{
  "id": 6235897,
  "title": "Seoul honors outstanding community gardens, urban landscapes in annual awards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/seoul-honors-outstanding-community-gardens-urban-landscapes-in-annual",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T04:57:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/travel-food/20260908/seoul-honors-outstanding-community-gardens-urban-landscapes-in-annual-awards"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul celebrated the resurgence of urban green spaces with its annual Landscape Architecture Awards on Thursday, honoring five major projects and 23 community gardening initiatives that are transforming the city's streets into more nature-filled environments. Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs and chair of the City Council's Environment and Water Resources Committee, along with approximately 280 guests from the landscaping and gardening sectors, attended the ceremony at Seoul's City Hall.\n\nThe prestigious Landscape Architecture Award, now in its fifth year, was bestowed upon the Namsan Sky Forest Trail. This 1.65-kilometer accessible walking path winds along the southern slope of Mount Nam, Seoul's central mountain. The trail connects previously separate pedestrian routes while preserving the forest's ecological integrity. The project also earned the city the People's Choice Prize, receiving the highest number of votes — 2,889 out of a total 9,654 cast — in a two-week public poll held in June.\n\nIn second place, a water garden ingeniously integrated into an aging concrete channel within a neighborhood park, won the top runner-up prize. Three other noteworthy projects were also recognized, including a children's forest playground and another innovative gardening group.",
  "summary": "In a city better known for sleek skyscrapers than green canopies, Seoul celebrated a new wave of urban design this week, awarding five major landscape architecture projects and 23 neighborhood gardening groups that are bringing nature back to the capital's streets. Seoul's deputy mayor for administrative affairs and the chair of the city council's environment and water resources committee…",
  "key_points": [
    "Seoul awards five major projects and 23 community gardens in Landscape Architecture Awards",
    "Namsan Sky Forest Trail wins prestigious Landscape Architecture Award and People's Choice Prize",
    "Water garden integrated into aging concrete channel wins top runner-up prize"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Seoul's recognition of top urban landscapes and community gardens signals a shift towards prioritizing green spaces, elevating the status of nature-filled environments in the city's planning and development.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Seoul honors outstanding community gardens, urban landscapes in annual awards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/seoul-honors-outstanding-community-gardens-urban-landscapes-in-annual-6237502",
        "published": "2026-09-08T05:12:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}