Geumcheon-gu Operates Spring Disinfection Day... Gangdong-gu's Unique Garden 'Gongyu Farm' Gains Attention

[Seoul District News] Geumcheon-gu to Operate 'Clean Day' on Fourth Thursday of Every Month Starting March 24: Public-Private Joint Disinfection of Multi-Use Facilities, Subway Stations, Traditional Markets, Sports Facilities... Gangnam-gu Hosts 'World Water Day' Event

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon) has designated the fourth Thursday of every month starting March 24 as ‘Clean Day’ to conduct regular comprehensive disinfection and sterilization.

The health center, community service centers, and resident autonomous disinfection teams (Saemaul Leaders Council) participate together, targeting major facilities frequently used by residents such as multi-use facilities, subway stations, traditional markets, and sports facilities.

On March 24 at 7:30 a.m., Geumcheon-gu held the ‘Clean Day’ launch ceremony at the district office plaza and conducted the first joint public-private spring disinfection campaign.

Yoo Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, stated, “By operating ‘Clean Day’ as a day for comprehensive disinfection, we will prevent the spread of COVID-19 infectious diseases and create a pleasant living environment.”

For more details, inquiries can be made to the Health Policy Division of the Geumcheon-gu Health Center.

The era of sharing chicken delivery fees has arrived. As more households band together with neighbors to split the soaring delivery costs, the concept of being good neighbors is being revived.

Recently, the trend of sharing for efficient spending and valuing practicality has emerged, making ‘sharing’ with neighbors a trend both online and offline.

Since last year, Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) has newly operated the ‘Shared Farm,’ a system that aligns with this trend by sharing vegetable gardens with neighbors.

This is not an ordinary vegetable garden. Modeled after the European-style garden vegetable garden (Kleingarten), each separated space of 80㎡ includes a private gazebo and outdoor table, allowing users to enjoy healing and relaxation in a cozy garden.

Located near the city outskirts, it offers the chance to enjoy nature without traveling far and even experience a camping atmosphere by the open riverside of the Han River. There is no need to find neighbors to join; three families among applicants are automatically matched upon application.

Last year, nine families who used three shared farms became new neighbors with their matched families, frequently communicating and enjoying garden activities, showing very high satisfaction with this new way of managing vegetable gardens. This year, the scale is expanded to select 18 families for six shared farms.

Applications can be submitted online only through the Gangdong-gu Urban Agriculture Portal website for three days starting from the 28th. Participants will be selected by electronic lottery on April 1. A total of 18 families will be selected, automatically matched in groups of three families per shared farm. The participation fee is 100,000 KRW per family.

If the existing garden vegetable garden usage fee of 300,000 KRW and large area made it burdensome to use alone, this ‘Shared Farm’ allows neighbors to share usage, save costs, and use a private gazebo, making it a win-win.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “As COVID-19 prolongs, the popularity of garden vegetable gardens is soaring. I hope families enjoy nature outdoors and welcome a hopeful spring.”

Meanwhile, the ‘Shared Farm’ is located within the Gangil Vegetable Garden (33-3 Gangil-dong) alongside the existing garden vegetable gardens. For more information, contact the Urban Agriculture Division of Gangdong-gu Office or check the Gangdong-gu Urban Agriculture Portal website.

Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) held the ‘World Water Day’ event on the 22nd at Yangjaecheon Stream, with participation from the public, private sectors, and companies.

The event was co-hosted by the district and the ‘2050 Carbon Neutral Citizen Practice Group,’ with about 200 attendees including district officials, companies participating in the ‘One Company One Stream Care’ program, and residents.

Participants collected pollutants and trash along Yangjaecheon, Tancheon, and Segokcheon streams, and distributed eco-friendly scrubbers, soaps, and flowerpots made by various groups for free, fulfilling their role as environmental guardians in daily life. Additionally, 400 EM-fermented loess soil balls that decompose pollutant residues were thrown into Yangjaecheon to add significance to the Water Day event.

The district concluded the event by awarding certificates of appreciation to five companies autonomously patrolling streams through the ‘One Company One Stream Care’ project and four individuals recognized for environmental conservation contributions.

Mayor Jung Soon-gyun said, “During the 7th elected term, Gangnam-gu has persistently pursued ‘must-environment policies’ such as the ‘Yangjaecheon Four Seasons Theme Grassland’ and ‘Making a Better Segokcheon’ projects to make the three major streams?Yangjaecheon, Tancheon, and Segokcheon?into landmarks. I hope the ‘World Water Day’ event has reinforced Gangnam’s status as the cleanest city in Seoul and raised awareness of the importance of water. We will continue to expand waterfront spaces that serve as resting places for residents and realize ‘Gangnam-gu living in harmony with nature.’”

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