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Community gardenActiveSince 2013

Gangdong-gu Urban Agriculture Park

Seoul, South Korea · Operator: Gangdong-gu Office (Urban Agriculture Division)

Overview

Opened in October 2013 as Korea's first urban-agriculture park. Developed by Gangdong-gu as the centre of its eco-friendly urban-agriculture policy, it combines resident allotments, food education, hands-on experience and native-seed conservation as a healing and community space.

Citizen participation

Gangdong-gu residents receive about 12 m² plots per household by lottery and practise eco-friendly farming without chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Participation is built around education and hands-on programs, including a native-seed school, an insect school and children's experience gardens (April–October).

Operating model

A public park developed and operated by Gangdong-gu as the hub of its eco-friendly urban-agriculture policy. The district funds operations and runs facilities such as the 'Singsing Dream' direct-sale shop for eco-friendly produce, supporting a local food cycle.

Impact

As Korea's first urban-agriculture park it set a precedent for municipalities nationwide; academic research has even reported that opening such public community gardens raises nearby housing prices.

Land tenure

License / permit

District-owned and managed park land; residents use plots allocated by lottery under a license/allotment scheme.

Crops

  • vegetables
  • herbs

Scale

Korea's first urban-agriculture park in Dunchon-dong; resident allotment plots of about 12 m² per household allocated by lottery, plus experience gardens and a related Iljasan garden (about 7,572 m², 300 plots)

Sources(2)

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Gangdong-gu Urban Agriculture Park — Urban Farm DB