Seoul's largest-ever international garden show blends nature, tradition and K-culture

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Seoul's largest-ever international garden show blends nature, tradition and K-culture

Published: 30 Apr. 2026, 17:39 Updated: 30 Apr. 2026, 17:56

CHO JUNG-WOO
[email protected]

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Pokémon sculptures sit at the Seoul International Garden Show's Pokémon Secret Forest in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul. [CHO JUNG-WOO]

From K-culture to characters like Pokémon, Seoul is set to feature a sea of green starting this May, blending trends with nature at the Seoul International Garden Show. The event, the largest of its kind to date, kicks off Friday, signaling the city’s latest push to evolve into a lush garden city where nature and urban life coexist.

The exhibition, which was rebranded as an international show in 2024 as part of a major urban greening initiative by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, features 167 gardens spanning 90,000 square meters (22 acres) across Seoul Forest and its neighboring areas, as well as the Han River. Running through Oct. 27, this year's event will span the longest duration in the show's history.

As this Korea JoongAng Daily reporter toured the grounds on Thursday, a day ahead of the official opening, the showgrounds at Seoul Forest in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, revealed a harmonious blend of K-culture and horticultural art.

“We’ve attempted to reflect contemporary urban trends within these gardens, especially since Seongsu-dong has become a global symbol of K-culture,” said Kim Young-min, a professor of landscape architecture at the University of Seoul and director of the show’s organizing committee.

Visitors sit in a garden at the Seoul International Garden Show in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, on April 30, a day ahead of its official opening. [CHO JUNG-WOO]

From K-culture to Pokémon

In a nod to the country's status as a cultural hub, the show features a specialized garden for K-pop fans that incorporates iconic lightsticks into the green arrangements. The show also includes dedicated fan-donated forests, such as those honoring K-pop group aespa’s Winter and BTS’s J-hope. For those seeking a more traditional aesthetic, Korean heritage gardens inspired by hanok (traditional Korean house) architecture provide a serene look into the nation's past.

The gardens span a wide variety of themes, ranging from high-concept designs by world-renowned architects to whimsical pop-ups featuring Pokémon and Lego.

A garden called ″Seoul Sojourn,″ designed by Indian landscape architects Gauri Satam and Tejesh Patil, is seen in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, as part of the Seoul International Garden Show on April 30. [CHO JUNG-WOO]

At the Pokémon Secret Forest, fans can find numerous statues of Pikachu tucked away from the main entrance along Eevee’s Secret Trail and Phantom’s Hideout. While last year’s show leaned heavily on the purple hues of Ditto, this year’s display is dominated by Pikachu yellow, aligning with “Morning Yellow,” Seoul’s color of the year.

To accommodate global visitors, the show offers information in nine languages via on-site QR codes. Detailed text and audio guides are available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish, while text-only support is provided in Vietnamese, Thai, Malay and Indonesian. English-language docent tours are also available twice daily via preregistration on Naver Booking.

Corporate collaborations also take center stage, with K-culture brands including beauty company Clio and fashion platform Musinsa presenting their own gardens. Nongshim has also joined the lineup with “Spicy Happiness in Noodles,” a garden created to mark the 40th anniversary of Shin Ramyun.

From Supertrees to environmental reflection

The Summit Silo, a circular garden by Daewoo E&C, features a striking white rootlike structure at its center. The project involved a collaboration between Seoul-based Bonsigudo and Grant Associates — the firm famous for designing Singapore’s iconic Supertrees.

Reporters look around a garden installed in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, as part of the Seoul International Garden Show on April 30. [CHO JUNG-WOO]

“Seoul Forest used to be a horse racing track, and this spot marks where the center of the arch once stood,” said Lee Hyeong-seok, head of Bonsigudo. The silo-shaped structure is designed to offer visitors a sense of natural silence as they move toward the center.

The show also addresses environmental issues. At a garden hosted by cosmetics brand Clio, a pavilion features a 150-year-old charred tree recovered from forest fires in Andong, North Gyeongsang, to raise awareness about natural disasters.

“Forest fires occur every year,” the designer noted, adding that it was vital to deliver a message of preservation and recovery.

In another space nearby, a forest warning sign stands over a patch of earth where oak saplings sprout from the ash, symbolizing nature’s resilience. The city government said the gardens are expected to absorb approximately 5,630 tons of carbon annually, which is an amount equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions of 1,759 vehicles.

Technological innovation is further explored in the “Breathing Earth” installation by IPark Hyundai Development Company, a moving garden where land art physically rises and falls at the touch of a button.

Clio's K-beauty garden and pavillions are seen in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, as part of the Seoul International Garden Show. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

Hoban Construction's Crown Shyness garden is seen in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, as part of the Seoul International Garden Show. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

Director Kim noted that this year’s show emphasizes visitor comfort, which is evident in gardens that incorporate structures with seating. One example is the Youngpoong Books garden, which includes a pop-up bookstore and seating areas facing the trees.

International highlights include “The Garden of Eternal Flow” by French architect Henri Bava, as well as five gardens chosen from an international competition. These featured works were designed by landscape architects from Korea, Italy, India and China. They will remain in the forest as permanent fixtures even after the show ends.

While official program hours are noon to 8 p.m., the gardens are open to the public around the clock.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [[email protected]]