The festival takes place Oct. 24 at Gwanak-gu Office Plaza, with youth directly involved in planning, promotion and operations
Programs under the theme 'Our Cheers Begin!' include cooperative team missions and youth club performances
Gwanak-gu is set to host the 5th Annual 2026 Gwanak Youth Festival — known as "Cheongazeul" — this fall, creating a lively celebration of youth talent, passion and mutual encouragement.
"Cheongazeul" is a portmanteau of the Korean phrase meaning "a festival where youth enjoy themselves without a care in the world," and has grown into Gwanak-gu's signature youth festival, now in its fifth year.
This year's edition, themed "Our Cheers Begin!," will be held Oct. 24 at Gwanak-gu Office Plaza. The event is designed as a space where young people can cheer each other on, mingle and have fun together.
"Cheontist," the youth festival planning committee, took on a role far beyond that of mere participants — its members were directly involved in selecting the festival theme, producing online promotional content such as reels and card news, and managing operations on the day, weaving youth perspectives and ideas throughout the event.
Kicking off the festivities, the "Cooperative Cheering Mission Program" will bring together 100 elementary, middle and high school students from the district, divided into teams to take part in a series of cooperative challenges: rolling a large ball, an air-train relay and a board-flipping game — all designed to foster communication and teamwork.
At the opening ceremony that follows, Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee will take the stage as head cheerleader, joining Cheontist members to deliver an encouraging message to attendees through a cheering-ball performance.
The program continues with "Cheering Radio," a segment where a witty host explores young people's dreams, worries and everyday lives, followed by a "DJ Cheering Party" that turns up the energy with upbeat music.
On the main stage, 10 youth clubs will showcase their talents in band performances, dance and cheerleading. Adding to the lineup, the "Pegasus" cheerleading squad from Sungkyul University and CB Crew — winners of a youth club competition — will perform, rounding out a packed stage program.
Off the main stage, experience booths will offer activities for youth and local residents alike, including making wooden mechanical pencils, crafting custom keycaps and getting face paintings.
Alongside this, a magic show and a surprise bubble show will provide additional entertainment throughout the day.
"I hope this festival gives young people a chance to step away from their daily routines, enjoy some happy moments and cheer each other on," District Mayor Park said. "We will continue to create diverse opportunities for activities and challenges so that every young person's dream can grow with energy here in Gwanak."
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