Namyangju Opens '12th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo'…70,000 Visitors Flock on Opening Day

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Um In-yong] Namyangju City will host the '2024 12th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo' at Dasan Central Park and other venues from October 3rd to 6th.

Notably, approximately 70,000 citizens visited on the opening day alone on the 3rd, marking a successful start to the expo.

The opening ceremony was graced by the attendance of Namyangju Mayor Ju Gwang-deok, Gyeonggi Province Executive Vice-Governor Kim Seong-jung, Baek Hyun-jong, Chairman of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council's Urban Environment Committee, Cho Seong-dae, Speaker of the Namyangju City Council, and provincial and municipal councilors.

In his welcome address, Mayor Ju Gwang-deok stated, "Gardens transcend mere green spaces and serve as an important platform that connects nature and people, people and culture, and restores community," and emphasized, "The 12th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo will be a precious opportunity to introduce the garden culture charm that Namyangju possesses, and will serve as an important turning point for Namyangju to advance as a sustainable, eco-friendly garden city."

The opening ceremony proceeded with a pre-show performance by the Orchestra of Dreams, followed by △screening of the expo theme video △welcome address and congratulatory remarks △awards ceremony for garden artwork competitions △opening performance and commemorative photography △drone light show.

In the Citizen Garden Category awards ceremony, the Yeoyoudang Team's 'Beyond My Hometown Majae' won the Grand Prize, the Silver Prize was awarded to Tomoru Team's 'TIME-LAPSE: The Flow of Time,' and the Bronze Prize went to The Grit Team's 'Namyangju's Natural Gallery Garden.'

Encouragement awards were given to △Heulreum 'Namyangju Embracing Water, Garden Resembling Water' △Laqing '摞耿 Namyangju, What a wonderful world!' △Windmill 'Blow, Wind of Dasan!' △On Sae-miro 'Footsteps in Nature' △Garden's Painter 'My Own Conscience' △Pulter 'Dasan Flower History (茶山花史)' △Dancer 'On the stage.'

In particular, Little Gardeners participated in the opening performance, spreading the flow of garden culture to the next generation and conveying a message that transmits the values of gardens pursued by Namyangju and Gyeonggi Province to the future, adding further significance to the expo.

In the drone light show, the final program of the opening ceremony, 200 drones above Yeolsang Waterfall created a beautiful scene representing the '12th Gyeonggi Garden Culture Expo' across the night sky.

The expo, running through the 6th around Dasan Central Park, Linear Park, and Waterfront Park, will feature various attractions and entertainment including garden exhibitions, garden culture experiences, and garden industry exhibitions.