Mokpo City is facing criticism after 1,400 hydrangeas, planted with a budget exceeding 160 million won, were damaged during preliminary work requested before an official contract was signed. This incident occurred as the city rushed to prepare for an upcoming port festival.
The city had allocated 163.68 million won for the purchase of hydrangeas as part of the 2024 Jungsamhakdo Living Garden project. The landscaping, funded by taxpayer money, has been compromised just two years after its establishment.
The city has estimated the damage at 42.08 million won, raising questions about the appropriateness of the administrative procedures and oversight prior to the contract and construction.
According to reports, the Mokpo City Parks and Greenery Division requested preliminary work from a landscaping company due to urgent environmental maintenance needs ahead of the festival.
Consequently, the company conducted weeding on October 9 and 10, during which the hydrangeas were cut down.
However, the contract for the "Beach Flavor Road Section 3 Environmental Maintenance Project" specifies that both the contract date and start date are October 12. This means the company began work 2 to 3 days before the official contract was signed.
Public works require clear contract procedures, work directives, and oversight, prompting calls for an investigation into the administrative justification and approval process for requesting work before the contract.
The damage to the hydrangeas was confirmed in an official report from Mokpo City. The Parks and Greenery Division stated that after inspecting the site on October 12, they found that the overgrown weeds made it difficult to accurately identify the hydrangea locations, leading to accidental damage due to worker negligence.
The total number of damaged plants includes 600 Limelight hydrangeas and 800 Vanilla Fraise hydrangeas, amounting to 1,400 plants, with the estimated damage exceeding twice the contract amount for the environmental maintenance project.
The issue is compounded by the fact that the Parks and Greenery Division requested the preliminary work, making it difficult to solely attribute responsibility to the contractor's negligence. It is necessary to clarify whether the locations of the planted trees were confirmed before work began, whether protective guidelines were communicated, and whether proper oversight was conducted during the work.
Kim Young-beom, head of the Greenery Team at Mokpo City Parks and Greenery Division, stated, "Although the above-ground parts of the damaged hydrangeas have been cut, the roots remain intact, indicating a high possibility of regrowth. Given the nature of hydrangeas, we believe their growth will not be adversely affected. We will receive a report from the contractor regarding the circumstances and the damage amount, and we will check for new shoots in the spring of 2027, conducting a thorough investigation of any dead plants before restoring the area to its original state."
However, the potential for the hydrangeas to regenerate and the appropriateness of the directive for preliminary work before the contract are separate issues. There is a need for clarification regarding the circumstances and approval process for the Parks and Greenery Division's request for preliminary work, as well as oversight during the operation.
Given that the living garden, funded by taxpayer money, was damaged during maintenance, Mokpo City must address the accurate scale of the damage, restoration responsibilities, and the overall concerns regarding the contract procedures.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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