Featuring Four Themes: Life, Solidarity, Peace, and Earth
350-Square-Meter Public-Private "Mind Garden" Also Opens
The "Humanitarian Trail" has been established at Gureumsan, a prominent forest recreation area in Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province.
On the 14th, Gwangmyeong City, in collaboration with the Gyeonggi Branch of the Korean Red Cross, held an opening ceremony for the "Humanitarian Trail," which was created along a 1-kilometer section within the Gureumsan Forest Bathing Area.
At the 'Humanitarian Trail' opening and 'Mind Garden' creation commemorative event held on the 14th at the Gureumsan Forest Recreation Area in Gwangmyeong City, Park Seungwon, Mayor of Gwangmyeong, along with related organizations and residents, are taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Gwangmyeong City
This trail project is a collaborative initiative that embodies the city's values of carbon neutrality and regional coexistence, as well as the humanitarian spirit of the Red Cross, expressing "people-centered values" through both space and experience.
The trail consists of four themed sections: the Path of Life, the Path of Solidarity, the Path of Peace, and the Path of the Earth. Citizens can naturally encounter messages about respect for life, solidarity, peace, and carbon neutrality through informational signs installed along each section of the trail.
During the event, a completion ceremony was also held for the "Mind Garden with Kia," which realizes ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) values through public-private cooperation. The Mind Garden is the city's first public-private partnership garden, designed as a healing space to support both cognitive and mental health for seniors. It covers an area of 350 square meters at San 141-3, Haan-dong, at the entrance to the forest bathing area.
The creation of the garden was a joint effort by the Gwangmyeong ESG Action Team-which includes Gwangmyeong City, the Gyeonggi Branch of the Red Cross, and Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong-formed to address community issues through public-private collaboration. The garden was established by the Red Cross using a donation of 100 million won from Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong, while the city provided the site and administrative support.
The garden features several areas: the "Garden of Memories," a walking space that follows the changes of the four seasons; the "Garden of Revived Senses," a healing space that stimulates the five senses with soil, scents, and tactile experiences; and the "Small Village Garden," an open rest area that encourages communication among neighbors.
Native Korean plants and endemic species were planted in the garden, reflecting feedback from seniors participating in the Gwangmyeong City Dementia Relief Center's dementia prevention program. To ensure convenience and safety for seniors, the slopes were made gentle and the stairs were widened.
Park Seungwon, Mayor of Gwangmyeong, stated, "Starting with the 'Humanitarian Trail,' which encourages walking, sharing, and caring together, and the 'Mind Garden,' which realizes corporate social value, we will further expand initiatives for sustainable urban development."
Meanwhile, at the event, the city awarded an honorary citizenship certificate to Lee Jaejung, President of the Gyeonggi Branch of the Red Cross, in recognition of his contribution to community welfare. This marks the first time the certificate has been awarded to a Korean national since the city expanded eligibility from foreigners to Korean citizens through an amendment to the "Gwangmyeong City Honorary Citizenship Certificate Award Ordinance" in July.
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