Yangpyeong County Selected as Host for '14th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo' in 2026

[Suwon Ilbo=Eom In-yong Reporter] Yangpyeong County has been selected as the host for the '14th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo' in 2026.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 18th that following on-site evaluation by an expert review committee for four candidate sites that participated in the public recruitment for the Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo host, Yangpyeong County's Dumulmuri and Semiwon area was selected as the final candidate site.

Since 2021, Yangpyeong County has cultivated 190 citizen gardeners and created 59 gardens including village gardens and open gardens. In particular, in this evaluation, the 59-hectare Dumulmuri area was highly rated as the premier riverside garden region where the North and South Han Rivers converge in the Seoul metropolitan region and as an excellent location for hosting a garden expo.

Dumulmuri is where the South Han River and North Han River meet, beloved by many tourists for its beautiful waterways and scenery. Semiwon is a garden featuring lotus flowers and aquatic plants, famous as a place to experience the beauty of water and gardens. Both locations are spaces that preserve natural value while providing harmonious environments, perfectly matching the theme of the expo.

The 14th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo, under the theme 'Conveying Environmental and Ecological Values in Gardens in an Era of Climate Crisis!,' plans to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable operational methods during preparation. Various programs are scheduled including garden design exhibitions, garden culture experience programs, expert lectures, and exhibitions through collaborations with local artists.

Through hosting the expo, the county is expected to provide a venue for exchange among domestic and international garden culture enthusiasts, while spreading garden culture throughout the local community and positively impacting local economic revitalization and tourism industry development.

County Governor Jeon Jin-seon stated, "This expo will serve as an important opportunity to publicize the beauty and environmental value of the Dumulmuri area and advance toward becoming a national garden," adding, "We will create a successful expo that satisfies both residents and visitors by allowing nature and people to harmonize."