6: Ingenious Mathematics Festival: Jubilation in Mathematics for Geographically Disenfranchised Communities in South Korea

In this chapter, we explore the inception and evolution of the Ingenious Mathematics Festival (IMF) within a geographically marginalized South Korean community. The goal of the IMF is to enrich mathematical engagement for local students and their caregivers. Featuring contests, carnivals, craft workshops, and a guardians’ forum, the IMF fostered collaborative problem‑solving, hands‑on learning, and open discussion. Narrated from a first-person perspective, we recount the events, challenges, and resolutions encountered throughout the planning, execution, and post-event reflection phases of the IMF. We conclude with recommendations for making mathematics festivals successful and sustainable.