Dongdaemun celebrates global cultures with interactive family festival

Seoul’s Dongdaemun district will host the Multicultural Family Happy Gathering on Sept. 12 at the outdoor plaza of Hyundai City Outlet Dongdaemun. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature cultural workshops, eco-friendly crafts and live performances. Organized by the Jung-gu Family Center, it drew strong interest and sold out advance registrations. The festival is meant to promote cultural exchange and neighborhood unity.

The event will take place on Sept. 12 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the outdoor plaza of Hyundai City Outlet Dongdaemun.

Advance registrations sold out early, and organizers expect thousands of walk-up visitors.

The venue will have three zones: Magic Workshop, Magic Playground and Magic Plaza.

Sponsors include Hyundai City Outlet, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and KB Kookmin Bank.

The program includes Mongolian folk dances, face-painting booths, a children’s magic show and a raffle draw at 4:30 p.m.

Published Sep 3, 2026 2:53 pm KST

The exterior of Dongdaemun Design Plaza featuring a public art sculpture in Seoul / Yonhap

Seoul’s historic Dongdaemun district will host a hands-on cultural fair on Sept. 12, offering local residents a chance to sample global traditions, eco-friendly crafts and live performances right in the heart of the city.

Running from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the outdoor plaza of Hyundai City Outlet Dongdaemun, the "Multicultural Family Happy Gathering" aims to bridge cultural gaps and celebrate the neighborhood's growing diversity through interactive workshops and family activities.

Organized by the Jung-gu Family Center, this year's installment expanded its footprint through sponsorships from local corporate partners, including Hyundai City Outlet, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and KB Kookmin Bank. High public interest sparked an early sellout of advance registrations, though organizers expect thousands of walk-up visitors to crowd the plaza.

The venue will be divided into three interactive zones designed around a fairy-tale narrative. At the Magic Workshop, visitors can participate in hands-on cultural activities representing Vietnam, Mongolia and the United States, or assemble eco-friendly keepsakes like magic-wand pens fashioned from upcycled bottle caps. Nearby, the Magic Playground offers rides and collaborative family challenges, including step-counter competitions and synchronized movement games.

The festivities culminate at the Magic Plaza, which serves as the main entertainment stage. The lineup features traditional Mongolian folk dances performed by local immigrant support groups, alongside face-painting booths and interactive photo zones. A live children’s magic show and raffle draw will cap off the afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

The initiative reflects a broader shift across Korea, where local governments are actively integrating multicultural households as the nation's demographic landscape evolves. Areas including Jung District — historically famous as a bustling commercial and textile heartland — are leaning into these demographics to foster inclusive, neighborhood-level spaces.

"We have prepared a meaningful opportunity for residents to experience global cultures alongside their neighbors right in the heart of the city," said Kim Kil-sung, mayor of Jung District. "We hope families visit to embrace our differences and enjoy a warm afternoon of community unity."

Organizers advise attendees to utilize public transit due to weekend traffic surrounding the commercial fashion district, though two hours of free parking will be provided at the shopping complex.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

首尔东大门区将于9月12日在现代奥特莱斯东大门店的户外广场举办多元文化家庭欢乐聚会。活动时间为下午1点至5点，内容包括文化工作坊、环保手工艺制作和现场表演。该活动由中区家庭中心主办，吸引了众多关注，预售票已售罄。此次活动旨在促进文化交流和邻里团结。

活动将于9月12日下午1点至5点在现代城市奥特莱斯东大门店的户外广场举行。

提前注册名额早早售罄，组织者预计将有数千名现场游客。

场馆将分为三个区域：魔法工坊、魔法游乐场和魔法广场。

赞助商包括现代汽车奥特莱斯、韩国体育振兴财团和KB国民银行。

活动包括蒙古族民间舞蹈、脸部彩绘、儿童魔术表演以及下午4:30的抽奖活动。

发布于2026年9月3日下午2:53（韩国标准时间）

首尔东大门设计广场外墙上的公共艺术雕塑 / 韩联社

首尔历史悠久的东大门区将于9月12日举办一场互动式文化博览会，让当地居民有机会在市中心体验世界各地的传统文化、环保工艺品和现场表演。

“多元文化家庭欢乐聚会”将于下午 1 点至 5 点在现代城市奥特莱斯东大门店的户外广场举行，旨在通过互动工作坊和家庭活动弥合文化差距，庆祝社区日益增长的多样性。

由中区家庭中心主办的今年活动，在包括现代城市奥特莱斯、韩国体育振兴财团和KB国民银行在内的当地企业合作伙伴的赞助下，规模进一步扩大。公众的浓厚兴趣导致预售名额早早售罄，但主办方预计届时广场上仍将挤满数千名现场游客。

场地将分为三个互动区域，分别围绕一个童话故事展开。在魔法工坊，游客可以参与代表越南、蒙古和美国的文化体验活动，或者制作环保纪念品，例如用回收瓶盖制成的魔法棒笔。附近的魔法游乐场则提供各种游乐设施和适合全家参与的挑战项目，包括计步比赛和同步运动游戏。

庆祝活动的高潮在魔术广场举行，这里是主要的娱乐舞台。届时将有当地移民支持团体表演传统的蒙古族民间舞蹈，还有脸部彩绘摊位和互动拍照区。下午4:30，一场儿童魔术表演和抽奖活动将为下午的活动画上句号。

这项举措反映了韩国社会更广泛的转变，随着国家人口结构的演变，地方政府正积极整合多元文化家庭。包括历史上以繁荣的商业和纺织业中心而闻名的中区在内的地区，正顺应人口结构的变化，努力打造包容性的社区空间。

“我们为居民们准备了一个意义非凡的机会，让他们在市中心就能与邻居们一起体验世界文化，”中区区长金吉成表示，“我们希望家庭前来参观，感受彼此的差异，享受一个充满社区团结的温馨下午。”

主办方建议参加者利用公共交通工具前往商业时尚区，因为周末该地区交通拥堵，不过购物中心将提供两小时免费停车。

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。