Seoul Botanic Park Amazes, Heals, and Educates
Written and photographed by Sesetu Holomisa.
When it comes to beautiful sites to explore, Korea truly never disappoints. Whether you are looking for a place to feast on delicious Korean cuisine, learn about the history of Korea, or explore nature, the options are endless. The Seoul Botanic Park is a site that I would recommend to anyone who is planning a trip to Korea, or more specifically, a trip to Seoul.
The Seoul Botanic Park is the first park that has an urban aesthetic in Korea, and it is located in Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The park is separated into four areas: the open forest, the lake garden, the wetland garden, and the botanical garden.
I visited the park on a cold and rainy day, so I chose to spend all my time in the botanical garden which is indoors. Attempting to describe how beautiful the park is is proving to be incredibly difficult because it is truly breath-taking. The botanical garden is inside a greenhouse structure that houses a couple of floors that are now home to plants from many cities around the world. The garden is vibrant with all the different colors of the flowers, trees, and other plants. It smells divine and allows visitors to feel at one with nature and take a break from everything.
Being at the botanical garden felt like a mini retreat, thanks to the fresh air, the stunning urban ecology, and the peaceful atmosphere of the facility. It would be a wonderful site for an outing with loved ones or for a school fieldtrip, as it is a place providing environmental education. One can learn more about sustainability and nature at the Seoul Botanic Park, which could not be more imperative as the climate crisis has made it necessary for individuals to become more aware of nature and its value to the Earth and our survival.
Other facilities at the park include a Korean-style cafeteria and a Western fusion restaurant. The Seoul Botanic Park is a serene site that heals and educates on biodiversity in a very aesthetically pleasing way. I fear that I have failed to adequately describe how amazing this park really is, so take a look at the pictures and plan a trip to visit the Seoul Botanic Park sometime! I promise that it is worth it. You can get there via bus, subway (line 9), or car. It is also only a couple of minutes away from Gimpo International Airport.
THE AUTHOR
Sesetu Holomisa is currently a 22-year-old English teacher in Korea. She is a politics and law graduate and is trying to explore as much of the world as she can before she dedicates her life to corporate interests and capitalism! She enjoys reading, sleeping, eating, and meeting new people.