Seoul Botanical Park, the first urban-style botanic garden of Seoul City that will blow all your stress away with its beautiful trees and flowers, which is an ideal urban healing spot await you to explore the beauty of nature!
Boasting a massive area of 504,000 square meters, the first botanical park in South Korea is home to over 3,100 different plant species and features four themed gardens namely Botanic Garden, Forest Field, Lake Garden and Wetland, as well as an outdoor garden and Plant Culture Center that exhibits a greenhouse with plants from twelve different cities abroad.
Botanic Garden
Botanic Garden comprises a display garden reconstructed as a traditional Korean garden with indigenous plants and a large conservatory showcasing the plant cultures of 12 tropical and Mediterranean cities. Also included are Children’d Garden School and an old drainage pump station restored as a cultural property.
(I) Display Garden
Featuring eight themes, the display garden offers a variety of garden experience, ranging from the traditional Korean garden to the latest trend in garden culture.
(II) Botanic Center
A place for plant-related exhibitions, education and events as well as a plant culture platform for communication and exchange through plants. Designed in “flower-shaped” or “flattened glass dome” and resulted “lower in the middle and higher along the edge”, contrasting to the traditional design and expanding the visitors experience.
Also housed are an auditorium, lecture rooms, a library and an amenities-equipped educational cultural space.
The Conservatory has on display plants of 12 major cities, each of which has developed a unique plant culture based on its Mediterranean or tropical climate, has been faithfully reconstructed, each also reflecting its municipal history and culture.
Inside the conservatory, a skywalk stretches across the upper canopy of the garden to allow the viewing of exotic plants from multiple angles, while mini-sized hot air balloons float around.
- Tropical Zone
- Jakarta, Indonesia: Bodhi tree, Joy Perfume Tree
- Hanoi, Vietnam: Mango, Cacao, Papaya
- Bogota, Columbia: Coffee, Coconut
- Sao Paulo, Brazil: Victoria Water Lily, Mangrove
- Mediterranean Zone
- Barcelona, Spain: Olive, Dragon tree
- San Francisco, USA: Cactus, Agave
- Rome, Italy: Lavender, Rosemary
- Athens, Greece: Cyprus, Laurel
- Perth, Australia: Baobab, Eucalyptus
- Istanbul, Turkey: Tulip, Rose
- Cape Town, South Africa: Protea, Lithops
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Cotton, Fig
Educational Cultural Space, connected to the conservatory entrance in the basement, this space consists of a library, gift-shop, cafe, project hall and other facilities for holding exhibitions and events.
Seed Library displays about 500 species of seeds, including native ones, can be checked out for planting and returned in harvested seeds.
Plant Science Lab conducts research on rare or endangered plants and provides plant consultation service.
Library houses a collection of some 10,000 books as well as periodicals and DVDs on domestic and foreign plants, ecology, landscaping and other related subjects for reading and viewing.
The Botanic Hall, a 150-seat auditorium for educational programmes and various domestic and international events related to plants and plant culture.
Forest Field
Covers the section where the main entrance and the Visitor Center are located. Visitors entering the square, which is connected to the nearby subway station, are greeted by a spacious grass field half-circled by trees. Festivals, exhibitions and other attractions take place here all year around.
Lake Garden
Lake Garden is a place to learn how ecosystem works by following a wooden pathway that crosses the lake and observing waterside plants. It also is a place to relax by sitting on one of the steps facing the lake and taking in the expansive view of the Seoul Botanic Park.
Wetland
Located in the area of Seoul Botanic Park adjoining Han River, Wetland is rich in biodiversity for its preservation of natural succession.