Gangneung City, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, will host the "Gangneung City Youth Digital Festival - Cheongnuri (Youth Enjoying Digital Festival)" on June 7th at the Youth Training Center, where participants can experience the innovation and creativity of digital technology. This festival commemorates the 70th anniversary of Gangneung City's 승격 (elevation to city status) and was meticulously planned through close cooperation between Gangneung City's youth training facilities and relevant local organizations.

 
Purpose and Significance of the Festival

This digital festival aims to address educational disparities by providing equal opportunities for all youth and focuses on strengthening essential competencies needed for future society. It is designed to help young people explore career paths and cultivate digital literacy, enabling them to grow into key players in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era through various digital technology experiences, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), coding, and Virtual Reality (VR) games. Beyond simple entertainment, it is expected to serve as a platform for education and career exploration, offering practical assistance in shaping the future of young people. This reflects Gangneung City's proactive response to the growing importance of digital literacy and creative thinking in a rapidly changing society.

 
Diverse Program Structure

The '2025 Youth Digital Festival' comprises over 50 diverse programs, promising a rich experience for participants. The festival will commence with an awards ceremony for outstanding youth in youth activities, a moment designed to encourage the efforts of future talents and foster self-esteem. This will be followed by youth cultural performances, further enhancing the festive atmosphere and serving as a platform for young people to showcase their artistic talents and energy.

The digital content competition, a core element of the festival, is a venue where young people directly utilize digital technology to create innovative works. This competition will test young people's digital capabilities and imagination in various fields such as coding, webtoon production, and short film production, with awards given to outstanding works to instill a sense of accomplishment.

In the digital experience zone, opportunities will be provided to directly experience the latest digital technologies, including AI robot experiences, coding education simulations, 3D printing experiences, and Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technology experiences. In particular, VR drone soccer and Mario Kart tournaments are expected to be explosively popular among young people, promising special enjoyment for both participating youth and the general public. Drone soccer, beyond being a simple game, requires spatial perception and manipulation skills, while Mario Kart can help develop quick judgment and strategic thinking.

The outdoor youth experience zone offers a different kind of enjoyment compared to the indoor digital experiences. Here, various recreational activities and booths where young people can directly participate will be operated, adding to the festival's vibrancy.

Additionally, the digital career special lecture 'Only One, Not Number One' will provide useful information about media production and digital content-related professions. Inviting current experts, it will be a valuable time to hear about the latest trends in related fields, necessary competencies, and realistic advice on career planning. This is expected to help young people gain a concrete vision of digital-related occupations that they might have previously considered vaguely.

 
Event Details and Expected Effects

The '2025 Youth Digital Festival' will take place on June 7th from 4 PM to 8 PM at the Gangneung City Youth Training Center. The indoor area will feature digital experience zones, while the outdoor area will host youth experience zones, offering diverse choices for participants.

Lee Geon-ryeong, head of Gangneung City's Population and Family Division, stated regarding the festival, "We have carefully prepared programs that will enhance understanding of digital technology and help explore related career paths." He added, "We hope this will be of great help to young people, and that they will have an enjoyable time experiencing various digital technologies and software firsthand, even with their families." This suggests that the festival will not only contribute to the personal growth of young people but also encourage family participation to foster a healthy family culture.

The Gangneung City Youth Digital Festival, 'Cheongnuri,' will solidify its position as an important event that prepares young people to actively cope with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, strengthen their digital capabilities, and establish a foundation for their growth as key players in future society. Through this festival, it is hoped that the youth of Gangneung City will not fear the changes of the digital age but rather seize them as opportunities to unleash their full potential.

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