A Total of 110,000 Roses Planted Over 10 Years
Rose Gardens Created in Yeongildae, Hyeongsan River, and Indeoksan Areas
Roses as a City Brand Asset
Building a Sustainable Green City in Pohang Together with Citizens
The "Ten Million Roses City Pohang" project marks its 10th anniversary this year.
The opening ceremony of Yeongildae Rose Garden in May 2017, when the Ten Million Roses City Pohang Project officially began. Photo by Pohang City
Launched in earnest in 2017, this project has established itself as a new identity for Pohang, going beyond ordinary landscaping to encompass urban culture, tourism, and citizen participation.
Over the past 10 years, Pohang City has planted a total of 110,000 rose bushes, creating rose gardens in areas such as Yeongildae, the Hyeongsan River, and Indeoksan. The city has also developed rose-themed streets in major urban areas, including the Hyeongsan riverside, Samheung-ro, and Dongbin Naru.
In particular, the approximately 6-kilometer rose path stretching from the Hyeongsan riverside to Dongbin Naru offers unique scenery each season and has become a popular urban walking destination for both residents and tourists.
This year, the city plans to expand the rose theme throughout Pohang by planting roses along the Songdo and Yeongildae Beach trails and creating a specialized rose street in the Jungang-dong area.
Moving forward, the city intends to continuously expand rose-themed spaces and, in conjunction with major development projects such as the Pohang Convention Center, establish roses as the central image of the city's brand.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Rose City Project is recognized as an example of "urban cultural innovation" that fosters not only quantitative growth but also lifestyle culture and community spirit through initiatives such as citizen gardeners, academies, and local festivals.
It is especially significant as a "citizen-led green city model" created through the combination of voluntary resident participation and ongoing administrative support.
Each year, the city has supported individuals and organizations with rose planting materials through the "My Rose Garden" initiative, creating an environment where anyone can easily participate in rose cultivation.
The city also operates "rose gardening experience programs" and the "Citizen Rose Gardener" system, encouraging residents to take part directly in urban greening.
The private organization "Rose Lovers Association" holds the annual "Sea Rose Festival" with support from Pohang City and also runs the "Rose Academy" for the general public. Recently, an advanced course was introduced to enhance the expertise of Rose Academy participants, further establishing it as an important platform for nurturing everyday gardeners.
This year, a variety of cultural events are planned, including a children's rose drawing contest and a rose-themed merchandise competition. The city is also exploring industrialization strategies such as developing rose-based characters, fragrance products, and packaging for local specialties.
Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "The ten million roses are not just flowers, but an emotional symbol of the city nurtured by all Pohang citizens together," adding, "We will continue to develop roses as a city brand and, together with residents, create a sustainable green city in Pohang, including the establishment of large-scale rose garden landmarks."
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