Dobong-gu Designates 'Kim Geuntae-gil' as an Honorary Street Name

[Seoul District News] Dobong-gu Designates 813m, 20m Wide Section from Haedeung-ro 3-gil 88 to Haedeung-ro 4-gil 68 as Honorary Road Name ‘Kim Geuntae-gil’ to Inherit Democracy Spirit through Kim Geuntae’s Legacy... Gwangjin-gu Operates Achasan Forest Interpretation Program... Geumcheon-gu Opens Anyangcheon Ecological Rice Paddy Offering Mud Experience, Rice Planting, Loach Catching, and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) officially designated 'Kim Geuntae-gil' as an honorary street name on May 19.

This designation aims to inherit the spirit of democracy through the life and footsteps of Kim Geuntae, a symbolic figure of South Korea's democratization movement, and to reexamine Kim Geuntae, a modern historical figure of the Dobong area.

The road designated as 'Kim Geuntae-gil' is an 813-meter-long, 20-meter-wide section from Haedeung-ro 3-gil 88 to Haedeung-ro 4-gil 68, around the Samik Apartments in Chang-dong where Kim Geuntae lived during his lifetime.

The honorary road name will be used for five years.

Lee Dong-jin, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, "We hope that the honorary road designation of Kim Geuntae-gil, along with the Kim Geuntae Memorial Library opened at the entrance of Dobongsan last December, will widely inform future generations of the noble spirit of modern historical figures rooted in our district and enhance the pride of our residents."

Gwangjin-gu operates a forest interpretation program where everyone from toddlers to adults can enjoy the distinctive four seasons of Achasan.

Every year, the district has been offering various free forest interpretation programs utilizing Achasan’s vibrant ecosystem, deep-rooted history, and abundant forest resources for local residents.

In 2019, a total of 3,512 residents participated in the forest interpretation programs. Although the programs were suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19, they resumed in 2021 in response to residents' demands, attracting over 1,600 participants despite the pandemic, showing strong community support.

This year, the flower path walking program 'Achasan Healing Road' held in May and the Children's Day special program 'Family Forest Trip' were completed with great enthusiasm.

In June, various and creative Achasan forest and history programs will be held, including ▲'Gwangijini’s Achasan Forest Trip' summer journey, where participants can listen to forest interpretations following Achasan’s seasonal changes ▲the family program 'I am the Achasan Forest Explorer,' where families explore Achasan Ecological Park and complete missions every Saturday ▲'Achasan Historical and Cultural Tour,' a time travel experience with explanations of Achasan Fortress and surrounding fortifications ▲and 'Archaeologist Job Experience, Achasan-e Meoseon129,' where elementary students learn Achasan’s history through an archaeologist’s perspective.

Especially this year, a special program for adults titled 'How Far Have You Been to Achasan, the View Hotspot?' is planned to cool down summer nights. Participants will go on a night trek with a forest interpreter using their own flashlights to enjoy Seoul’s beautiful sunset and Han River views.

'How Far Have You Been to Achasan, the View Hotspot?' will be held nine times every Wednesday from June to July, from 6 to 8 p.m., with 12 adults per session on a first-come, first-served basis.

Program participation can be applied for on the Seoul Public Service Reservation website.

Gwangjin-gu expects that the forest interpretation programs will provide many residents with a healing time to share the diverse stories of Achasan and the great happiness that nature offers.

Geumcheon-gu opened the Anyangcheon Ecological Rice Paddy on the 27th and held a traditional rice planting event.

About 200 people, including daycare centers and individual families, participated in various experiential activities such as mud experiences, rice planting, and loach catching for children to enjoy.

Geumcheon-gu expanded the existing ecological rice paddy next to the Anyangcheon Ha-an Pedestrian Bridge (right bank of 340-2 Gasan-dong) to 100 pyeong (approximately 330㎡) this year.

The mini ponds around the rice paddy are planted with iris, chrysanthemum, sea aster, forget-me-not, water lily, and horsetail, harmonizing with the rice paddy scenery and providing various sights for residents strolling along Anyangcheon.

On June 9, Geumcheon-gu plans to hold another traditional rice planting event with lively pungmul performances for local senior citizens recommended by each neighborhood and welfare center at the Anyangcheon Urban Agriculture Experience Center ecological rice paddy (left bank of 719-5 Doksan-dong, near Geumcheon Han-nae Bridge).

Park Nam-hyun, Director of the Parks and Greenery Division, said, "I hope this experiential event helped children, who rarely encounter rural landscapes in daily life, realize the importance of agriculture. We plan to hold a rice harvesting experience in November when the rice plants have grown well, and we look forward to active participation from residents then as well."