Children's Vision of the Future: Local Tax Poster Exhibition
Do you remember participating in poster drawing contests when you were a child? I recall drawing posters for unification, Science Month, and the environment. I still vividly remember the moments spent pondering what to draw when I received a blank sheet of paper from school.
There was a unique excitement in those days, carefully sharpening colored pencils and thinking deeply to come up with new ideas. Perhaps that's why seeing the posters created by today's children warms my heart even now as an adult.
The exhibition showcasing the 'creativity and sincerity of childhood' is currently being held at the Dangjin City Hall. In the first-floor lobby, ten winning pieces from the 6th Local Tax Promotion Poster Contest are on display. A total of 207 entries were submitted during the month-long contest in September, and after internal and external evaluations, five pieces from the lower grades and five from the upper grades were selected for public viewing.
The exhibition runs until December 12, so I highly recommend taking the time to visit within these two weeks.
This year's contest theme was 'The Role and Importance of Local Taxes.' I was curious about how children would express this somewhat rigid and complex topic in their own words. Upon viewing the works, I found that they conveyed a much more intuitive and bright perspective than adults, leaving me smiling throughout.
A standout piece from the lower grades, titled 'A Livable Dangjin Begins with Local Taxes' by third grader Lee Ji-soo from Sangnok Elementary School, is heartwarming just from its title. The perspective of viewing local taxes not as a burden but as 'the starting point of our neighborhood' was refreshingly clear and honest.
Words like 'seed of happiness,' 'bright future,' and 'health and happiness' frequently appeared in the lower-grade works, showcasing how the concept of taxes can be transformed into warm language through the eyes of children.
In contrast, the upper-grade works were more logical and conveyed clear messages. Phrases like 'Local Taxes Change Dangjin!' and 'The Link Between Development and Welfare' felt almost like 'policy posters' from the very choice of words.
It was both surprising and encouraging to see that upper-grade elementary students understand concepts of urban development, welfare, and finance, suggesting they are growing with a healthy perspective as future citizens.
The exhibition is charmingly arranged in one corner of the first-floor lobby. It naturally draws in citizens visiting for various reasons, including those coming for inquiries, attending programs, or children accompanying city hall staff.
On the award ceremony day, many articles featured winning students taking commemorative photos with their families in this space. The way art and messages seamlessly blend into the daily lives of citizens without needing a large exhibition hall made it feel even more meaningful.
The exhibition continues until December 12. Even if you don’t have business at the city hall, I encourage you to take a moment to stroll through the first-floor lobby. See how a small stroke of someone’s colored pencil is envisioning 'the future of our neighborhood.'
Like me, you might find yourself recalling the warm feelings of drawing posters in your childhood.
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