Seoul City to present solar-powered underground garden

Seoul City announced on Tuesday that it will open an underground garden next October at an unemployed underground area of 850 square meters, connecting subway line No. 1 Jonggak Station and Jongno Books that grows plants with solar power.

The underground area of Jonggak Station is currently an unused empty space where people pass by. According to the city government, the key to the underground garden is a system that realizes an environment where plants can grow similar to those on the ground by drawing the sunlight from the ground. The solar-powered lighting system can secure a stable amount of luminance as it automatically transforms into light emitting diode (LED) light source at night or on cloudy days.

Seoul City plans to make it into an urban botanical garden by planting various plants including fruit trees that take up one sixth of the garden area. Spaces for healing programs such as plant education programs, performances, and yoga will be incorporated within the underground garden.


Woo-Shin Han hanwshin@donga.com