Led by the eldest, Maehyung, these four goshawk siblings watch over Starlight Forest by day. The family consists of three sisters—Maehyung, Maeje, and Maebu—and their youngest brother, Maverick. Their names share the sound “mae,” the Korean word for hawk, playing on traditional Korean kinship terms such as maehyung, maeje, and maebu. They oversee the entry and exit of visiting birds and step in whenever disputes break out. Maverick, who speaks foreign languages, assists migratory birds with entry and exit procedures and guides them along their sky routes.

Inspectors in charge of entry screening at Starlight Forest. They handle arrival and departure declarations for migratory birds. While they insist they “never act territorial,” their screening process is notoriously strict.

Manager Eagle-Owl keeps watch over Starlight Forest at night while handling all sorts of maintenance and repairs. To assist the ever-busy manager, Collared Scops Owl recently joined as a fixed-term employee after arriving from the Northern Forest. They are working hard in hopes of securing a permanent position.

Civil servants who manage Starlight Forest Park. Numerous Turtle Dove officers work across multiple departments, with those in the Park Management and Park Culture divisions working most closely with the performance team.

The stars of Starlight Forest perform at Starlight Forest Park, Starlight Lake, and Starlight Wetland. Following a set schedule, they put on shows for visitors. Each performance draws on the bird’s unique ecological traits: the Grey Heron’s “Fishing Show,” the Egret’s “Standing Still Show,” the Spot-billed Duck’s “Floating Show,” the Varied Tit’s “Come Closer Show,” Oddak’s “Woodpecking Show,” and the Nuthatch’s “Upside-Down Show.”

The reserved owner of Supdonado Café, the hottest café in Starlight Forest. They may not say much, but their true personality still remains a mystery.

From the Ring-necked Pheasant’s ice cream shop and the Daurian Redstart’s cotton candy shop to the sparrows’ rice cake shop, resident birds run businesses throughout the forest. During the Old Pumpkin Festival—the biggest event of the year—they each set up their own booths and fill Starlight Forest with everyday life.

Some, such as orioles, cuckoos, and scops owls, are born in Korea and leave for distant places in autumn. Others, such as geese, are born abroad and arrive in Starlight Forest in autumn. With each changing season come new meetings and goodbyes.