Ulsan Garden Support Center: Nurturing a Green Future

Original source: blog.naver.com

Comments 0 Views 77 Date 2026-10-11 22:30

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Ulsan is currently preparing for the 2028 Ulsan International Garden Expo, moving towards its identity as a 'Garden City.'

Following the confirmation of hosting the International Garden Expo in August 2024, Ulsan City is accelerating preparations by launching an organizing committee in 2026.

In this journey, there is a place connecting citizens with gardens: the Ulsan Garden Support Center, located at 26 Taehwa-ro, Jung-gu, next to the Taehwa River National Garden.

Ulsan is often first thought of as an 'industrial city.' However, today's Ulsan cannot be fully described by industry alone.

In the heart of the city lies the Taehwa River National Garden, surrounded by various gardens, both large and small, close to the daily lives of citizens.

As soon as you enter the center, you are greeted by greenery. Sunlight streams through large glass windows, illuminating the plants that welcome visitors.

The hanging plants from the second floor create a softer ambiance throughout the space.

Plants are naturally integrated between chairs and tables, making you feel like you've stepped into a plant café.

The view of the first floor from the second floor is particularly striking.

With layers of greenery overlapping, the entire building resembles a large indoor garden.

As I walked, I stopped in front of a coffee tree laden with fruit. It's amazing to see real coffee growing here!

Seeing coffee cherries up close, which I usually only encounter in a cup, is fascinating for both children and adults.

There are also plants like pothos and hoya planted in plastic bottles, transforming discarded containers into small gardens.

Colorful Scandinavian moss and moss walls serve as excellent photo spots, showcasing that plants are not just objects to admire but also enhance the atmosphere and enrich our daily lives.

The Ulsan Garden Support Center is not merely a space for displaying plants. The first floor features a plant hospital, gardening shop, sunlit garden, and a garden bookstore, allowing visitors to engage with plants up close and gather related information.

The second floor includes promotional exhibition spaces, a sunlit garden, multipurpose rooms, and meeting areas. The third floor is dedicated to the operation office and a garden culture classroom.

At the top, the R floor offers a storytelling garden. Here, one can see, learn about, care for, and relax with plants all in one building.

During my visit, the most anticipated place was the plant hospital on the first floor.

Just as people need hospitals, plants sometimes require expert care.

At home, leaves can turn yellow, and no matter how much water you give, they may wilt.

With the help of experts, I brought my plant to the center, where they assessed its condition and assisted with repotting.

Watching my plant transition to fresh soil and a spacious pot felt like a family member receiving good care.

Repotting is not just about changing pots; it includes learning about the right soil, the appropriate amount of water, and how to care for it at home.

While I thought I was doing well at home, the expert's insights revealed areas I had overlooked.

Most importantly, I learned how to nurture my sick plant back to health instead of discarding it.

As I left the center with my repotted plant, it felt even more precious than when I arrived.

After using the plant hospital, I began to understand why we refer to plants as 'companions.'

The Ulsan Garden Support Center offers plant health consultations and repotting services for Ulsan citizens.

Repotting is available once a month per person for up to two home plants with a pot diameter of 30 cm or less, and you must bring your pot. Reservations are required.

The center also provides various educational programs to help citizens learn about garden culture.

From plant care to garden-related experiences and education, programs are designed to help citizens connect with plants in their daily lives.

After exploring the center, I went to the storytelling garden on the R floor. It was my favorite space.

Opening the door takes you to a different atmosphere, where you can enjoy the breeze and take in the surrounding scenery.

While children explore, adults can take a moment to relax.

The Taehwa River National Garden lies not far away.

Gazing at it, I realized that a garden may not solely refer to flowers and trees.

When we add moments of rest, family conversations, and time spent observing plants, our lives transform into a garden.

The Ulsan Garden Support Center is precisely about this: imparting knowledge about plants and helping citizens experience ways to connect with nature in the city.

In 2028, Ulsan aims to become a vast garden.

Having grown as an industrial city, it is now envisioning a sustainable garden city where nature and people coexist.

As we care for a single pot at home or plant a flower with a child, the journey toward this garden city has already begun.

I felt this meaning more closely during my recent experience at the plant hospital.

A place for learning, resting, and caring for plants, connecting gardens and people.

I hope the small green daily life that began at the Ulsan Garden Support Center will lead to an entire city becoming one large garden by 2028.

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