Project Background
Bosandong in Dongducheon City was once a central hub of community activity and residential life. However, due to changes in urban structure and population outflow, the region's competitiveness has declined significantly. While the area has developed unique cultural characteristics influenced by nearby Camp Casey (a U.S. military installation), there was a need to rediscover the local identity and improve residents' quality of life. Through festivals created together by residents, merchants, and community organizations, we aimed to strengthen community bonds and promote the activation of Bosandong.
Approach
Rather than simply organizing events, this project focused on forming and operating a festival planning committee based on resident participation and collaboration. The initiative centered on three key pillars: planning festivals that leverage the area's cultural characteristics, developing content that incorporates residents' voices, and promoting local economic activation through the festival. The project progressed through a series of workshops and meetings held on June 23, July 3-4, and culminated in the Bosandong Carnival on July 5, successfully mobilizing residents' enthusiasm and capabilities.
📋
Planning
Discovering and
developing unique
local content
👥
Engagement
Active collaboration
of residents and
merchants
🎉
Implementation
Festival execution
led by the
planning committee
🌟
Expansion
Community
strengthening and
area activation
The core of this process lies in resident-led decision-making and voluntary participation. Rather than simply executing events, the festival planning committee was designed to create culture and cultivate community consciousness. Through the festival, we expressed Bosandong's unique identity and created resident-driven value through "Our Bosandong".
Key Implementation Activities
The festival planning committee operation proceeded through four stages. In the first stage (June 23), a workshop on discovering and developing locally unique content uncovered Bosandong's cultural assets and established the festival's direction. In the second stage (July 3-4), planning and preparation workshops enhanced residents' capabilities and completed practical preparations. In the third stage (July 5), the Bosandong Carnival was held, successfully drawing over 200 residents and visitors. In the final stage (July 16), evaluation and reporting concluded the project and discussed future development directions.
Expected Outcomes
200+
Festival Participants
100%
Resident Satisfaction
Through the operation of the Bosandong Community Festival Planning Committee, we observed significant resident participation, collaboration between merchants and organizations, and high satisfaction among festival attendees. Beyond simply hosting an event, we established foundations for resident-led decision-making and voluntary participation, yielding tangible outcomes in community strengthening and neighborhood activation. We also opened possibilities for developing the festival into an international event, leveraging the area's unique historical relationship with nearby Camp Casey.
Project Significance
This project stands out by using festivals not as mere cultural events but as tools for community strengthening. By forming festival planning committees centered on resident participation, we created horizontal collaborative structures rather than vertical policy implementation. We reinterpreted the area's specialized cultural assets, particularly the heritage of its American military connection, to create a new local brand. Importantly, we systematized the festival so it serves as a catalyst for sustained neighborhood activation and community strengthening rather than a one-time event. Ultimately, we provided residents with the empowering experience of recognizing local challenges and collectively developing solutions.
#FestivalPlanning
#ResidentParticipation
#LocalActivation
#Bosandong
#CommunityStrengthening
#FestivalManagement
#LocalCulture
#BosandongCarnival
#ResidentLed
