It's Spring!... Urban Garden Plot Leasing Begins Soon in Seoul Districts Ahead of Ipchun

Seongdong-gu to Lease 380 Plots at Haengdang-dong Mujigae Garden Until February 8
Dongdaemun-gu to Lease 927 Plots at ‘Jungnangcheon Urban Agriculture Experience Learning Center’ from January 30 to February 13

Ipchun (the beginning of spring) is just three days away. The spring atmosphere is pervasive.

Seoul's autonomous districts are also preparing for spring, starting to allocate urban garden plots.

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is offering a total of 480 plots for lease until February 8 to provide local residents tired of daily life with health management and a mental sanctuary through urban agriculture. These include 380 plots at Seongdong Rainbow Garden in the area of 76-3 Haengdang-dong and 100 plots at Dasan Farm.

The Rainbow Garden, now in its 13th year, consists of 380 plots divided into 334 general plots and 46 plots for special consideration.

The general plots are categorized into L-type urban gardens (about 11㎡) and S-type gardens (about 5.5㎡), which are half the size of the L-type. The S-type plots, totaling 32, were newly added last year to diversify options for prospective cultivators such as single-person households and small-scale growers.

Additionally, 46 plots are specially designated for socially vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, large families with two or more minor children, national veterans, and low-income elderly living alone aged 65 or older. The lease fee per plot is 60,000 KRW for L-type and 30,000 KRW for both S-type and special consideration plots.

Dasan Farm, located in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, offers 100 plots without type distinction. Each plot is approximately 16㎡, and the lease fee is 50,000 KRW.

All gardens are cultivated using eco-friendly methods without synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Seongdong-gu supports gardeners by providing eco-friendly fertilizers and seedlings such as lettuce and cabbage twice a year in spring and autumn, and also rents out farming tools.

Anyone who is a resident of Seongdong-gu or an institution/organization located in Seongdong-gu can apply, with one plot allowed per household, institution, or organization. However, those who won a Rainbow Garden plot last year can apply for Dasan Farm plots this year but are excluded from Rainbow Garden allocation. (Those who won Dasan Farm plots last year can apply for both Rainbow Garden and Dasan Farm plots this year.)

Applications for garden plots can be submitted until 6 PM on February 8 via the Seongdong-gu Office website → Seongdong Participation → Events & Registration. Winners will be announced on February 16 through a random computerized draw.

Seongdong-gu has been operating the Rainbow Sledding Hill since December 20 last year, utilizing the off-season period after winter harvest at the Rainbow Garden. Once the sledding hill operation ends, the soil will be tested for heavy metals and pesticide residues by the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment to ensure safety for reuse as a garden. The test results will be posted on the bulletin board at the entrance of the Rainbow Garden.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "I hope families and neighbors can cultivate gardens together, communicate, and build a healthy and vibrant local community. I also hope residents find an opportunity to heal their weary hearts in the green sanctuary of nature at the Rainbow Garden."

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) is recruiting participants for 927 plots at the ‘Jungnangcheon Urban Agriculture Experience Learning Center’ from January 30 to February 13.

The ‘Jungnangcheon Urban Agriculture Experience Learning Center’ is located near the Jungnangcheon 2nd Sports Park (under Jang-an Bridge) and has been operating since 2013 to provide Dongdaemun-gu residents with opportunities to experience urban agriculture and engage in wholesome leisure activities.

Any Dongdaemun-gu resident can apply online through the Dongdaemun-gu website. Selected participants pay a lease fee of 10,000 KRW and can cultivate their own urban garden from the opening day on March 29 until November.

The district plans to provide vegetable seedlings such as lettuce and chicory on the opening day.

This experience program is highly popular, with an average competition rate of 3:1. To ensure fair selection, the district will conduct a random computerized draw and announce the final list in early March.

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, "I hope residents regain leisure in their daily lives through urban agriculture activities, cultivate their own gardens, grow vegetables, and join the steps toward a carbon-neutral city. We will provide wholehearted support so that urban gardens can become places for leisure and healing."