A Guide To The Sejong National Arboretum
Did you know Korea’s first urban national arboretum, Sejong National Arboretum (국립세종수목원), is located in Sejong City? This sprawling garden in Korea’s administrative capital is a beauty and perfect for any plant enthusiast or traveler looking for a peaceful escape. When I first went to Sejong, a city built for government facilities, I wasn’t sure what I’d find. But, you might be surprised that there are a number of interesting things to do in Sejong and visiting the Sejong National Arboretum is chief among them.
With its vast collection of plants, themed gardens, and impressive greenhouse complexes, Sejong National Arboretum is a must-visit destination for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty of Korean flora and culture.
Get ready to explore the Sejong National Arboretum in South Korea:
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How To Get There
Address: 136 Sumokwon-ro, Yeongi-myeon, Sejong (세종 연기면 수목원로 136)
By Bus: Hop on an express bus to Sejong Bus Terminal and take bus 221 directly to the arboretum. The journey from the terminal to the botanical garden takes around 30 minutes.
By Train: Travel to Osong Station, the closest train station to Sejong. From Osong, board bus B1 and get off at 정부세종청사북측. Transfer to bus 221, and after 6 stops, you’ll arrive at 국립세종수목원, the arboretum.
By Car: If you prefer to drive, there’s a spacious parking lot in front of the arboretum, free of charge for visitors.
Basic Info
Days: Tuesdays – Sundays
- Closed Mondays, January 1st, Lunar New Year’s Day, Chuseok Day
Hours: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
Admission: Adults: W5,000; Children: W3,000
- Note: Sejong residents and multicultural family members can receive a 50% discount on the admission fee. Children 6 years old and younger are free to enter.
What To Know
Sejong National Arboretum opened in October 2020 after eight years of planning and covers a vast area of 65 hectares, equivalent to about 90 football fields. It is Korea’s first urban national arboretum. The arboretum showcases over 1.7 million plants from 2,834 different species, and is really an immense and captivating experience. Divided into 24 distinct themes, the arboretum boasts numerous attractions, including a traditional Korean garden and a bonsai exhibition.
What To See
I can’t possibly mention all of the gardens there are to see. You’ll just have to go to see them all. But, here are the major highlights that you just have to see when you visit the Sejong National Arboretum.
The Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse
There are some stunning greenhouses in Korea and this is definitely one of them. Where you enter and what first stands out in the massive botanical garden is most definitely the massive greenhouse. Consisting of three interconnected greenhouses, there is a tropical greenhouse, Mediterranean greenhouse, and special exhibition greenhouse which changes according to the season.
This is the largest greenhouse in South Korea. In the tropical greenhouse, you can find more than 400 different kinds of plant species thriving. Walk along the walkway above to see the immensity of the space and then head down to walk amongst the trees. The tallest tree in the space is 32 meters tall and from Indonesia.
After the tropical greenhouse, head tot he Mediterranean greenhouse meant to remind visitors of Spain, you can also take an elevator up to get an overarching view of the space.
Finally, the exhibition greenhouse is changed out seasonally so you never know what you’ll find, but it will be something fun.
Bonsai Garden
The Bonsai Garden is another beautiful spot in the gardens that you’ll want to spend some time in. Showcasing a wide range of Bonsai plants, which are also changed out to create new displays regularly, in Korea the cultivation of these small trees is called “bunjae” (분재). While Japan’s cultivation of bonsai is more well known and developed, researchers here are seeking to further develop and educate people on the Korean version. See what else you can learn while you’re there.
Traditional Korean Garden
No botanical garden in Korea is really complete without a traditional Korean garden. See a beautiful replica of the famous Secret Garden in Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul and of Soswaewon in Damyang. You can enjoy the Joseon Dynasty architecture with beautiful plants surrounding.
The Life Garden
If you have kids and want to give them a more educational or interactive experience, check out the Life Garden. This space is where you can take part in learning about cultivation and harvesting. On top of that, there are chickens and what kid doesn’t like chickens? There are various types of young plants that have been produced by sowing vegetable seeds, there’s a blueberry garden, fruit tree garden, and mountain vegetable garden.
Rare Species Plant Exhibition Greenhouse
If you keep walking back, you’ll find more greenhouses to explore. Smaller than the first ones mentioned above, these exhibition greenhouses hold rare and endemic plants that are disappearing from their habitats.
What To Do
Apart from exploring the various gardens and greenhouse complexes, Sejong National Arboretum offers additional activities for visitors to take part in when they visit.
Upcycle Garden Program
Take part in the arboretum’s green initiative by participating in the Upcycle Garden Program. You can receive free plants that are removed from exhibits, along with instructions on potting and maintenance.
Children’s Garden & Maze
If you’re taking children along who might have their fill of flora and fauna and want to do something more “fun”, head to the Children’s Garden and maze. There is a great playground in this area with restrooms nearby so you could spend some time there. There’s a lovely maze made from cypress trees, a folk play garden with plants and traditional fairy tale characters, and a water playground. Maybe try to visit the other top spots first because they might not want to leave… and maybe take some extra clothes if your kid loves water as much as mine does.
Have a snack or lunch
Plan to spend quite some time in this massive garden. If you’re visiting the greenhouse in the morning, you can stop into the cafe which is the greenhouse lobby and shop area or you can head out to find the food court if you want something more substantial.
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