During the early Joseon period, scholar Seo Geo-jeong celebrated Namsan's beauty in his poem 'Handosipyeong.' Once a place where locals gathered to enjoy the blooming flowers, Namsan has transformed into a major tourist attraction over the past 600 years. Next year, a new garden will invite citizens to return to Namsan to enjoy its blossoms.
The 2027 Seoul International Garden Expo will take place from May 1 to October 27, utilizing the summit and slopes of Namsan, including Baekbeom Plaza, Namsan Seoul Tower, Namsangol Hanok Village, and Jangchungdan Park.
The city of Seoul announced on November 9 that it will host the expo under the theme 'Seoul, Green Life.' Gardens will be created throughout Namsan, and five selected writer gardens from an international competition will remain after the event concludes.
The city has divided Namsan into five key areas, each highlighting its unique characteristics. Baekbeom Plaza will focus on history and culture, the Korean Forest Garden on gardening, and Namsan Seoul Tower on tourism. The Namsan slopes and Namsangol Hanok Village will emphasize culture and tradition, while Jangchungdan Park will encourage citizen participation. This approach connects the forest, walking paths, and urban cultural facilities under the common theme of gardens.
Last year, the Boramae Park expo attracted 10.44 million visitors, while this year's events at Seoul Forest and Maeheon Citizen's Forest recorded a total of 14 million attendees, a 34.1% increase from the previous year. The city plans to leave the writer gardens as permanent installations so that visitors can return to the same spots after the expo.
Each garden will cover approximately 250 square meters. The city requires designs that harmonize with Namsan's existing forests and landscapes, minimizing excessive installations. Eco-friendly materials and perennial plants are encouraged, and universal design principles will be considered to ensure safety and accessibility for all ages and abilities.
Each selected project will receive 100 million won, covering design, construction, and maintenance costs. Since these gardens will remain after the expo, the design phase will also address how plants will grow and change with the seasons, along with maintenance strategies.
Seoul will announce the competition on November 10, accepting submissions from December 7 to 9 at 4 p.m. After an initial document review, ten teams will be shortlisted, followed by presentations and public evaluations, with the final five teams announced on January 6. The selected gardens will be established in Namsan Park between March and April, with on-site evaluations in April. During the opening ceremony on May 1, one team will receive the gold award, and two teams each will receive silver and bronze awards. The writer gardens will be open for free viewing from the opening day.
Kim Young-hwan, director of the Seoul Garden City Bureau, stated, "We aim to discover creative garden designs that can establish gardens as a part of urban culture and everyday art. We hope to see many capable garden designers participate so that Namsan, a representative stage of K-culture and an ecological space, can offer citizens a new daily experience."
The 2027 Seoul International Garden Expo will take place from May 1 to October 27, utilizing the summit and slopes of Namsan, including Baekbeom Plaza, Namsan Seoul Tower, Namsangol Hanok Village, and Jangchungdan Park.
The city of Seoul announced on November 9 that it will host the expo under the theme 'Seoul, Green Life.' Gardens will be created throughout Namsan, and five selected writer gardens from an international competition will remain after the event concludes.
Designed for Accessibility from Multiple Directions
While Namsan is visible from various points in the city, it is not easily accessible from all locations. This expo will leverage existing historical and cultural spaces and parks at the mountain's base as starting points. Visitors to the Hanok Village will encounter gardens along the Namsan slopes, and those at Jangchungdan Park can participate in the expo without climbing to the summit. The city aims to enhance the experience of viewing Namsan, allowing citizens to walk and linger from multiple entry points.The city has divided Namsan into five key areas, each highlighting its unique characteristics. Baekbeom Plaza will focus on history and culture, the Korean Forest Garden on gardening, and Namsan Seoul Tower on tourism. The Namsan slopes and Namsangol Hanok Village will emphasize culture and tradition, while Jangchungdan Park will encourage citizen participation. This approach connects the forest, walking paths, and urban cultural facilities under the common theme of gardens.
Last year, the Boramae Park expo attracted 10.44 million visitors, while this year's events at Seoul Forest and Maeheon Citizen's Forest recorded a total of 14 million attendees, a 34.1% increase from the previous year. The city plans to leave the writer gardens as permanent installations so that visitors can return to the same spots after the expo.
Reviving the Tradition of Flower Viewing at Namsan with Year-Round Gardens
The theme for the international competition for writer gardens is 'Mokmyeok Sanghwa - Viewing Flowers at Namsan.' 'Mokmyeok' is an old name for Namsan. The goal is to design gardens that reflect what modern citizens would like to see and experience as they walk the paths once frequented by those observing seasonal changes.Each garden will cover approximately 250 square meters. The city requires designs that harmonize with Namsan's existing forests and landscapes, minimizing excessive installations. Eco-friendly materials and perennial plants are encouraged, and universal design principles will be considered to ensure safety and accessibility for all ages and abilities.
Each selected project will receive 100 million won, covering design, construction, and maintenance costs. Since these gardens will remain after the expo, the design phase will also address how plants will grow and change with the seasons, along with maintenance strategies.
Seoul will announce the competition on November 10, accepting submissions from December 7 to 9 at 4 p.m. After an initial document review, ten teams will be shortlisted, followed by presentations and public evaluations, with the final five teams announced on January 6. The selected gardens will be established in Namsan Park between March and April, with on-site evaluations in April. During the opening ceremony on May 1, one team will receive the gold award, and two teams each will receive silver and bronze awards. The writer gardens will be open for free viewing from the opening day.
Kim Young-hwan, director of the Seoul Garden City Bureau, stated, "We aim to discover creative garden designs that can establish gardens as a part of urban culture and everyday art. We hope to see many capable garden designers participate so that Namsan, a representative stage of K-culture and an ecological space, can offer citizens a new daily experience."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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