Hwadam Forest in Gwangju: 16 themed gardens across 50,000 pyeong on Balibong in Gonjiam

Approved for development in 2006 and opened in 2013: the warm conversation implied by “Hwadam”

“Hwadam” (和談) means “to share a friendly conversation.” Operated as a public-interest arboretum by the LG Evergreen Foundation, it received development approval in April 2006 and was created on a 165,265㎡ site, approximately 50,000 pyeong, in 278-1 Docheokwit-ro, Docheok-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, officially opening in 2013.

The starting point of Hwadam Forest is that it is not simply a garden for visitors to view, but an on-site research facility focused on restoring endangered plants and animals and ecosystems. Trails were designed to preserve the existing terrain and vegetation of the valleys and mountain foothills, while approximately 4,000 native and introduced plant species from Korea are collected and displayed across 16 themed gardens.

Visiting from 09:00 to 18:00 and adult admission of 11,000 won: why to check the date-specific notices before departure

According to the current visitor information, operating hours are 09:00–18:00 from Tuesday through Sunday, with the last admission at 17:00. The forest is closed every Monday, but operating hours and closure days may change depending on the season and weather, so visitors should check the notices again for their visit date. The main telephone number is 031-8026-6666, and the official website is https://www.hwadamsup.com/.

Spring, summer, and autumn admission is 11,000 won for adults, 9,000 won for seniors and teenagers, and 7,000 won for children; infants under 24 months enter free. Adults are ages 19–64, seniors are 65 and older, teenagers are middle and high school students, and children are from 24 months through elementary school age. Gwangju residents receive a 50% discount on weekdays and a 30% discount on weekends and public holidays after identity verification, but various discounts are not available during the autumn foliage season in October and November.

• Address: 278-1 Docheokwit-ro, Docheok-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do
• Online ticket reservations are recommended, and on-site kiosk purchases are available only when tickets remain.
• Tickets cannot be canceled or refunded after admission, while online reservations receive a full refund if canceled before the visit date.

About 30 minutes from Gonjiam Station by Gwangju Bus 9, and 10 minutes from the resort parking lot to the forest

The standard public transportation route is to take Gwangju Bus 9 or a taxi from Gonjiam Station on the Gyeonggang Line. According to the official information, Gwangju Bus 9 takes approximately 30 minutes after departing Gonjiam Station. From eastern Seoul, visitors can take Bus 1113-1 from Gangbyeon Station for about 1 hour 30 minutes, Bus 500-1 from Jamsil Station for about 1 hour 30 minutes, or Bus 500-2 from Gangbyeon Station for about 1 hour 40 minutes, then continue from Gonjiam Bus Terminal by taxi or Gwangju Bus 9.

For drivers, enter “Hwadam Forest” or “Konjiam Resort” into the navigation system and use the designated area according to the parking attendants’ directions. A free lift is available from the resort parking lot to Hwadam Forest, but when the wait is long, it is better to use the “Following the Flowers, Following the Waterway” walking path. This path is approximately 400 m and takes 5–10 minutes for adults; walking from the Hwadam Forest entrance to the entrance of Konjiam Resort’s EW Village takes about 10 minutes.

The 1,213 m monorail takes 5, 10, or 20 minutes: choose it as a trade-off for walking distance

The Hwadam Forest monorail is a 1,213 m loop line connecting the entrance of the Moss Garden with the area between the summit and the Bonsai Garden. A complete loop takes approximately 20 minutes and was introduced for the convenience of elderly and mobility-impaired visitors. The first section from Platform 1 to Platform 2 takes about 5 minutes and costs 5,000 won for adults, seniors, and teenagers and 4,000 won for children; walking this section takes approximately 1.9 km and 40 minutes.

The ride from Platform 1 to Platform 3 takes approximately 10 minutes and costs 7,000 won for adults, seniors, and teenagers and 6,000 won for children. A loop ticket costs 9,000 won for adults, seniors, and teenagers and 7,000 won for children. Tickets departing from Platform 1 can be reserved online, but they cannot be exchanged or refunded if the visitor misses the scheduled boarding time. Tickets departing from Platforms 2 and 3 can be purchased only from the unmanned ticket machines at each platform, and reboarding after getting off midway is not permitted.

• Platform 1 → Platform 2: approximately 5 minutes by monorail; about 60 minutes on foot from the Platform 2 exit
• Platform 1 → Platform 3: approximately 10 minutes by monorail; about 40 minutes on foot from the Platform 3 exit
• If service is suspended because of lightning or an emergency inspection, the full ticket price is refunded.

From royal azaleas, hydrangeas, moss, and bonsai to seasonal highlights across 16 themed gardens

The official list of themed gardens includes the Nature Ecology Museum, Moss Garden, Royal Azalea and Azalea Trail, Tam mae Garden, Birch Forest, Fern Garden, Pine Garden, Bonsai Garden, Rock and Groundcover Garden, Traditional Wall Path, Hydrangea Garden, Color Garden, Rose of Sharon Hill, Firefly Habitat, Nostalgia Garden, and Hwadamchae. Visitors should allow approximately two hours to walk through and view all the themed gardens.

In spring, highlights include azaleas, royal azaleas, and evergreen azaleas along the Royal Azalea and Azalea Trail; native Korean plum blossoms in Tam mae Garden; and daffodils in the Birch Forest. In summer, the focus is on mountain hydrangeas, tree hydrangeas, and bigleaf hydrangeas in the Hydrangea Garden, as well as water lilies in the Water Lily Pond. Firefly viewing generally opens around June, depending on growth and weather conditions. In autumn, the Moss Garden, silver grass and mondo grass in the Birch Forest, and chrysanthemum bonsai in the Bonsai Garden become seasonal highlights.

All themed gardens are accessible by stroller and wheelchair, but rental and monorail conditions require separate attention

Hwadam Forest was designed so that all themed gardens can be visited by stroller and wheelchair, although some sections include slopes and narrow paths. Wheelchairs and strollers are not available for rent, so visitors must bring their own equipment. If arriving by car, turn on the hazard lights after entering through the main gate, drop off companions in the turnaround area beside the ticket office, and then park.

Vehicles displaying a disability parking permit may use the accessible parking spaces below the turnaround area. Accessible restrooms are located to the right of the ticket office, beside the Nature Ecology Museum, and at the Outdoor Learning Center. Standard restrooms are located at the ticket office, Nature Ecology Museum, entrance to Tam mae Garden, Monorail Platform 2, Pine Garden, and Outdoor Learning Center. Strollers must be folded before boarding the monorail; the children’s fare is charged if a stroller is boarded unfolded.

• There are no water purifiers or drinking fountains within the grounds; beverage vending machines are located at the entrance to Tam mae Garden, the observatory, Pine Garden, and the exit of the Bonsai Garden.
• Bringing lunchboxes and picnic mats onto the viewing paths is restricted; visitors must use the designated dining area before entering.
• Pets, drones, tripods, kick scooters, tents, and cooking equipment are not permitted.

Whether to add 30 minutes at Hwadamchae or finish with two hours in the forest alone

Hwadamchae is an exhibition space that can be visited only by people who have purchased admission to Hwadam Forest; it cannot be visited separately. The full exhibition takes approximately 30 minutes, so visitors who wish to include Hwadamchae with the forest’s approximately two-hour course should allow at least 2 hours 30 minutes. Food and beverages are not permitted inside the exhibition hall.

The Hwadam Forest app provides explanations of major themed gardens and Hwadamchae artworks. Bringing personal earphones can help reduce disturbance to other visitors. The forest can still be visited in the rain, but the monorail does not operate when lightning occurs. If heavy rain is expected, it is practical to visit the Nature Ecology Museum and Hwadam Forest Café first.

No discounts in October and November and strict reservation times: during peak season, admission time takes priority over the forest

During the autumn foliage season in October and November, discounts for LG U+ members, national merit recipients, people with disabilities, preschool children’s groups, and Gwangju residents are not available. In particular, monorail tickets are not refundable even when visitors miss the scheduled time for personal reasons such as traffic congestion or parking delays, so monorail users should allow extra time for parking and getting to the platform before their admission time.

Online reservations are made through the Yanolja app or website, and membership registration is required. For peak-season products, payment must be completed within 15 minutes after entering the product details page. Refreshing or reconnecting to the waiting screen may push the visitor farther back in the queue. A 30% cancellation fee is charged for Hwadam Forest and Hwadamchae cancellations made on the day of the visit or for no-shows, while monorail cancellations made within two hours of boarding incur a 100% fee.