SEOUL, May 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The city of Seoul officially opened the 2025 Seoul International Garden Expo on Thursday with a grand ceremony at Boramae Park, launching what organizers say is the largest edition in the event’s history.
Spanning 120,000 pyeong (approximately 400,000 square meters) and running for an unprecedented 152 days, the expo showcases 111 themed gardens and a wide array of immersive programs celebrating nature, design, and sustainable living.
The opening ceremony featured a musical gala performance, a garden-themed concert, and hands-on experiences such as an on-site “Plant Hospital,” terrarium exhibitions, and the Wood Culture Festival. Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended the event alongside garden designers, corporate leaders, and hundreds of citizens.
The program includes a series of themed talk concerts, notably the “Seoul, a Garden City” forum on May 24, featuring Mayor Oh, singer Brian Joo, and Lee Hae-in, CEO of HLD, with journalist Kim Sun-mi serving as moderator. Other discussions will mark the Expo’s 10th anniversary and spotlight participating designers and global experts.
This year’s show gardens include two invited gardens emphasizing naturalism and five contest-winning gardens exploring the theme “The Third Nature.” Thirty-three additional gardens created by companies, institutions, and municipalities promote themes such as life, ecology, sustainability, and coexistence.
The expo also introduces lifestyle integrations such as “Boramae Garden Wedding” for wedding ceremonies and photos, and “Garden Workation” spaces that combine work and rest within tranquil green environments.
Accessibility is a key focus of the event. The newly launched “Garden Companion Tour” offers barrier-free routes with sign language and English interpretation, and free electric wheelchair rentals for elderly or mobility-impaired visitors.
For families and children, themed spaces like “PAW-PAW Land” and “Companion Happiness Garden” cater to pet-friendly households and encourage creativity and emotional development through nature-based play.
The garden market area, featuring over 70 vendors, includes garden and leisure businesses, local food trucks, regional produce stalls, and booths selling goods made by people with disabilities. Visitors can also participate in a “Garden Stamp Tour,” earning discounts at nearby local shops. Dongjak District is issuing a limited-time “Dongjak Love Gift Certificate” at a 10% discount to support local commerce during the event.
The 2025 Seoul International Garden Expo runs through October 20. Detailed program schedules and visitor information are available on the event’s official website.
Image credit: Yonhap/photonews@koreabizwire.com
