[Edaily Reporter Han Kwangbeom ] LG Uplus(032640)announced on the 27th that it has partnered with the LG Corp. Sangnok Foundation to create a “Biodiversity Garden” (tentative name) at Hwadam Forest in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, where visitors can experience the diversity of Korea’s native and endemic plants.

A key feature of the project is its integration of the latest IoT technology, which allows for real-time monitoring of soil and facility conditions while preserving the existing topography and surrounding forest of Hwadam Forest. The Biodiversity Garden covers an area of approximately 1,600 square meters, including decks and background plantings. Approximately 10,000 plants representing some 120 species of native and endemic flora—including 34 endemic species such as the swallowtail orchid, Heuksando anemone, Geumgang bellflower, island thyme, island sedge, Ulleung chrysanthemum, and Hallasan horse-chestnut—have been planted. Hwadam Forest plans to continue expanding the planting area in the future, depending on the availability of native plants.

Rather than creating a separate, independent exhibition space, the garden was designed to blend naturally with existing visitor pathways and the surrounding environment, allowing visitors to observe approximately 120 species of native plants as part of their daily experience. This development project was carried out with sponsorship from the LG Evergreen Foundation, an affiliate of LG Uplus.

Wireless solutions from LG Uplus’s Enterprise Division were deployed for garden management. By installing “subsurface soil composition monitoring” sensors and “structure collapse detection” IoT sensors, the garden will monitor soil moisture and acidity levels, as well as vibrations and tilt of structures in real time, with plans to accumulate this data for garden maintenance.

Prior to the official opening, LG Uplus invited approximately 40 people, including individuals with visual impairments and their families, to conduct a preliminary assessment of the garden’s accessibility. Subsequently, the Biodiversity Garden will be officially unveiled at a customer appreciation event on October 19, where approximately 5,000 long-term customers will be invited.

Park Kyung-joong, Senior Vice President of External Relations at LG Uplus, stated, “Biodiversity conservation is a critical environmental issue that companies must consistently prioritize.” He added, “Through our sponsorship and collaboration with Hwadam Forest, we will support citizens in experiencing the value of nature and continue environmental initiatives that bring people and nature together.”