In Rapidly Urbanizing Seoul, the Next Battle Is Saving Green Spaces
Residents in the South Korean capital are trying to protect what little greenery is left after decades of rapid economic growth.
The empty apartments in the Banpo redevelopment, where hundreds of landscaping trees were cut down before construction.
Photographer: Woohae Cho/Bloomberg
Baik SooHye’s small outdoor garden in western Seoul looks like a millennial’s dream, but it’s more than just a hobby — every plant represents an effort to push back against rampant development that is destroying green space in the South Korean capital.
The 34-year-old has rescued over a hundred plants from construction sites across Seoul, as decaying neighborhoods make way for towering apartment blocks. On the Twitter account for her “Plant Kindergarten,” Baik uploads photos of her acquisitions and their development — a particular favorite is a Sansevieria which had turned white upon rescue this May, but is now showing fresh green leaves.