Events run through Tuesday, featuring a time capsule, character hunt and 3-minute challenge — wishes written this year will be unsealed in December
Following September's letter exchange, relay novel and movie nights, the program continues to support youth connection and relaxation
Dongdaemun-gu in Seoul is running a series of participatory events at DDM Cheongsonyeon Ajiteu, a youth-only community space, through Tuesday — continuing a program that began in September.
The fall lineup is designed to give teenagers a safe, comfortable indoor setting where they can express their thoughts and emotions and enjoy small moments of everyday fun.
Three activities are available from Oct. 2 through Tuesday: "2026 Time Capsule," "Ajiteu Metchakameleon" and "Challenge 3 Minutes."
In the Time Capsule activity, participants draw a random phrase, read it and write down a wish they hope to fulfill this year before sealing it away. The capsules will be opened in December, giving participants a chance to reflect on their aspirations. The Metchakameleon activity asks visitors to find at least five chameleon characters hidden around the space, then design their own character and post it on the wall.
Challenge 3 Minutes tasks participants with completing three activities in sequence — cup stacking, a pop quiz and a traditional card-flipping game called ddakji — all within three minutes. Those who complete every challenge successfully receive a "Wakppubol" prize on a first-come, first-served basis.
Earlier, from Sept. 2 through Sept. 19, the center ran two ongoing drop-in activities — a heartfelt letter exchange and a relay novel — alongside three indoor picnic movie nights held on Sept. 4, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18. Teenagers gathered on picnic mats spread across the space to watch films together in a relaxed, outdoor-style atmosphere. The screenings gave participants a chance to step away from schoolwork and daily routines and recharge.
In the letter exchange, participants decorated handwritten letters with stamps and washi tape before passing them on to a friend or an anonymous recipient. The relay novel invited visitors to add to an ongoing story one person at a time, building a shared narrative through each other's imagination.
Participants shared their impressions of the events. "Spreading out a picnic mat with friends at the Ajiteu and watching a movie together made for a really different kind of memory," one teenager said. Another said, "Reading a letter someone had left and writing a reply back warmed my heart."
DDM Cheongsonyeon Ajiteu occupies the second floor of a building at 3 Jeongnong-ro 16-gil, covering 152.88 square meters. The facility is divided into four zones — hands-on activities, rest, play and social interaction — reflecting the needs of its users. It is open to students from fifth grade of elementary school through the final year of high school. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. The center is closed on Mondays and public holidays, and hours may be adjusted during school vacation periods depending on demand.
Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Choi Dong-min said the center's primary goal is to provide a space where young people can drop in and relax safely and comfortably at any time. "We will continue to listen to what teenagers want and keep running programs that bring rest and enjoyment into their everyday lives," he said.
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