Amid the densely packed alleyways and high-rise corporate towers of central Seoul, a quiet green revolution is taking root. Jongno District, the historic core of the Korean capital, said Friday that it is rolling out "Jongno Gardener Village 2.0" — a major expansion of its public urban gardening initiative designed to transform municipal spaces and neighborhood lanes into vibrant, resident-tended micro-gardens. The initiative, launched last year as a public-private partnership, bridges civic engagement with corporate social responsibility. By teaming up with local nongovernmental organizations such as Forest for Life and corporate sponsors such as Kakao Makers, the district has cultivated a sustainable governance model that cuts municipal costs while delivering green welfare directly to residents. Under the initial phase of the project, volunteer gardener crews focused on four primary hubs: Bukchon, Seochon, Sajik-dong and the Cheongjin-Insa-dong corridor. Phase 2.0 shifts this strategy from isolated hub gardens to a district-wide web of green space, empowering local residents to cult