About 30,000 residents attended the 104th Children's Day festival at Pyeongchon Central Park in Anyang. Children were at the center of the event and asserted their agency throughout the day.
Under the theme "Anyang, Where a Child's Choice Begins," the festival recognized children as rights-holders. Ten children took the stage during an open-mic session to share their thoughts and wishes, reinforcing the city's reputation as child-friendly.
The morning ceremony, which began at 10 a.m., presented commendations to eight exemplary children. Performances included the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra and the municipal boys' and girls' choir, while Sungkyul University's Pegasus cheer squad and the Military Corps Band offered additional celebratory performances.
At the activity zone, 18 booths proved popular. Highlights included AR racing, an AI language playground, a children's news desk, a police officer experience promoting safety in Anyang, and a seedling-planting station.
A city official said, "Children's confident voices and bright smiles are the driving force behind Anyang's status as a child-friendly city," and pledged to actively reflect the children's valuable suggestions from the festival in municipal policies to build a safer, happier city.
The festival was significant because it allowed children to participate proactively and gave them a concrete opportunity to influence city policy, helping ensure they can grow up in a safe and happy environment.
Anyang — Seung-sik Lee, reporter thankslee57@viva100.com
