Gwangjin-gu is recruiting participants for the third cohort of its Gwangjin Village Gardener training program, an initiative aimed at spreading a culture of resident-led garden creation and stewardship across the district.
The Gwangjin Village Gardener program offers professional horticultural education to build residents' skills and supports them in applying what they learn to garden development and maintenance projects throughout the community.
Through its first and second cohorts, Gwangjin-gu has trained a total of 39 village gardeners. First-cohort graduates created a garden at Hwayang-dong Maeuldang, while second-cohort graduates built one at Hongnyeonsan Uisogongwon — both designed and planted by residents themselves. This year, the district plans to train a third cohort and expand the foundation for ongoing, resident-driven garden stewardship.
The third cohort will accept the first 20 Gwangjin-gu residents who are enthusiastic about gardening and able to remain active after completing the course. Applications open Wednesday through the Gwangjin-gu Office website.
The eight-week program, beginning in September, combines classroom instruction with hands-on field training. Participants will study garden concepts, the role of a gardener, garden design, landscape tree maintenance and garden construction — covering both the theory and practical skills needed to build and tend gardens.
The program is structured around hands-on practice so participants can apply what they learn directly to real garden management and development work, building their capacity to care for neighborhood gardens.
After completing the course, graduates serve as Gwangjin Village Gardeners, taking part in the upkeep of 13 gardens across the district and joining gardening volunteer activities and related events. They will continue applying the knowledge and experience gained in training to local gardens, sustaining resident-led stewardship as part of daily life. Volunteer hours logged through gardening activities can be registered on the 1365 Volunteer Portal.
"A garden is a living space that brings rest and vitality to residents' daily lives — and a precious community space where neighbors can tend something together and connect," district mayor Kim Kyung-ho said. "We will actively support Gwangjin Village Gardeners as they grow into the driving force behind our district's garden culture, through the hands-on experience of creating and caring for gardens themselves."
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