Yongin City Records 3.4:1 Competition Rate for Community Garden Plot Allotment

[Suwon Ilbo=Choi Ki-ho Reporter] Yongin Special City announced on the 14th that its recruitment for 794 teams of community garden plot users attracted over 2,700 applicants, recording a competition rate of 3.4 to 1.

The applicants were primarily from Giheung-gu residents at 1,940 (70.4%), followed by Suji-gu residents at 581 (21.8%), and Cheoin-gu residents at 211 (7.8%).

The 794 teams selected as garden plot users will undergo preliminary training and then experience urban farming freely in the community gardens located in Gomae-dong and Gongse-dong, Giheung-gu, spanning a total of 12,100 pyeong (40,000 ㎡) from next month through mid-November.

A total of 730 teams for general distribution to family-unit citizens and 40 teams for special distribution to households with three or more children, multicultural families, or disabled families will each be allocated one plot (14 ㎡). Organizations such as companies or schools comprising 10 teams will each receive three plots (42 ㎡), while 14 disabled teams with mobility challenges will each be assigned four garden boxes.

The city plans to establish additional community gardens in Cheoin-gu to reflect public interest in urban agriculture and create urban farming environments suited to regional characteristics, and is currently discussing methods to secure sites. For Suji-gu, which has a high population density, the city will focus on promoting apartment garden support projects.

A city official stated, "We are grateful for the support from many citizens in this year's community garden plot distribution," and added, "We will do our utmost to support those citizens selected as garden plot users this year in achieving their urban farming dreams by preparing various residential agriculture programs at the community gardens."