SUWON, South Korea — The Seoul Green Trust (Chairman: Cho Kyoung-jin), in partnership with Shinhan Card, has successfully established the fifth "Eco Zone," named the Circular Garden, at Gwanggyo Lake Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do. The grand opening ceremony was held on October 18, 2026.

Key attendees included Shim Joo-young, Director of the Seoul Green Trust; Kim Jong-hyuk, Head of Shinhan Card’s Brand Strategy Division; Ha Hyun-seung, Head of Suwon City's Park and Greenery Management Office; and Lee Deuk-hyun, Chairman of the Suwon Green Trust. Together, they celebrated the garden's launch and emphasized the significance of continuous maintenance and citizen engagement.

Connecting Green Consumption to Urban Green Spaces

Launched in 2021, the "Eco Zone" is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project that bridges eco-friendly everyday consumption with urban green spaces. Funded by points accumulated through Shinhan Card green consumers' eco-friendly purchases and carbon-reduction practices, the project builds parks and green areas across South Korea. Following completion, corporate employees and local citizens collaborate to care for these spaces, fostering healthy urban ecosystems.

Previous Eco Zone locations include:

*2021: "Our Flower Road" at Seoul Forest
*2022: "Promise Garden" at APEC Naru Park, Busan
*2023: "Fern Garden" at Hansaebong Agricultural Ecology Park, Gwangju
*2024: "Meeting Park" at Galma Culture Park, Daejeon
*2026: "Circular Garden" at Gwanggyo Lake Park, Suwon

A Multi-Seasonal Oasis with 719 Plants

The newly unveiled Circular Garden features 719 plants across 17 different species. Notably, it incorporates carbon-absorbing and reducing plant varieties identified by the National Institute of Forest Science—such as crape myrtles, redbuds, lilacs, nandinas, and boxwoods—to improve local environmental conditions and lower urban carbon levels.

This installation marks the largest number of trees planted in an Eco Zone to date, creating a rich and vibrant green landscape using a diverse mix of canopy and understory plants.

Designed to highlight seasonal transitions, the garden offers a shifting visual palette from spring through winter. In the summer, clusters of blooming red crape myrtles will add striking seasonal color, inviting visitors to experience the dynamic beauty of nature over time.

A New Space for Rest in the Heart of Gwanggyo Lake Park

Situated in the central Jaeminanbat area of Gwanggyo Lake Park—a massive urban park frequented by many—the garden transforms a previously overlooked transit zone into a destination for lingering. Its layout and walking paths encourage visitors to pause, examine the plants, and take a peaceful break amidst their daily routines.

"The Circular Garden captures the journey of how a small habit of everyday consumption can expand into a green urban space, which in turn returns to the daily lives of citizens and nature," said Shim Joo-young, Director of Seoul Green Trust. "As this Eco Zone is established in Gwanggyo Lake Park, which attracts numerous visitors, we hope it serves as a meaningful space where people can experience the value of eco-friendly living."

She added, "A garden matters more in the time after its creation than at its birth. Through ongoing care by citizens and corporations alike, we hope the Circular Garden will showcase new aspects each season and grow into a beloved space for years to come."

Moving forward, the Seoul Green Trust and Shinhan Card plan to continue expanding urban green spaces, ensuring that everyday environmental actions translate into lasting ecological benefits through sustained community care.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]