Students harvest potatoes from school garden in Ulsan

Students at Seongdong Elementary School in Ulju-gun, Ulsan, harvested potatoes from the school's eco-garden on Monday as part of the 2026 school eco-garden harvest program, gaining firsthand experience of the rewards of working the land.

The event also featured a "Who's Got the Biggest Potato?" contest, in which students competed to find the largest and heaviest potato they had grown. Participants dug up their own potatoes and received commemorative gifts including potato-shaped keychains and plush toys.

To extend the experience beyond a one-time school activity, the school sent the harvested potatoes home with students so families could incorporate them into food education together.

A photo contest titled "Our Potato Chef at Home" will accept submissions through July 3, inviting students and parents to photograph themselves cooking with the harvested potatoes. The winning entries will be displayed in the school hallway before the summer break.

Principal Lee Hyo-woo described the program as one that lets "students experience the honest rewards of nature and then extend that into food education at home with their parents."