Suwon 'Maehyang-dong Love Group' Holds Vegetable Garden Party in Maehyang Village
[News S=Lee Min-jung Reporter] 'Maehyang-dong Love Group' (Chair Song Jong, hereafter 'Maehyang Love Group') in Suwon held a 'Vegetable Garden Party' at noon on the 4th at 'Maehyang-jeong', the Maehyang Village Vegetable Garden in Maehyang-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon, commemorating four years of the village-building project.
The event was attended by approximately 60 people including 20 external guests including Lee Byung-jin, President of Suwon Urban Foundation, 30 members, and 10 family members.
The event began with a chorus of 'Maehyang Song of Praise' composed by Oh Hyun-gyu, President of Suwon Arts Council, with lyrics by Chair Song Jong. It proceeded with the opening of Maehyang Gallery, which displays approximately 30 works including poems, paintings, and photographs created by members from the 'Maehyang Village Project with Poems and Pictures' selected in last year's Suwon Urban Foundation public competition, followed by a plaque unveiling ceremony for the plaque created by member Kim Chung-young.
The event continued with members sharing delicious food prepared through several meetings organized by Vice Chair Chae Young-ja and Female Team Leader Ko Young-hee of Maehyang Love Group with female members. The food ingredients consisted of vegetables grown in the garden and food materials donated by members, adding greater meaning. In particular, food preparation was done at the Eoulrim Center kitchen in Haenggung-dong, where 11 members gathered the day before the event to prepare meals for 60 people, and alcoholic beverages, drinks, and fruits were provided through member contributions.
Meanwhile, the venue for this event is Maehyang Vegetable Garden created by Maehyang Love Group members in 2024, which has become both a healing space where people touch soil and grow vegetables, as well as a community space where members exchange garden crops.
Chair Song Jong stated, "I express deep gratitude to Samil Industrial High School (Samil Academy), Paldal-gu Office, Suwon City Greenery Project Division, and Suwon Urban Foundation, which served as priming water and catalysts for the village to change," and "I convey heartfelt gratitude to the approximately 40 members who have been with us for over 4 years."
