Seasonal Picks October 24, 2026 · 6 min read

Sejong National, Irwol, Hantaek, Gangneung Solhyang, Daegu Arboretum, and Hallim Park: Six Arboretums and Botanical Gardens Across Korea

Comparing green walks, from huge glass greenhouses that stay green year-round to phytoncide-rich Geumgang pine forests and palm tree gardens

Cover photo: Suwon Arboretum Irwol (Suwongak) Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Comparison table at a glance

Key comparison: Sejong National, Irwol, Hantaek, Gangneung Solhyang, Daegu Arboretum, and Hallim Park: Six Arboretums and Botanical Gardens Across Korea
Arboretum / botanical garden	City	Key features	Admission	Closed
Sejong National Arboretum	Sejong (Sejonggak)	One of Korea's largest four-season exhibition greenhouses and a traditional Korean garden	Paid	Every Monday
Irwol Arboretum	Suwon (Suwongak)	Mediterranean exhibition greenhouse and eco-wetland garden beside a city reservoir	Paid	Every Monday
Hantaek Botanical Garden	Yongin (Yongingak)	36 themed gardens, Australian Greenhouse, South African Greenhouse	Paid	Open year-round
Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum / Daegu Arboretum / Hallim Park	Gangneung, Daegu, Jeju	Geumgang pine forest / urban ecological-restoration arboretum / palm and cave garden	Gangneung and Daegu free / Hallim paid	Gangneung and Daegu on Mondays / Hallim open year-round

1. Stylish Glass Greenhouses and Waterside Gardens in the City: Sejong National Arboretum and Suwon's Irwol Arboretum

The arboretum trend travelers love most these days is the pairing of well-tended outdoor gardens with glass greenhouses that show off grand architecture. At the Sejong National Arboretum, the overwhelming scale of the Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse blends with a traditional hanok garden modeled on Changdeokgung, offering plenty to see.

Irwol Arboretum in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, has an exhibition greenhouse of Mediterranean-climate plants, the Dasan Garden, the Winter Garden, and more, charmingly laid out against the waterside scenery of Irwol Reservoir. It's easy to reach by bus from Sungkyunkwan University Station or Hwaseo Station on Subway Line 1, making it a popular green walk in the Seoul metropolitan area.

**Suwon Arboretum Irwol**

Suwon Arboretum Irwol · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Yeohaenggak editor's tip Both arboretums let plenty of sunlight into their greenhouses, so you can take bright, vivid portraits even in midwinter or on cloudy days.

Sejonggak preview Visit Sejonggak

Suwongak preview Visit Suwongak

2. Premium Forest Trails with Free Admission: Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum and Daegu Arboretum

Don't miss the premium arboretums that local governments carefully tend and open to residents and travelers for free. At Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum, gentle deck paths, a daylily garden, and a hydrangea garden wind among stands of Geumgang pines soaring skyward on the slopes of Chilseongsan, making it perfect for clearing your head with the scent of pine after a trip to the Gangneung coast.

Daegu Arboretum in Dalseo-gu is a miraculous place where a former household waste landfill has been fully restored into an ecological forest. From the cactus greenhouse and bonsai garden to the metasequoia trail and the fall chrysanthemum exhibition, it changes its look every season, and it is easy to reach, close to Daegok Station on Daegu Metro Line 1.

Yeohaenggak editor's tip Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum and Daegu Arboretum are both free for admission and parking, and they close every Monday for plant care and maintenance.

Gangneunggak preview Visit Gangneunggak

Daegugak preview Visit Daegugak

3. In-Depth Plant Exploration and Exotic Palm-Lined Paths: Yongin's Hantaek Botanical Garden and Jeju's Hallim Park

To experience the very best of year-round wildflowers and rare plants, head to Hantaek Botanical Garden in Cheoin-gu, Yongin. With 36 themed gardens that keep the natural terrain of the Bibongsan slopes intact, an Australian Greenhouse where the Little Prince's baobab trees grow, and a South African Greenhouse, you'll feel as if you're walking through a living plant encyclopedia in every season.

If you want an exotic southern atmosphere, Hallim Park next to Jeju's Hyeopjae Beach awaits. A signature Jeju attraction, it lets you see a road lined with towering Washington palms and Canary Island date palms, gardens of plum blossoms, daffodils, and lotus, and even natural lava caves all in one visit.

Yeohaenggak editor's tip Hantaek Botanical Garden and Hallim Park are open year-round, so you can visit them anytime, even on a botanical garden trip that sets off on a Monday.

Yongingak preview Visit Yongingak

Jejugak preview Visit Jejugak

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q. Of the six, which is easiest to tour entirely with a stroller or wheelchair?

The Sejong National Arboretum, Suwon's Irwol Arboretum, Daegu Arboretum, and Jeju's Hallim Park, designed with flat decks and paved walkways, offer the best barrier-free walking environments.

Q. Can I bring a packed lunch or a picnic mat into the arboretums?

To protect plant ecosystems, most arboretums restrict laying out mats on the lawns and cooking, and the rule is to use designated picnic areas (such as some rest areas at the Sejong National Arboretum) or on-site cafes and restaurants.

Q. Besides spring and fall, which arboretums have plenty to see in the middle of winter?

We recommend the Sejong National Arboretum, Suwon's Irwol Arboretum, and Yongin's Hantaek Botanical Garden (Australian and Central and South American greenhouses), which have large indoor glass greenhouses, plus Jeju's Hallim Park, where palms stay green all year and camellias bloom.

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