Santa Claus is coming to Sinchon

People dressed in Santa Claus warm up for running at last year's Santa Run at Yonsei Street, Sinchon. / Courtesy of Seodaemun-gu Office

By Lee Suh-yoon

Seodaemun-gu Office will host the second annual Santa Run event at Sinchon train station this Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On the first Santa Run last year, around 800 people took part in the event, raising 3.17 million won ($2,380) in donations for medical fees of young children in disadvantaged households. More are expected to join this year.

All runners must don bright red Santa Claus costumes and run a 4-kilometer course around Yonsei University campus. Participants will first gather at Sinchon train station square for a joint warm-up exercise and walk to Doksuri Dabang, a landmark cafe on Yonsei-ro, to start the course.

The pedestrian-friendly Yonsei-ro is also where the district office hosts the Sinchon Christmas Street Fair every year. The four-day fair — starting on Dec. 22 — will host a Christmas Market, concerts, and street performances.

Participants who have paid the participation fee and reserved a spot in advance through online portal site Naver will receive a “Santa Package” on site, composed of a hand-warmer, an event medal, and drinks.

Those who haven't made a reservation can join the run for free, and a donation box will be available on site. A donation wall with the names of paying participants and donors will be also set up there.

This year the money raised from the event will go to children of low-income brackets and struggling young artists.

“We hope our unique charity event, the 2018 Sinchon Station Santa Run, can contribute to a more widespread culture of joyful giving,” Mun Seok-jin, head of Seodaemun-gu Office, said.

After the run, there will be a music concert featuring Christmas carols by well-known singers and bands like Mad Clown and The Barcode. The winners from a local singing and dance contest will also perform.

On the side there will be a Santa Market selling handmade goods and artworks. There will also be media art installation and a LED-framed photo zone to cater to Instagram users.

The run is a part of Seodaemun's Culture Bridge Project which aims to make Sinchon a crossroad for culture and art. This year's event will also be focused on advertising the new Sinchon Boxquare building, a shopping complex made of shipping containers that recently opened next to Sinchon train station. It now hosts 23 street vendors, who originally sold food and other goods outdoors near Ewha Womans' University, as well as 17 young entrepreneurs.