Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City Introduces a New Paradigm for Tree-Planting Events: Creation of “Sodam Garden”

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it is converting its previous one-time, large-scale tree-planting events into district- and county-led initiatives, while promoting the creation of “Sodam Gardens,” citizen-participatory gardens established in idle spaces such as areas beneath street trees.

Previously, tree-planting events were directly organized by the city; however, starting this year, they have been transformed into district- and county-led “Sodam Garden” projects to improve accessibility for citizens and encourage participation from community gardeners and the general public.

“Sodam Garden” conveys the meaning of “a garden that captures the preciousness of everyday life.” Events have already been held with citizen participation in Yeonje-gu (March 26) and Sasang-gu (March 27), while Suyeong-gu and others plan to host events in April.

By participating in the process of planting and caring for flowers and trees in empty spaces beneath street trees, citizens experienced the joy of discovering small happiness in everyday life and learned to value even the smallest spaces through garden creation culture.

The “Sodam Garden” initiative is being carried out in connection with the city’s garden policy, “Busan, a City of 10,000 Gardens in Full Bloom,” and is expected to enhance professionalism through the direct involvement of garden designers and community gardeners, while allowing a lifestyle-oriented garden culture to take root naturally in citizens’ daily lives.

As this is the first time the event is being conducted independently by districts and counties, the city plans to closely monitor the overall operation process and actively address any shortcomings identified.

Going forward, the city will continue to identify and develop gardens in spaces where green functions have been insufficient, such as areas beneath street trees, idle land around pedestrian paths, and small roadside plots, thereby establishing a dense urban green network throughout the city.

In addition, considering both landscape quality and maintenance efficiency, the city will focus on planting low-maintenance species and appropriately arranging flowering trees and perennial plants to allow citizens to enjoy seasonal changes and vibrant scenery throughout the year.

Furthermore, under the garden policy “Busan, a City of 10,000 Gardens in Full Bloom,” projects are being promoted across three categories: registered gardens, hub gardens, and everyday gardens.

Registered gardens refer to those utilizing the registration system under the Act on the Creation and Furtherance of Arboretums and Gardens, while hub gardens and everyday gardens refer to the transformation of everyday living spaces into gardens.

In particular, hub gardens are created in existing parks and green areas, while everyday gardens are developed in small spaces along pedestrian paths and publicly accessible open spaces. “Sodam Garden” falls under the category of everyday gardens.

Ahn Cheol-su, Director General of the Green City Bureau, stated, “The Sodam Garden initiative goes beyond simply planting trees; it will serve as a starting point for a garden culture where citizens can enjoy and cultivate gardens in their daily lives,” adding, “We hope that small urban spaces will be reborn through citizens’ hands, filling Busan with vibrant greenery.”