Seoul Forest (서울숲)

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숲 (soop) means forest

Fun Facts

Consists of 4 themed parks including the Culture & Art Park, Educational Experience Park, Eco-forest Park, and Riverside Park along the Hangang River.
Over 5,000 citizens and 70 companies raised money and planted trees within the park from 2003-2005. Since then, over 50,000 volunteers have participated in planting flowers, caring for trees, and cleaning the park.
3^rd largest public park in Seoul.

Beginning as a royal hunting ground, Seoul Forest went through many changes over the years serving as a military inspection facility, the first water treatment facility in Seoul, a golf course, a horse racing track, and a sports park, before finally becoming the present-day eco-friendly park located in Seongsu-dong, one of Seoul’s hottest up-and-coming neighborhoods. The Cultural and Arts section provides a platform for cultural enrichment and artistic expression through the various events and performances it hosts. Families can engage in educational experiences within the Experiential Learning section which features interactive exhibits and informative displays about ecology and conservation. Designated picnic areas can be found throughout the park, offering visitors space to enjoy recreational activities such as frisbee, kite flying, or just a chance to relax within the scenic surroundings. In the spring the cherry blossoms come to life brightening up the park, and in the fall the Gingko trees turn the park into a gold that would make King Midas jealous.

Travel Tips

Bring some snacks and a blanket so you can enjoy a picnic in the park.
Stop by Seongsu-dong for some shopping or a yummy snack in one of the trendy cafés.
Bike rentals are available for a faster way to explore the 4 themed sections of the park.

Address

English: 273 Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Hangeul: 서울특별시 성동구 뚝섬로 273

We didn’t originally have plans to visit Seoul Forest, but we met a few other tourists along the way who said it was a place we shouldn’t miss. They were definitely right! We stopped here after spending some time in Itaewon and Seongsu-dong and had the chance to take some great photos in the Cultural and Arts themed section. Seoul forest is a quiet escape from the city, I only wish we had more time to wander through the other sections of the park.

As Alyssa mentions, we did not have a visit to Seoul Forest on our itinerary, however, another mother/daughter traveling duo from Singapore highly recommended adding a stop there. One day after touring around the Seongsu area, we were passing by there and stopped to take a short break. It was early summer the weather was warm and the flowers were blooming. The forest is much like a large park (like NY’s Central Park or Boston Commons/Gardens). There are many points of interest including a walk near the Han River. We especially enjoyed the large sculpture garden with the view of the modern buildings in the background. We will return on our next visit and spend a little more time.