[Photo] Winter Flower Bed with Landscaping and Lighting Installed at Mapo-gu Office Plaza

[Seoul District Photo News] Warm 'Winter Flower Beds' Created at Mapo-gu Office Plaza for Year-End and New Year... Noh Hyun-song, Gangseo-gu Mayor, Joins 'Universal Lifelong Education Practice' Challenge... Yongsan-gu Holds Exhibition of Illegal Dumping Prevention Poster Contest Winners from Jan 1-2 at Yongsan-gu Office Art Hall... Winning Works Used for Illegal Dumping Warning Signs and Included in Elementary School Textbooks... Jongno-gu Installs 'Large Tree' and Hope Message 'Light Box' in Marronnier Park, Daehak-ro

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) announced that it has installed a ‘Winter Flower Bed’ combining landscaping and lighting in the district office plaza to celebrate the year-end and New Year holidays.

The ‘Winter Flower Bed’ consists of a ‘wreath’ sculpture symbolizing eternity, unity, peace, and welcome, along with Blue Angel, 105 Nandina domestica plants, and various artificial flowers.

In addition, the large potted trees planted in the plaza and the beautiful lighting after sunset create a warm atmosphere, establishing the plaza as a photo zone for residents visiting the district office.

Furthermore, a large Christmas tree is displayed in the district office lobby to provide a visual attraction, and a ‘Love Temperature Tower’ has been installed to raise funds for the ‘2022 Hope Ondol Warm Winter’ campaign, awaiting acts of sharing.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “I hope people forget the hardships caused by COVID-19 and recall happy memories while looking at the warm Winter Flower Bed,” adding, “Next year, we will continue to strive to bring smiles by implementing policies that add warmth to the daily lives of residents.”

Noh Hyun-song, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, participated in the ‘Universal Lifelong Education Practice’ challenge on the 3rd amid growing emphasis on the importance of lifelong learning.

On that day, Mayor Noh emphasized the role and responsibility of local government heads in lifelong education during a meeting at the district office, highlighting the importance of universal lifelong learning that provides fair opportunities to everyone.

This challenge is a campaign initiated to support all citizens in actively responding to the changing times and living autonomous lives through lifelong learning.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song stated, “In the era of 100-year lifespans, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the digital society, lifelong education and lifelong learning are now both a societal demand and a mission,” adding, “I will continue to do my best to open a sustainable learning society.”

Having been nominated by Park Sung-soo, Mayor of Songpa-gu, Mayor Noh nominated the next participants as Yuseong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu; Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu; Kim Han-geun, Mayor of Gangneung; Kim Hong-jang, Mayor of Dangjin; and Kwon Oh-bong, Mayor of Yeosu.

The district was designated as a lifelong learning city in 2007 and has been developing and operating various programs tailored to changing times to expand lifelong learning opportunities.

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) held an exhibition of award-winning works from the ‘Illegal Dumping Prevention Poster Contest’ at the Yongsan-gu Office Art Hall on the 1st and 2nd.

The district held the poster contest for students in the area from August to October. During this period, 175 works including watercolor, crayon drawings, and computer graphics that raise awareness about illegal dumping were submitted.

Last month, the district held a judging committee and selected one grand prize, two excellence awards, five encouragement awards, and ten effort awards. The grand prize went to So-yeon Lee (Wonhyo Elementary School) for her work titled ‘Children Watch and Learn from Your Illegal Dumping Behavior,’ which expresses the impact of illegal dumping on children. The winning works will be used in various ways, including the production of illegal dumping warning signs and inclusion in elementary school textbooks.

Since 2019, the district has held the contest as an educational approach to eradicate illegal dumping, targeting local students. This year, it received about 130 more submissions than the previous year, showing great enthusiasm from students.

Seong Jang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “It is especially meaningful that the students’ brilliant ideas are reflected in the illegal dumping prevention posters,” adding, “We will continue to encourage proper waste separation and work to solve the illegal dumping problem through residents’ interest and participation.”

Jongno-gu will operate ‘2021 Daehak-ro Good Street Marronnier,’ a space to deliver messages of hope for the year-end and New Year and comfort citizens weary from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, from December 3, 2021, to the end of January 2022.

Accordingly, a large tree about 6.5 meters high has been erected in Marronnier Park, along with a light box measuring 7 meters wide and 3 meters high. The light box will display various encouraging phrases such as ‘Thank you,’ ‘Starting anew again,’ and ‘Let’s walk only on flower paths’ to uplift spirits as the eventful year comes to a close.

Additionally, a charming photo zone decorated with snowmen and gift boxes will be created to allow all passing citizens to make unforgettable memories with family, friends, and loved ones.

The ‘Lighting Ceremony’ to illuminate the large tree and pray for New Year’s wishes will be held at 5 p.m. on the 3rd. Hosted by the Jongno-gu Church Council (Chairman Pastor Kang Hyo-sung), the event will include a Christmas worship service, donation of aid funds, and tree lighting, sharing gratitude and love with local residents and church members.

The Christmas tree lit on that day and the light box with hopeful messages will brightly illuminate Marronnier Park until January next year.

An official from the district said, “I hope the Christmas tree lights in Marronnier Park will bring comfort and hope to all of us who have endured difficult times due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years. Standing at the end of this year, I wish all Jongno residents a warm winter filled with the bittersweet feelings of farewell and the excitement and expectations of welcoming the new year.”

Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Sung-soo) held the ‘Songpa On-Ma-eul Gardeners’ training and completion ceremony on the 30th of last month.

‘Songpa On-Ma-eul Gardeners’ is a resident participation program by Songpa-gu aimed at cultivating village gardens by residents’ hands to create a more intimate and beautiful community.

The ‘Songpa On-Ma-eul Gardeners’ supported by five pilot neighborhoods (Pungnap 1, Oryun, Garak Bon, Garak 2, Wirye) received online community education on the 25th of last month and practical training on village gardening using succulent plants on the day of the completion ceremony, the 30th.

The completion ceremony was filled with various attractions, including a stage decorated like a garden, a pre-performance by the a cappella group ‘Voice Toy,’ and an exhibition of exemplary village garden cases nationwide.

One participant said, “I have always been interested in village gardens, so I am very happy that the ‘Songpa On-Ma-eul Gardeners’ program was created.” Another participant expressed determination, saying, “I will work hard to make our village a better place.”

The 106 graduates of the ‘Songpa On-Ma-eul Gardeners’ program plan to enhance their capabilities by applying for various contest projects in the future. Songpa-gu announced plans to expand the program to 27 neighborhoods in 2022.

Mayor Park Sung-soo said, “I hope the ‘Songpa On-Ma-eul Gardeners’ will grow into resident leaders who make Songpa-gu a more beautiful and livable place,” adding, “I hope this will be an opportunity for residents to cultivate the villages they dream of with their own hands and rediscover the value of the village community together.”

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