A market where visitors can enjoy shopping, a charity auction and concert will be held this weekend at Songdo International Business District in Incheon Free Economic Zone, Gyeonggi Province.

Titled “Good Market in Songdo,” the major community festival is designed to encourage both locals and expats in Incheon and other metropolitan areas to help raise environmental awareness and the spirit of sharing while having fun. Hosted by New Songdo International City Development LLC, the developer of Songdo IBD, the event will take place on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Songdo Canal Walk.

“This community event is being especially prepared to make it a true global festival for around 800 expat residents in Songdo as well as locals living in the metropolitan area. We will make our best efforts to make it as a representative cultural event adding colors to Songdo International City, not just a one-time event,” said a NSIC official.

The event will start with “Songdo Flea Market” composed of about 200 booths prepared by sellers who signed up in advance. They will be selling their used or made goods such as clothes, books, bags, antique articles at discount prices. Platoon Kunsthalle, a unique cultural complex which runs artists’ residencies, a music venue, a restaurant and its famed flea market, will open 50 booths to offer unique items.

In addition, charity booths set up by organizations and companies operating in Songdo such as the Incheon office of Korea Food for the Hungry International, NSIC and Songdo U.Life will sell various goods including fair trade coffee. All profits, along with voluntary donation by other sellers, will go to KFHI.

The highlight of the market will be “Good Auction,” in which high-profile figures and celebrities of Incheon will auction personal items. Song Young-gil, Mayor of Incheon, donated a ceramic glass set he received from the mayor of Kobe City in Japan, a sister city of Incheon, and a bamboo fan on which a Joseon Dynasty wedding ceremony of King Yeongjo and Queen Jeongsoon is portrayed.

Other donated items include Incheon United Soccer Team coach Huh Jung-moo’s autographed soccer shoes and soccer balls and Incheon office of Bank of Korea head Lee Yong-ho’s antique coins. The profits of the auction will also be donated to KFHI.

After the market closes at 7 p.m., a large K-pop concert will kick off. It will feature some of the most popular artists including singer Baek Ji-young, former boy band member Kim Tae-woo, K-pop group Dalshabet and jazz singer Woongsan. A couple of amateur local and expat bands will perform on stage as well.

The “Good Market in Songdo” will also open on Sept. 17 and Oct. 16. A free shuttle bus service will be provided at Exit 4 of Central Park station of Incheon Subway Line Number 1. For more information, call (02) 501-4611.

By Park Min-young (claire@heraldcorp.com)