-ceremony performances begin at 2:30 p.m., opening with youth club acts from local schools. A citizen model fashion show follows, after which the Pocheon Citizens' Choir, the Pocheon Municipal Boys and Girls Choir, and the Pocheon Municipal Folk Arts Troupe each take the stage.
The main Citizens' Day ceremony takes place on the central stage at 5 p.m., where eight residents who have contributed to the community will receive the Pocheon Citizens' Award. The ceremony will also include congratulatory video messages from sister cities, an opening address and a commemorative speech.
A cultural concert featuring popular performers begins at 6 p.m. The lineup includes dance group Diva, trot music singers Lee Dae-hwan and Lee Chan-won, and idol group Hi-Key, along with a stage by "Pocheon K-pop Hunters," a competition to discover emerging talent from the city.
The finale is a drone light show starting at 8:10 p.m. Expanded from 1,000 drones last year to 1,500 this year, the show will illuminate the night sky with aerial formations depicting Pocheon's major tourist attractions, five core campaign pledges and the city's vision for the future.
Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun said the event was carefully prepared so that residents — "the true owners of Pocheon" — could participate and connect directly. "I hope you will come with your family and neighbors, feel proud to be citizens of Pocheon, and enjoy a happy time together," he said.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
