The 2026 Seoul Mind Care Festival will be held Friday, October 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the car-free stretch of Deoksugung-gil (from in front of Daehanmun Gate to the round fountain). The festival is a privately organized event hosted and organized by 282 Books, with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Its subtitle is “Welcome to the Rest Stop for the Heart.” A mind-care flea market and workshops, counseling booths, busking themed around comfort and empathy, and participatory art will run throughout the day. Admission is free.
Not After We’re Hurting, but Before
The organizers say the festival began with a question: Before our bodies get sick, we exercise and take vitamins—so why do we care for our hearts only after they hurt? The idea is to create a day for checking in with how we feel before things get serious. The festival’s tagline is “34 Ways to Care for Your Heart.” Like stepping off at a stop to rest for a moment along the way, visitors are invited to explore the festival and find mind-care practices they can take back into their daily lives.
28 Booths and a Stage for Comfort
At the heart of the festival are 28 mind-care booths. A flea market, workshops and counseling booths will line the street, where visitors can stop by, try activities and talk with others.
The stage will feature busking centered on comfort and empathy. Artist Laetitia will present a live drawing performance called “Mind Stones Bloom”; choreographer Kim Ho-yeon will create “A Time When the Heart Moves.” Sibling duo Seowa Kong will share the comfort music can bring, while actor Hwang Mi-young will present “Mi-young, Become a God.” Art, movement, music and acting will all come together. Visitors can also take part in DRAW YOURSELF, a participatory art activity where they draw themselves.
A Place to Find the Mind-Care Practice That Fits You
The organizers recommend the festival to anyone curious about how they’re feeling, looking for a mind-care practice that suits them, or simply wanting to take a short break. The invitation: take your time exploring and trying things throughout the day, and discover one way of caring for your heart that works for you.
These days, when we spend all day looking at screens and our minds barely get a break from the flood of information, the idea of caring for our hearts can feel vague. For anyone who finds it unfamiliar to sit quietly with their eyes closed, a festival like this—where you can walk along the street, visit booths, draw, and take in music and movement—can offer an easy first step. Moving your body, using your hands and looking inward can also provide a natural introduction to meditation.
There’s no single way to care for your heart. For one person, it might be counseling; for another, art or music; for someone else, simply taking a slow walk along an autumn street. By laying out 34 ways to choose from, this festival is worth a closer look: rather than offering one right answer, it helps each person find what works for them. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., so you can also drop by for a while as you stroll along Deoksugung-gil in autumn.
Event Information
- Date and time: Friday, October 9, 2026, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Location: Car-free stretch of Deoksugung-gil (from in front of Daehanmun Gate to the round fountain)
- Who can attend: Anyone curious about caring for their mind in everyday life
- Admission: Free
- Host and organizer: 282 Books / Support: Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Advance registration: Online application form (https://forms.gle/hGz2cau5deF6Keka6)
- Festival details: https://app.notion.com/p/2026-3deecebb36ab800eb372c977f40faa6e
- Inquiries: Email pek@282story.com
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