Seoul’s Gangseo-gu (District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon) took 47 members of its local children’s newspaper corps, the “Gangseo Kkumdongsan Child Reporters,” on a group field trip to cover the Han River on the 28th. The outing, the first since the 17th class of reporters was launched on June 16, was designed to let children experience the field firsthand, dig up story material and write their own articles, all aimed at raising the quality of “Gangseo Kkumdongsan,” the children’s newspaper published by the district.
 [코리안투데이] Child reporters covering the interior of the boat © 송정숙 기자 |
All participants were covered by travel insurance, putting safety first for the trip. The young reporters boarded the public vessel “Han River Renaissance” at the Yeouido public boat dock, took a thorough look around the interior, and continued their fieldwork as the boat cruised from Yeouido to Magok and back to Yeouido. The program was led by a Han River tour guide, giving the children a natural introduction to the river’s history and culture.
As the boat sailed, the reporters listened closely to explanations of the history of Nanjido Park, Gungsan Mountain and Soakru Pavilion, taking notes for their coverage, and brainstormed story ideas as they felt the river breeze on deck. Lim Do-gyeong, a reporter from Naebalsan Elementary School, said, “The guide’s detailed explanations answered questions I had about the Han River, and I plan to start writing my article as soon as I get home.” Choi Yeon-a, a reporter from Hwagok Elementary School, also shared her impressions, saying, “This was my first time riding a boat on the Han River, and it was a really meaningful experience — I definitely want to come back.”
An impromptu “headline-writing” session was also held on site that day. Park Ji-yu, a reporter from Deungwon Elementary School, came up with the headline “The Han River: From the Center of Development to a Symbol of Nature,” while Park Ryu-an, a reporter from Deunghyeon Elementary School, offered a striking title, “Why Didn’t the Han River’s Imugi Become a Dragon?” — raising expectations for the finished articles to come.
Among the articles the child reporters write based on this coverage, the ones selected as top pieces will be published in the fall issue, No. 65, of Gangseo Kkumdongsan, set for release in September. The newspaper will be distributed in 22,000 copies to 35 elementary schools across Gangseo-gu, and is also available to any resident through the Gangseo-gu website (Children & Youth > Gangseo Kkumdongsan).
 [코리안투데이] Group photo of the child reporters © 송정숙 기자 |
Meanwhile, the public vessel “Han River Renaissance,” used for this field trip, first entered service in September 2009 and has since been used for various promotional and experiential events aimed at raising awareness of the Han River’s history, ecology and the value of its waterside spaces. District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon said, “I’d like to thank the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Future Han River Headquarters for its active support in making the boat available for this field trip. My applause goes to the child reporters who threw themselves into their coverage with such enthusiasm despite the hot weather. I hope many residents will take an interest in the varied stories featured in the Gangseo Kkumdongsan fall issue.”송정숙 기자 (한국통합치유협회장) | gangseo@thekoreantoday.com
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