Seoul Forest 🇰🇷

Seoul Forest is a expansive public park situated in the Seongdong District of Seoul, South Korea, specifically within the Seongsu-dong neighborhood. Spanning an area of 1,200 hectares, it ranks as the third largest park in the capital city. The park offers free admission to the public and remains accessible throughout the entire year, providing an extensive green space populated by more than 420,000 trees and roughly 100 species of animals.

Historically, the land served as a royal hunting ground before being transformed into Seoul's inaugural water purification facility in 1908. During the 1940s, the surrounding locale operated as an entertainment park, which was followed by the establishment of a horse racing track on the site in 1954. Redirection of the area into a public forest commenced in 2004, requiring an investment of 235.2 billion won by the municipal government, and official opening took place in June 2005. Additionally, the surrounding Seongsu 1-ga 2-dong zone along Seoul Forest Road is subject to local district regulations established in August 2017 that restrict large corporations, franchise headquarters, major chain eateries, cafes, bakeries, and cosmetics shops to preserve the area's sustainable character.

The grounds are organized into distinct thematic sections and ecological areas. Visitors can explore the Cultural Art Park, the Hangang River Waterside Park, the Experiential Learning Park, and the Marsh Plants Garden. The park also encompasses an Ecological Forest section, which operates daily between 05:30 and 21:30, providing a protected natural habitat within the broader park boundaries.

Biological diversity is a prominent feature throughout the various grounds. The park showcases over 40 distinct varieties of rose, along with fish populations and aquatic vegetation like floating moss and water chestnuts. Its wetland regions contain species such as reeds, silver banner grass, and rose-gold pussy willows. Within the Wetlands Ecological Field, an outdoor natural classroom and an insect garden are featured, alongside a dedicated Butterfly Garden. Both the insect botanical facility and the Butterfly Garden welcome visitors from 10:00 to 17:00, remaining closed on Mondays.

Transportation to the park is convenient via public transit networks. Visitors can reach the site using the Seoul Subway system by departing from Ttukseom Station on Line 2 via Exit 8, or from Seoul-forest Station on the Bundang Line via Exit 3. Multiple public bus routes also serve the immediate area.