A neglected sports site transformed into a health-friendly community garden
Residents shaped every stage — from planning to naming — in a model of participatory urban greening
Gwangjin-gu received the Development Award at the 2026 Korea Healthy Cities Association autumn general assembly on Thursday.
The Korea Healthy Cities Award is presented annually by the Korea Healthy Cities Partnership (KHCP) to its 106 full member cities to encourage healthy-city policies and recognize outstanding initiatives.
This year, Gwangjin-gu submitted its Gwangnaru Garden project — which transformed a long-neglected sports site in Gwangjang-dong into a public green space — as its representative case, drawing high marks from judges.
Key achievements cited included the creation of a comfortable everyday rest space, a health-friendly urban environment designed to encourage physical activity among residents, and a model example of putting idle land to productive use.
The project drew particular praise for the depth of resident involvement throughout: community briefings were held from the earliest planning stages to gather a wide range of opinions, and the garden's name — Gwangnaru Garden — was chosen through an open public competition. Residents took part at every step, strengthening both the garden's identity and its overall quality.
"This development award is a precious achievement made possible by the wisdom and active participation of our residents, who came together to breathe life into a neglected space," Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said. "We will continue to expand participatory policies that reflect residents' voices and build Gwangjin into a health-friendly city that raises the quality of life for all."
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