Dobong-gu's 'Eyesore Alley' Transformed into a 'Flower Garden'?

Dobong 2-dong Volunteer Camp Wins Grand Prize at the 2024 Seoul Landscape and Garden City Awards
Planting Flowers and Trees in Alleys and Repainting Murals... District Creates Unique Gardens Using Vacant Houses

There is a district that is truly dedicated to gardening within the city. Dobong-gu is the main character.

Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) is putting great effort into creating gardens in the area together with its residents, gaining recognition not only from local residents but also externally, drawing attention.

On the 8th, the '2024 Seoul City Landscape Award and Garden City Award Ceremony' was held. On this day, the Dobong 2-dong Volunteer Camp won the Grand Prize in the Garden City Award category.

Seoul City annually selects and awards excellent landscaping spaces created by experts and outstanding landscaping cases cultivated directly by citizens.

The Dobong 2-dong Volunteer Camp was selected as an excellent case for transforming an alley that had become an eyesore into a living garden filled with residents' stories and places to linger, greatly improving the surrounding environment.

The area in question is Dobong 2-dong 625-62, which before the garden was created, was an alley where illegal dumping frequently occurred. It was a place that required management as it could have easily turned into a high-crime area.

However, now this place is occupied by flowers and trees instead of trash. Murals reflecting the neighborhood’s characteristics have also been painted, creating a lively atmosphere.

Local residents express great satisfaction. A resident living in Dobong 2-dong said, “It could have become a hangout spot for delinquent youth, but now it has become a healing place in the daily lives of residents. The neighborhood atmosphere has completely changed.”

The district is focusing on creating distinctive gardens in the area to add rest to everyday spaces. Together with Seoul City and Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation, abandoned vacant houses are being demolished and living gardens are being created in their place.

This year’s target area is Dobong 2-dong 625-47. To create a beautiful garden, advice was received from a garden artist from the design stage. During construction, residents’ opinions were reflected, and convenience facilities such as benches that match the garden were installed, along with planting various flowers and trees.

Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “We plan to create living gardens throughout the alleys to bring vitality and joy to residents’ daily lives. To create a ‘Happy Dobong with Gardens,’ we will continue to put more effort into spreading urban greening culture, garden creation, and management.”