Nowon-gu District Mayor Seo Jun-o conducted a pre-opening site inspection Wednesday evening along Danghyeoncheon stream ahead of the launch of the 2026 Nowon Moonlight Walk: New Moon festival.
Running Friday through Nov. 8, the Nowon Moonlight Walk is the district's signature urban nighttime public art festival, drawing more than 1.32 million visitors last year. This year, 24 domestic artist teams will present more than 30 works, with new pieces including "Giraffe" by Jeon Studio and "Standard Animal" by Jang Se-il expected to draw particular attention from visitors.
Ipark Hyundai Development is joining as a sponsor this year, contributing to an expansion of the festival's content. The company plans to relocate its headquarters to Nowon-gu after completing the Gwangundae transit-oriented area development project in 2028. In the meantime, it is building premium residential complexes in Wolgye-dong — including Seoul One Ipark and Park Roche Seoul One — while broadening its ties to the community through a range of social contribution initiatives.
During Wednesday's inspection, Seo walked the 1.3-kilometer stretch from Danghyeon Bridge No. 1 to Yangji Bridge alongside department heads, reviewing the installation status of artworks, preparations for the opening lighting ceremony, safety management measures and the viewing environment along the stream.
The festival opens Friday with a lighting ceremony at Danghyeonmaru, a waterfront café, and will illuminate Danghyeoncheon stream every evening from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The district has also prepared a range of accompanying programs, including guided moonlight tours led by resident docents and weekend cultural performances.
"Since this is a festival that draws large crowds, I will carefully check that visitors can enjoy it comfortably, safely and in an environment where they can fully immerse themselves," Seo said. "Through this open art festival — where people walk, appreciate and connect together — we will present a new, refined side of Nowon."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
