Creating a Healing Space in Downtown Gangnam: 'Maebong-gil, a Path You Want to Walk'

[Seoul District News] Gangnam-gu Creates 2.5km Trail at Dogok Neighborhood Park with Deck Road and Night Lighting to Enhance Safety... Jongno-gu Supports Innovation Education Contest in 4 Categories with Total 85 Million KRW, Up to 3 Million KRW per Project

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) completed the creation of the 2.5km ‘Maebong-gil You Want to Walk’ at Dogok Neighborhood Park (San 31-4, Dogok-dong) last month and has been operating it since March.

‘Maebong-gil You Want to Walk’ is a circular walking trail around Maebongsan Dogok Neighborhood Park, a mountainous park in the heart of Gangnam-gu. The district renovated the existing walking trail and installed deck roads and night lighting so that anyone can safely enjoy a walk anytime.

In August 2020, Gangnam-gu connected 33,799㎡ of park land owned by the hospital, which was received as a public contribution under the district unit plan around Gangnam Severance Hospital, into a circular trail, reborn as a walking path for residents.

The district plans to complete the maintenance of Dogok Neighborhood Park after creating a healing space with a lawn plaza and sports facilities in the circular trail’s nearby round plaza by May.

Jung Soon-gyun, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, “Since the beginning of the 7th elected term of Gangnam-gu in 2018, we have created healing paths with nature throughout the city, including the Yangjaecheon Metasequoia Road, Daemosan Barrier-Free Trail, Gyeonggi High School Fence Road Rest; Hills, Bongeunsa Healing Meditation Trail, and this year, the Maebong-gil You Want to Walk at Dogok Neighborhood Park. We will continue to expand ‘resident-tailored resting places’ that heal body and mind in daily life to create a livable and safe ‘Essential Environment City Gangnam.’”

Jongno-gu is conducting the ‘2022 Jongno Innovation Education Public Contest’ to create a sustainable village education community and help youth grow into healthy democratic citizens.

This year’s contest has a budget of 85 million KRW and covers four areas: Jongno Village School, Parent Growth Support, Youth Projects, and Reading Discussion Clubs, with subsidies of up to 3 million KRW per project.

The Jongno Village School project is an after-school and care program operated by various educational stakeholders in the village, such as students, parents, and teachers, targeting children and youth. Eligible applicants include individuals, institutions, and organizations residing, working, running businesses, or attending schools in the area who propose educational programs utilizing the village’s ecological environment or cultural and artistic resources.

The Parent Growth Support contest aims to support activities for parents to grow as educational agents based on a school-parent-village network. Eligible applicants are parent organizations of local schools, clubs with 10 or more members, or parent unions. Applicants should plan content that supports parent growth.

The Youth Project contest supports youth to grow as agents of their lives by planning and operating projects themselves. Themes can include local issues, culture, arts, humanities, debates, environment, media, and more. Eligible participants are students from 3rd grade elementary to 3rd grade high school attending schools in the district, or groups of five or more youths aged 10 to 19 residing in Jongno-gu.

The Reading Discussion Club project focuses on supporting regular reading discussion meetings in the area to promote reading culture among children and youth. Anyone can apply if they have one operator residing or living in Jongno and a group of five or more children or youth aged 8 to 19.

Applications can be submitted by visiting the district office’s Education Division or by email from March 14 to April 15, along with contest documents and activity plans. For more details, check the announcement on the Jongno-gu website or contact the Education Division.

An official said, “We hope for much interest and participation in the ‘2022 Jongno Innovation Education Public Contest,’ which supports the dreams and growth of children and youth, the future leaders of society.”

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