Dongdaemun-gu Launches First-Ever "Bag Garden" Distribution This Year

Enjoy Eco-Friendly Urban Farming on Rooftops and Yards, Ideal for Root Vegetables Like Sweet Potatoes
Online Application for 300 Sets Opens on April 24, Only 14,000 Won per Set on a First-Come, First-Served Basis

Dongdaemun-gu (District Mayor Lee Pilhyung) will launch its first-ever "Bag Garden" distribution program this year to promote urban agriculture and expand eco-friendly living culture.

The "Bag Garden" is a small, portable garden where soil and fertilizer are packed into a burlap sack, making it easy to grow vegetables even in limited spaces. Since soil can naturally drain out of the sack, it is better suited for outdoor spaces such as rooftops or yards, rather than indoor areas like apartment balconies. Its deep soil layer is especially advantageous for cultivating root vegetables such as sweet potatoes.

This Bag Garden distribution is a pilot project initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, with a total of two districts?Dongdaemun-gu and Gwanak-gu?selected to participate. Dongdaemun-gu secured 300 out of the total 420 sets available.

Anyone interested in receiving a Bag Garden?including individuals, groups, and organizations?may apply, with a total of 300 sets to be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis online. Individuals may apply for up to one set, while groups and organizations may apply for up to ten sets. Although the price per set is approximately 70,000 won, with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s budget, applicants only need to pay 14,000 won (20%) per set.

Each set consists of four burlap sacks, four bags of potting soil, one bag of matured compost, and one bag of organic fertilizer. Sets will be delivered sequentially via courier to successful applicants during May.

Applications can be submitted through the Dongdaemun-gu website (Resident Participation → Online Application), with the application period running from April 24 to May 1, 5:00 p.m. The distribution results will be announced at 6:00 p.m. on May 2.

The district has been making ongoing efforts to promote urban agriculture, continuously distributing box gardens for several years. In March, all 760 sets of box gardens were distributed amid high interest from residents.