The Seoul International Garden Expo has opened to the public, drawing 1,010,000 visitors [1] within its first six days of operation.
This surge in attendance highlights a growing urban demand for green public spaces and the integration of technology into nature. By blending traditional landscaping with modern digital experiences, the city aims to promote diverse garden cultures to a wide audience.
Now in its 11th edition [2], the expo is centered at Seoul Forest. The exhibition extends beyond the park to include linked garden sites along the Han River banks and throughout the Seongsu area [1]. The event showcases a variety of works created by international designers, ordinary citizens, and professional artists [1].
Visitors can engage with traditional horticultural displays as well as augmented-reality installations. These AR elements are designed to modernize the garden experience and attract a tech-savvy demographic to the city's green zones [1].
Organizers said the goal of the event is to showcase diverse garden cultures and encourage the public to participate in the creation of green spaces [1]. The exhibition serves as a bridge between professional landscape architecture and community-led gardening efforts.
According to a report from YTN, the event has seen a continuous stream of citizens visiting the sites since it opened on Oct. 1 [1]. The high visitor volume underscores the popularity of the Seongsu and Han River corridors as cultural hubs.
The exhibition is scheduled to remain open to the public through Oct. 27 [3].
“1,010,000 visitors [1] within its first six days of operation”
The rapid accumulation of over one million visitors suggests that urban populations are increasingly seeking 'third places' that combine environmental wellness with digital interaction. By expanding the expo from a single park into a network of sites including the Han River and Seongsu, Seoul is testing a decentralized model of urban tourism that distributes foot traffic across the city's infrastructure.
