The Seoul International Garden Show is currently taking place at Seoul Forest, featuring a mix of botanical displays and K-culture attractions [1, 2].
The event represents the city's effort to transition into a "garden city" where nature and urban life coexist. By integrating pop culture with horticulture, organizers aim to engage a broader audience in environmental appreciation and urban planning.
Visitors can find a variety of cultural spaces and gardens throughout the park [2]. The exhibition includes traditional garden elements alongside modern trends, such as installations featuring Pokémon characters [1, 2]. This blend of nature and commercial pop culture is designed to showcase the diverse identity of contemporary Seoul.
"I’m here at Seoul Forest, where this year’s Seoul International Garden Show is filling the park with gardens, cultural spaces, and visitors from across the city," Yoon Se-young said [2].
The city of Seoul serves as the primary organizer for the event, which is described as the largest exhibition of its kind for the city [1]. The show emphasizes the intersection of tradition and modern trends to create a sea of green within the metropolitan area [1].
"From K-culture to characters like Pokémon, Seoul is set to feature a sea of green, blending trends with nature at the Seoul International Garden Show," a reporter for the Korea JoongAng Daily said [1].
Organizers intend for the show to serve as a blueprint for how the city can integrate green spaces into high-density urban environments. The use of K-culture elements serves as a bridge to make nature more accessible to younger generations, and international tourists who are already drawn to the city's cultural exports [1, 2].
“Seoul is set to feature a sea of green, blending trends with nature”
The integration of global intellectual property like Pokémon into a civic gardening event signals a shift in how urban centers promote sustainability. By leveraging 'K-culture' and commercial appeal, Seoul is attempting to rebrand urban ecology as a lifestyle trend rather than just a public works project, potentially increasing public buy-in for future green infrastructure initiatives.
