Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung Hun) was awarded the Grand Prize in the category of urban agriculture at the “15th Korea Environmental Awards” held at the DMC Tower for Small and Medium Businesses in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu at 3 p.m. on June 10.

The Korea Environmental Awards is Korea’s award for the environmental field sponsored by the Korea Environmental Awards Committee, Eco Media, and The Future in Our Hands, and supported by the Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries; Ministry of SMEs and Startups; and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

This year’s 15th Korea Environmental Awards presented awards to groups and individuals who strive to preserve the environment and create a sustainable, eco-friendly society in the areas of environmental management, education, ecological restoration, agriculture and livestock, and resource circulation.

Like last year, Gangdong-gu was awarded at the Korea Environmental Awards in the category of urban agriculture and once again recognized for its results in various eco-friendly projects through policy in urban agriculture. Gangdong-gu is the only winner of the Korea Environmental Awards that has been awarded for ten consecutive years. A separate awards ceremony was held on the same day to celebrate the district’s consecutive wins.

The urban agriculture policy that has been promoted since 2009 as a central project of the district has been in advancement for ten years. The Environmental Award is the result of the district’s efforts to supply residents with safe food and create a space in which nature and people coexist.

In addition to the creation of a garden that spans over 141,052 ㎡ (6,239 gujwa), which is the largest garden among the autonomous districts in Seoul, Gangdong-gu has also operates the eco-friendly farmers’ market, SingSing-Dream, to supply residents with safe food. Furthermore, the district has been operating base facilities such as the Urban Agriculture Park, Public Meal Center, and Farm-mix Center, in addition to various urban agriculture academies and experiential programs to create a leading urban agriculture business.

Gangdong-gu plans to expand the communal values of agriculture based on its firmly established foundation to create a new paradigm of eco-friendly urban agriculture with more “social value.“

The district operates the garden for the disabled under the theme, “Healing Farm,“ along with “Weekend Farm“ through which produce is donated to neighbors. The SingSing Garden was also opened at a social welfare facility to hold healing programs and various projects that embrace neighbors through urban agriculture.

Mayor Lee Jung Hun stated, “It is an honor for the local residents and employees of Gangdong-gu to be awarded in the field of urban agriculture for ten years in a row. The fostering of and support for urban agriculture is crucial for protecting the environment and restoring humanity, and we will do our best to make urban agriculture take root in our happy lives.”