Korea Eximbank creates mugunghwa garden

Korea Eximbank has successfully created the Hope Forest No. 3 in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, it announced on Monday.

Korea Eximbank held a dedication ceremony at Hangang River Park for the completion of Hope Forest No. 3. [KOREA EXIMBANK]

Korea Eximbank has successfully created the Hope Forest No. 3 in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, it announced on Monday.

Hope Forest No. 3 is a project that transforms the Mugunghwa Hill area of Yeouido Hangang River Park into a garden of mugunghwas, also known as the Korean rose or rose of Sharon.

The dedication ceremony held for the occasion was attended by Yoon Hee-sung, the president of Korea Eximbank, Choi Ho-kwon, the head of Yeongdeungpo District, Kim Seok-gwon, the co-representative of the Forest For Life and Hwang In-sik, the secretary general of the Community Chest of Korea.

Forest For Life is a non-governmental organization that plants trees while cultivating and conserving forests with the assistance of citizens, enhancing the nature of public forests to create a healthy society where everyone can enjoy the value of forests.

The organization newly planted 10 tall trees, 922 shrubs, as well as 192 ground cover plants and herbaceous flowers by utilizing the 100 million won ($73,800) fund donated by Korea Eximbank.

Around 10 employees of Korea Eximbank participated in other volunteer activities on Monday, including planting 66 mugunghwa scrubs on Mugunghwa Hill.

Korea Eximbank President Yoon Hee-sung, who participated in the dedication ceremony, stated that, “This urban forest creation project, driven by the Korea Eximbank as part of its ESG (environmental, social, and governance) management, aims to secure green spaces in the city, providing sustainable relaxation areas for citizens and reducing green inequality. We will continue our environmentally friendly activities in the future.”

Since the implementation of the Hope Forest No. 1 project in the Anyangcheon Stream area in 2022, Korea Eximbank has planted around 1,600 trees including palmate maples and ginkgo trees in the Saedongne Garo Garden area of Dobong District as part of the Hope Forest No. 2 project in April of last year.

BY JEONG SEONWU [jeong.seonwu@joongang.co.kr]