Seoul garden festival draws record 14 million visitors in 6-month run

The 2026 Seoul International Garden Show concluded Tuesday in Seoul after a 180-day run, drawing a record 14 million visitors. The festival expanded from Seoul Forest into nearby neighborhoods and the Han River waterfront, and the city said nearby foot traffic and sales also increased. Organizers said 191 of the 225 gardens will remain, alongside expanded park infrastructure.

Attendance was 34.1 percent higher than the 10.44 million visitors recorded last year.

Organizers created 225 gardens and held 170 programs, which drew about 210,000 participants.

In a survey of 2,358 people conducted from Oct. 19 to 25, about 91 percent said they were satisfied with the event and 82.8 percent intended to attend next year.

From May through September, average daily foot traffic rose 7.1 percent in Seoul Forest and Seongsu-dong, while credit card sales increased 11.6 percent compared with the same period last year.

Organizers secured more than 19 billion won in private investment for gardens developed with companies and institutions, while related markets and food vendors generated more than 4.2 billion won in sales through October.

Published Oct 27, 2026 2:40 pm KST

Visitors stroll through gardens and landscaped displays at Seoul Forest. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

Seoul’s biggest garden festival has drawn 14 million visitors over six months, setting a record for attendance and giving a boost to nearby businesses as the city seeks to make green spaces a larger part of urban life.

The 2026 Seoul International Garden Show concluded Tuesday after running for 180 days, the longest edition yet, with attendance up 34.1 percent from 10.44 million visitors last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said.

The festival, held from May 1 through Tuesday under the theme “Seoul, Green Culture,” expanded beyond Seoul Forest into nearby Seongsu-dong, the Konkuk University area and the Han River waterfront, with an autumn garden festival also held at Maeheon Citizens’ Forest.

Organizers created 225 gardens and offered 170 programs involving guided tours, exhibitions, hands-on activities and academic events, drawing about 210,000 participants to the programs.

In a city survey of 2,358 respondents conducted from Oct. 19-25, about 91 percent said they were satisfied with the event, while 82.8 percent said they intended to attend next year.

About 71 percent said Seoul Forest had improved since before the festival, and 87.5 percent said the event helped spread gardening culture and improve public awareness of gardens.

The festival also coincided with increased commercial activity nearby, with average daily foot traffic in Seoul Forest and Seongsu-dong rising 7.1 percent and credit card sales climbing 11.6 percent from May through September compared with the same period last year.

Foreign foot traffic increased 22.9 percent, while foreign card transactions rose 38.2 percent, according to the city.

Organizers said more than 19 billion won ($13.2 million) in private investment was secured for gardens developed with companies and institutions, while related markets and food vendors generated more than 4.2 billion won in sales through October.

Of the 225 gardens, 191 covering more than 90,000 square meters will remain in place, alongside expanded park infrastructure and more than double the previous number of seating spaces.

"This year's Seoul International Garden Show saw a dramatic increase in daily visitors alongside its longest run and record attendance, confirming the public's deep interest in garden culture," said Kim Young-hwan, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Garden City Bureau.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

2026年首尔国际园艺展于周二在首尔落下帷幕，历时180天，吸引了创纪录的1400万游客。此次园艺展的范围从首尔森林扩展到周边街区和汉江沿岸，首尔市政府表示，周边地区的人流量和销售额也随之增长。主办方表示，225个花园中将保留191个，同时还将扩建公园基础设施。

与去年记录的 1044 万游客相比，今年的游客人数增长了 34.1%。

组织者创建了 225 个花园，举办了 170 项活动，吸引了约 21 万名参与者。

在 10 月 19 日至 25 日进行的一项针对 2358 人的调查中，约 91% 的人表示对此次活动感到满意，82.8% 的人打算明年参加。

从 5 月到 9 月，首尔森林和圣水洞的日均人流量增长了 7.1%，而信用卡销售额与去年同期相比增长了 11.6%。

组织者为与企业和机构共同开发的园林项目争取到了超过 190 亿韩元的私人投资，而相关市场和食品摊贩截至 10 月份的销售额超过 42 亿韩元。

发布于2026年10月27日下午2:40（韩国标准时间）

游客在首尔森林公园漫步，欣赏花园和景观。图片由首尔市政府提供。

首尔最大的花园节在六个月内吸引了 1400 万游客，创下了参观人数纪录，并带动了附近企业的繁荣发展，因为首尔正努力让绿色空间成为城市生活中更重要的一部分。

首尔市政府表示，2026 年首尔国际园艺展于周二闭幕，展期为 180 天，是迄今为止展期最长的一届，参观人数比去年的 1044 万人次增长了 34.1%。

该节日以“首尔，绿色文化”为主题，从5月1日持续到周二，活动范围从首尔森林扩展到附近的圣水洞、建国大学地区和汉江沿岸，并在梅轩市民森林举办了秋季花园节。

组织者创建了 225 个花园，并提供了 170 个项目，包括导览游、展览、动手活动和学术活动，吸引了约 21 万名参与者。

在 10 月 19 日至 25 日进行的一项针对 2358 名受访者的城市调查中，约 91% 的人表示对此次活动感到满意，而 82.8% 的人表示打算明年参加。

约 71% 的人表示首尔森林比节日前有所改善，87.5% 的人表示该活动有助于传播园艺文化，提高公众对花园的认识。

节日期间，附近商业活动也随之增加，首尔森林和圣水洞的日均人流量从 5 月到 9 月增长了 7.1%，信用卡销售额比去年同期增长了 11.6%。

据该市统计，外国游客步行量增长了 22.9%，外国银行卡交易量增长了 38.2%。

组织者表示，已为与企业和机构共同开发的花园筹集了超过 190 亿韩元（1320 万美元）的私人投资，而相关市场和食品摊贩截至 10 月份的销售额超过 42 亿韩元。

在 225 个花园中，191 个花园（占地超过 9 万平方米）将保留下来，同时还将扩建公园基础设施，并将座位数量增加到之前的两倍多。

首尔市政府花园城市局局长金永焕表示：“今年的首尔国际花园展不仅展期最长，而且每日参观人数也大幅增加，创下历史新高，这证实了公众对花园文化的浓厚兴趣。”

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。