Gurye-gun to Create Carbon-Zero City with Junk Art

Education Program for Elementary and Middle School Students in the District: 'Gurye-eup Urban Regeneration New Deal Flower-filled Chrysanthemum Class' Promotion

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yuk Mi-seok] Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim Soon-ho) is transforming into a beautiful ecological city where nature breathes.

The county announced on the 30th that it is taking a step further from the urban regeneration New Deal project to revitalize the old downtown area by joining hands with the Gurye Office of Education to present junk art involving elementary and middle school students, becoming a good example of carbon-zero education.

In March, the county and the Gurye Office of Education received applications from local students for the ‘Green New Deal Flower-filled Chrysanthemum Class.’

There was high interest, with 360 participants from four schools: Gurye Middle School, Gurye Girls' Middle School, Jungang Elementary School, and Gurye Buk Elementary School.

Each school designated a teacher in charge and conducted artistic junk art and carbon-zero eco-friendly education through upcycling of household waste such as discarded flower pots, water containers, and plastic boxes from home.

Starting from Jungang Elementary School on the 24th and continuing to Buk Elementary School on the 29th, students planted large chrysanthemums and garden chrysanthemums in junk art flower pots, blooming expectations for an autumn filled with chrysanthemums.

The students are challenging themselves not only to exhibit at the chrysanthemum exhibition but also to create beautiful schools.

Im Yu-bin, a student at Gurye Middle School, said, “Seeing flowers makes me feel good and helps me study well. I come out even on Sundays to water them, so I feel proud and happy to become friends with the chrysanthemums.”

Meanwhile, the Flower-filled Chrysanthemum Class also operates separate cultivation and consignment classes, attracting much interest with 650 participants.

Together with the Hwajunggunja Research Association, a small chrysanthemum festival will be held at the Gurye Hapmyeong Brewery in late October. The chrysanthemum cultivation house is open as an education center, providing online cultivation education and on-site guidance through visits.

Kim Young-hoon, the superintendent of education, said, “We will contribute to eliminating school violence by fostering eco-friendly awareness of carbon zero and character development through flowers, and actively support the success of the chrysanthemum festival in cooperation with Gurye-gun.”

Governor Kim Soon-ho said, “Having opened a new horizon for junk art chrysanthemum cultivation, we will develop it into a specialized small chrysanthemum festival through urban regeneration involving local students.”