Proposal to Utilize Seondong Branch School in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju as a Public Urban Agriculture Farm

Kim Youngsun Proposes Creating an Ecological Education Center
on a 4,000-Pyeong Site

Youngsun Kim, a Gwangsan District Councilor in Gwangju, has proposed the creation of a public urban agriculture farm utilizing the site of a closed school.

Youngsun Kim Gwangsan District Councilor Gwangju

According to the Gwangsan District Council on June 14, Councilor Youngsun Kim (Democratic Party of Korea, representing Suwan, Hanam, and Imgok-dong) stated during a five-minute free speech session at the 297th regular meeting of the council, held the previous day, that the 4,351-pyeong site of the Seondong Branch School in Bonryang-dong (formerly Bonryang Elementary School Seondong Branch) should be developed as an urban agriculture space for citizens.

Currently, Gwangsan District operates a 1,800-pyeong public urban agriculture farm in Donggok-dong. Councilor Kim pointed out that expansion is difficult due to the limitations in securing public land and emphasized the need to utilize closed school sites through consultation with the Office of Education. Kim explained that, although the site is located in a development-restricted area, the installation of urban agriculture facilities is permitted under the relevant enforcement decree.

Kim also highlighted that vegetable gardens, parking lots, and groundwater wells have already been established on the site, and that adding facilities such as restrooms, shelters, and classrooms would allow the site to serve as a comprehensive ecological education center. Councilor Kim further suggested offering programs such as consultations for returning to farming or rural life, direct transaction markets, urban agriculture festivals, collaborative programs with the Deohagi Center, the 'Ecological Food Uibyeong School,' and the 'May Spirit Pilgrimage Course.'

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