South Chungcheong Province and the Seoul Metropolitan Government will join hands to boost the success of the world's first "horticultural therapy" expo, which opens on the 25th in Taean, South Chungcheong.
South Chungcheong Gov. Kim Tae-heum on the 22nd signed a "business agreement for the successful hosting of the Taean International Horticultural Therapy Expo and the Seoul International Garden Expo" with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon at the mayor's office in Seoul City Hall.
The agreement centers on building a mutual cooperation system for the expos held in the two regions and promoting win-win cooperation and development of the horticulture and garden industries through collaboration in various fields such as tourism and publicity. The two governments also plan to establish a sustainable cooperation model by promoting future international events and joint development projects.
Specifically, the two sides will support and cooperate with each other to successfully host the expos and will use online and offline channels to cross-promote them.
In addition, South Chungcheong Province and the Seoul Metropolitan Government agreed to form and operate a working-level council if necessary to ensure smooth implementation of the agreement. The aim is to share necessary data and information and to identify detailed cooperation tasks.
Gov. Kim Tae-heum said, "South Chungcheong embraces a natural environment of flowers and the sea centered on Taean, and Seoul has a high-quality garden culture and global reach," adding, "I find this business agreement between garden city Seoul and the city of flowers, South Chungcheong, meaningful."
Kim added, "The two expos are like twin expos that express the shared values of rest and healing through flowers and gardens," and "when the two expos join forces, they will produce a result of 'sangdeuk-ikjang,' where each makes the other shine."
The Taean International Horticultural Therapy Expo will be held for 30 days from the 25th to May 24 at the Anmyeondo Kkotji Coastal Park and the Anmyeondo Arboretum and local gardens in Taean. The exhibition halls include a special hall that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) to experience healing and recovery in nature, a healing agriculture hall, an international exchange hall, an industry hall and South Chungcheong smart agriculture hall, and a horticultural therapy experience hall.
The outdoor venue is composed of ▲ outdoor garden ▲ healing garden ▲ world artists' garden ▲ Dew-ro artist healing garden, which introduce the beginning of healing and healing in nature. A variety of attractions will be offered, including special performances, permanent programs, and hands-on events, and there will also be experiential events linked with the Anmyeondo Arboretum and local gardens that offer a glimpse into carbon neutrality.
The Seoul International Garden Expo will be held from May 1 to Oct. 27 in and around Seoul Forest and Seongsu-dong. The Seoul Metropolitan Government expanded the scale of the expo this year, which is estimated to have drawn 10 million visitors last year. Centered on Seoul Forest, it will create a "linear garden network" along an approximately 10-kilometer section connecting Hanyang Univ. Station–Seongsu Station–Konkuk Univ. Station. The aim is to allow anyone to walk and enjoy the expo.
Gov. Kim Tae-heum said, "Seoul and the provinces are often perceived as being in an unequal and competitive relationship, but if we consolidation and cooperate by linking the resources each side has as we are doing now, we can achieve balanced development at a new level," and asked for efforts so that not only Seoul residents but people around the world can take part in the Taean International Horticultural Therapy Expo.