The Four Seasons of the Garden of Morning Calm, Read in 22 Gardens at the Foot of Mount Chuknyeongsan

‘Korean Garden’ Created by Professor Han Sang-kyung Beneath Chukryeongsan Mountain in 1996

Morning Calm Arboretum was designed by Han Sang-kyung, who was a professor in the Department of Horticulture at Sahmyook University, and opened in May 1996. Its address is 432 Sumogwon-ro, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, and its gardens are arranged across valley terrain with Chukryeongsan Mountain as a backdrop.

The name is introduced as being inspired by the poet Rabindranath Tagore’s description of Korea as the “Land of the Morning Calm.” The arboretum was founded with the aim of showcasing Korean sentiment and the beauty of Korean gardens, and is currently described as having 22 themed gardens and three greenhouse-style exhibition spaces.

How the Sunken Garden Draws the Korean Peninsula in Flowers

The Sunken Garden is considered the arboretum’s most specific viewing point in visitor information. It is a garden that represents the terrain of the Korean Peninsula using fields of color created by flowers and plantings, with the key experience being to view the overall composition from higher ground.

Official tourism information states that the arboretum has more than 5,000 plant species, including more than 300 native plants from Mount Baekdu. If you only make a quick visit to the Sunken Garden, it is easy to miss the intention behind the spatial design, so it is better to connect it with other gardens, such as the Korean Theme Garden, Bonsai Garden, and Stairway to Heaven.

10:00–21:00 from December to March, 08:30–19:00 in Other Seasons

According to the English tourism information provided by the Korea Tourism Organization, regular-season hours are 08:30–19:00, while the winter season, from December through March, runs from 10:00–21:00. Although it is listed as open year-round, on-site operations may change depending on seasonal events and weather conditions, so it is safest to check announcements on the official website just before setting out.

Admission is listed as 11,000 won for adults, 8,500 won for teenagers, and 7,500 won for children. A combined ticket with the zoo costs 19,500 won for adults, 16,000 won for teenagers, and 15,000 won for children. The inquiry telephone number is 1544-6703, and the official website is https://www.morningcalm.co.kr.

• Regular hours: 08:30–19:00
• Winter hours: December–March, 10:00–21:00
• Closing days: Listed as open year-round
• Adult admission: 11,000 won

Choosing a Bus from Cheongpyeong Station Exit 2 or Cheongpyeong Terminal

When traveling by public transportation, it is practical to divide up your travel plan after arriving at Cheongpyeong Station on the Gyeongchun Line or the ITX-Cheongchun. The Gapyeong Tourist Attractions Shuttle Bus can be boarded near Exit 2 in front of Cheongpyeong Station, and the trip to Morning Calm Arboretum is described as taking about 20 minutes.

If you use a regular city bus, walk for about 14 minutes from Cheongpyeong Station to Cheongpyeong Terminal, then take bus 30-6 or 30-7. These routes are known to take about 20–30 minutes from Cheongpyeong Terminal to the arboretum, with intervals of approximately 30–50 minutes, so you should check the last bus and waiting times in advance for the return trip as well.

• Cheongpyeong Station: The tourist shuttle bus boarding point is toward Exit 2
• Cheongpyeong Terminal: Take bus 30-6 or 30-7
• Cheongpyeong Station to Cheongpyeong Terminal: About 14 minutes on foot
• Cheongpyeong Terminal to the arboretum: About 20–30 minutes by bus

Budget 8,000 Won for a Day Pass on the Gapyeong Tourist Attractions Shuttle Bus

The Gapyeong Tourist Attractions Shuttle Bus departing from Cheongpyeong Station is introduced as costing 8,000 won for adults per day, 6,000 won for teenagers, children, people with disabilities, military personnel, and seniors, while children aged three and under ride free. If you plan to visit several attractions on the same day, its advantage is that this circular pass can be used without a limit on the number of rides.

However, according to the published information, departures from Cheongpyeong Station run from 08:10 to 18:15, generally at one-hour intervals. If you visit the arboretum during winter evening hours, the shuttle’s last operating time and the arboretum’s closing time may not coincide. Rather than planning a nighttime visit relying solely on public transportation, it is more realistic to arrange a separate way to get home.

On-Site Parking Is Available for Drivers; Allow at Least Two Hours for the Gardens

Parking is reported to be available, making it possible to visit by car. However, because of the slopes at the foot of Chukryeongsan Mountain and the gardens’ widely dispersed paths, a schedule that tries to see every area in a short time is not suitable. Allow about two hours for the main gardens, or around three hours if you also want to see the seasonal flowers and greenhouse exhibitions.

Visitors using strollers or wheelchairs should first ask at the entrance about routes and sloped sections. Official tourism information provides details about restrooms and parking, but it is not clear whether all areas are accessible or how extensive on-site foreign-language assistance is. You can call 1544-6703 to check what accessibility support is available on the day of your visit.

Separate the Daytime Plantings from the Winter Night Rather Than Visiting Only for the Light Festival

In spring, summer, and autumn, Morning Calm Arboretum is a place to appreciate the plants and garden design itself, while from December through March it adds winter nighttime operation extending until 21:00. Since the impressions of day and night may differ, an efficient winter itinerary is to arrive before sunset, first understand the garden’s terrain, and then view the nighttime lighting.

If flowers are your main purpose, however, seasonal blooming can vary greatly depending on the weather. Rather than declaring a specific flower’s peak date, it is better to choose your visit date by consulting both the official website’s blooming and event announcements and the weather forecast for the day. Visitor reviews repeatedly mention the extensive gardens and amount of walking, so nonslip shoes and protection from the cold are especially important for winter nighttime visits.