Hyeseo, 13 years old, is in the 6th grade of elementary school. She goes to Dongyang Elementary School, which has a total of 38 students, close to her home. She was born in Iksan and lived in Dongsang-myeon for five years, and at the age of seven, she moved here to Haewol-ri, Soyang-myeon. I honestly wondered what it would feel like to live in a place surrounded by mountains and forests. Hyeseo says she likes this natural environment, with having being familiar with mountains, plants, and animals since she was young, but she says it is a bit disappointing that there are no convenience stores, playgrounds, or parks. The white T-shirt Hyeseo is wearing was engraved with the words ‘Mangyeong-gang Youth Expedition Team."

"This is a group of teenagers guarding the Mangyeong-gang. We started our activities last Saturday. We learn about the Mangyeong-gang first and then learn more about what animals are living there and how to protect them. Originally, about 60 students gathered, but last week there were only 30. During the summer vacation, I took three ecological classes at 'OO Village School'. I learned about birds first, golden frogs second, and house bats third. House bats usually live near villages or in rice paddies."

I asked Hyeseo why she became interested in ecology and the environment. Of course, I wondered if such interest and activities were interesting for her.

"I think that if the environment gets worse, there will be fewer animals and it is not good for people. It's good to learn how to protect the environment. It's nice to be able to get together, from those in the 5th grade of elementary school to high school students, where we can hang out together and learn a lot from teachers about things we don't know a lot about.”

The programs that Hyeseo is participating in are ‘OO Village School’ and ‘Manbogi (Technology to care for the ecology of Mangyeong-gang).’ She said that it is good to have a movie making class, study about ecology and the environment at the community media center in Gosan, and hang out with good people, but it is a bit regretful that more friends cannot be with her. Of course, Hyeseo was able to participate in the program of the Wanju Cultural City Support Center thanks to the introduction of her mother, Mun Yeojeong. Since 2020, Ms. Mun has also joined the ‘Talent of All Class’ of the Wanju Cultural City Support Center, and has continued to build relationships and develop various activities.

Last year, she carried out a project to turn empty public land in the village into a park through ‘OO Village School.’ Along with the villagers, her whole family participated in cleaning up the garbage, making pavilions, and planting trees. Sports facilities will soon be built. The experience of changing an abandoned space of ten years into a village park in a community way could change other things in the village, too.

“I think Wanju has a well-equipped environment where residents can actively challenge themselves when they try to do something. There are also many good educational programs. But more publicity is needed. There are many good programs in the Cultural City Support Center, but it's a shame that residents don't seem to know about them.”