[Interview] Ryugyeonggi Jungnang-gu Mayor: "In the Post-Corona Era, Now Is the Time for Green"

Utilizing the Region's Characteristic of 39.7% Green Space, Rapidly Emerging as a Hub for Urban Agriculture... Equipped with Various Facilities Including Smart Farms, Urban Agriculture Expo to be Held in the Second Half of the Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “Every time I turn around, I’m cooking, every time I turn around, it’s 돌밥 (dolsotbap).”

Staying at home due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has kept housewives busy.

The fear of infectious diseases has made masks an essential item, and online shopping mall logistics centers are bustling. COVID-19, which caused global fear of infectious diseases, came as a disaster to humans but paradoxically became a vaccine for the devastated Earth.

As early summer approaches, nature flaunts its colorful beauty with green hues, enough to soothe the weary human heart. Along with social distancing, people nowadays seek nature instead of people for healing. In the post-COVID era, it is now all about green.

Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, recently said in an interview, “Green transformation is necessary for a happy future for all, including urban heat island mitigation, resource circulation, and healthy food. Now is the golden time for green welfare.”

The achievements of urban agriculture in Jungnang-gu during the 7th elected term are remarkable. Urban agriculture, one of the visions of Healing City Jungnang, officially started in 2019 with the establishment of a dedicated team. Urban agriculture involves agricultural activities that raise plants and animals using various urban spaces, performing diverse functions such as leisure support, education, and emotional cultivation, not just simple rural experiences in the city.

Last year was effectively the inaugural year for Jungnang-gu’s urban agriculture, but with growth in urban agriculture, special project promotion, organizational reinforcement, and community activities compared to the previous year, it earned the honor of being selected as an excellent district in Seoul’s urban agriculture autonomous district evaluation.

The Jungnang Happy Farm, established in Sinnae-dong with an area of about 3,461㎡, is very popular among residents. Of the total 150 plots, 130 are leased to residents, and 20 are operated as community experience plots. This farm provides garden plots, seedlings, compost, and free use of farming tools.

In particular, besides the garden plots, there is a smart farm in a strawberry vinyl greenhouse of about 240㎡, equipped with a system that automatically controls facilities according to the season and weather and maintains an optimal growth environment for crops. The blueberry and rice experience sites also serve as excellent natural ecology learning centers.

In April, the Jungnang Happy Mangu Farm, covering 1,844㎡ in Mangu-dong, was opened. By the end of this year, a second Jungnang Happy Mangu Farm with a total area of 6,568㎡ will be established near Mangu-dong Pear Orchard Park, adding 300 garden plots for lease. This reflects residents’ needs for urban agriculture.

If leasing a garden plot is difficult, rooftop gardens, fresh gardens, and box gardens are good alternatives. The district leased 1,064 box gardens last year to allow residents who could not lease garden plots to easily experience urban agriculture nearby, and this year, 1,480 box gardens were leased. The goal for this year is 2,000.

Moreover, rooftop gardens have been created at 11 facilities frequently visited by many people, such as daycare centers and libraries, and there are two fresh gardens utilizing leftover land at social welfare facilities. Gardens have also been established at eight schools from elementary to high school, bringing green vitality.

In May, a barrier-free garden was created at the Jungnang-gu Vocational Self-Support Center. The barrier-free garden features garden boxes raised 20cm higher than usual and generously designed pathways so that anyone, including wheelchair users, can easily cultivate the garden. This reflects Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi’s commitment that there should be no differences or discrimination for the happiness of residents.

The 2020 Seoul Urban Agriculture Expo, where you can encounter the latest information and trends in urban agriculture, is also exciting. The Seoul Urban Agriculture Expo is jointly hosted by Seoul City and autonomous districts, and this year it will be held in Jungnang-gu. Through the expo, participants can learn systematic farming methods from the basics of urban agriculture to the latest information and new technologies through various exhibitions and expert consultations. The expo is scheduled for the second half of the year.

In particular, this expo is a participatory event with diversified experience programs, including a resident garden cultivation contest, a Golden Bell quiz contest related to urban agriculture, and an urban farmer singing contest, drawing great expectations.

Mayor Ryu said, “With favorable weather conditions, Jungnang-gu currently has all the conditions for urban agriculture success,” and added, “A Jungnang-gu urban agriculture complex space has also been created in Sinnae-dong to support community activities of urban farmers for the local community.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.