Jihae Hwang Discusses Gardens with Young People in Damyang

Special Lecture of the Garden Dream Project Held at the National Garden Culture Center
Workshop for Young People as Part of the 'Garden Dream Project'

On the afternoon of June 27, the '2025 Garden Dream Project Workshop' was held at the National Garden Culture Center in Geumseong-myeon, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do. A special lecture by garden designer Jihae Hwang was organized, attracting around 30 young people and university students interested in the field of gardens.

Artist Jihae Hwang is giving a lecture introducing landscape architecture projects from both domestic and international cases. Photo by Bohyun Song

Hwang introduced both domestic and international projects, including her award-winning works at the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK, and said, "A garden should be created in the language of emotions," adding, "The task of a garden is to redesign the relationship between people and nature." She went on to mention her signature work, "Tranquil Time: DMZ Forbidden Garden," explaining, "Through nature that transcends even division, I was able to reflect on the boundaries of humanity."

The participants focused intently on Hwang's talk, taking notes throughout, and after the lecture, a Q&A session and open conversation followed.

Participants focusing on the lecture. Photo by Song Bohyun

This workshop is part of the 'Garden Dream Project,' a nationally funded program overseen by the Korea Forest Service. The project brings together teams of students majoring in garden-related fields, who receive mentoring from professional garden artists and create practical gardens on unused land. The program is designed to help participants build field-oriented skills by carrying out the entire process from design and planning to construction.

Nam Suhwan, Director of the Garden Culture Department at the National Garden Culture Center, who organized the event, said, "A garden is not just simple landscaping, but is increasingly regarded as an artwork that embodies the artist's philosophy and concepts." He added, "I want to make the National Garden Culture Center a space for discourse where humanities, history, and art flow together." He continued, "I hope that anyone who wants to learn about or start working with gardens will come and have opportunities for learning and communication at any time."