Jeongeup City, North Jeolla Province, announced on the 17th that it recently held the 'Saemgoeul Plogging' event with citizens around the city hall area to protect the environment.
Jeongeup City recently held the 'Saemgoeul Plogging' event with citizens around the city hall area to protect the environment. Photo by Jeongeup City
This event, hosted by Jeongeup City and co-organized by the Jeongeup Council for Sustainable Development and Nanumaegi, was designed to raise environmental awareness among citizens through 'plogging'-an activity that involves picking up litter while walking or jogging, promoting both health and environmental protection.
On the day of the event, more than 200 people participated, including members of 18 local environmental and civic organizations, ordinary citizens, Mayor Lee Haksoo, Provincial Assemblyman Yeom Youngsun, and City Councilwoman Seo Hyangkyung.
Participants started at Jeongeup City Hall and dispersed along five designated routes, collecting litter from nearby roads, parks, and residential areas. Beyond simple clean-up activities, participants experienced firsthand the importance of environmental protection by physically working to tidy up the streets, and they shared the practical value of environmental education.
Notably, Jeongeup City is setting an example in environmental policy as the first 'Environmental Education Pilot City' in North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province. In June, the city declared its vision, 'Environmental Education for the Future, Green Jeongeup Created by Citizens,' at the Environmental Education Pilot City Proclamation Ceremony.
Last month, Jeongeup successfully hosted the 21st Korea Environmental Education Hanmadang, which brought together environmental experts from across the country, further establishing itself as a leading center for environmental education. This event is highly regarded for expanding such policy efforts into citizen-driven action.
The city expects this event to serve as an exemplary case of implementing the National Sustainable Development Goals (K-SDGs) in citizens' daily lives, and plans to use it as a foundation for advancing toward designation as an 'Environmental Education City' by the Ministry of Environment.
A city official stated, "As an environmental education pilot city in North Jeolla, Jeongeup is continuously pursuing environmental policies where education and action go hand in hand. Just as in this event, we will continue to expand various citizen participation programs so that the small actions of each individual can come together to create a sustainable future for Jeongeup."
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