Three Iris Photos: Sejong’s 65-ha Botanical Map Starting at the Glass Greenhouse

Why a 65-ha arboretum was created in the heart of the administrative city in July 2020

National Sejong Arboretum was developed from 2012 under the national arboretum expansion plan, completed on May 29, 2020, and established on July 1 of the same year. Located at 136 Sumogwon-ro, Sejong Special Self-Governing City, it is an urban national arboretum covering 649,997㎡. Unlike conventional arboretums in the mountains, it was planned to carry out plant conservation, exhibitions, and education within the living area of the Administrative City.

It currently contains 4,367 species and 2,488,070 individual plants, with 26 exhibition gardens. These are divided into nine garden exhibition and viewing areas, including the Korean Traditional Garden, Bonsai Garden, Wildflower Garden, Maple Garden, and Cheongnyujiwon; 11 plant education and experience areas, including the Rare and Specialty Plant Garden and Healing Garden; and six community participation and activity areas, including the Children's Garden and Living Garden.

From 09:00 admission to the 17:00 closing time: adjust your visit to the season first

From March to October, the summer season, the arboretum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00, with admission closing at 17:00. From November to February, the winter season, it is open from 09:00 to 17:00, with admission closing at 16:00—one hour earlier in each case. It is closed on Mondays, January 1, the day of Seollal and Chuseok, and during facility maintenance periods. If Monday is a public holiday, it closes the following day.

Individual admission is 5,000 won for adults aged 19 and over, 4,000 won for teenagers aged 13–18, and 3,000 won for children aged 7–12. Groups of 20 or more pay 4,000 won, 3,000 won, and 2,000 won, respectively. Visitors eligible for free or discounted admission must bring supporting documents and obtain tickets at the staffed ticket counter. Online reservations allow direct entry with a mobile ticket, but admission tickets are valid only on the day they are issued.

• Main phone: 044-251-0001
• Official website: https://www.sjna.or.kr/
• Address: 136 Sumogwon-ro, Sejong Special Self-Governing City

Why to put the 9,815㎡ Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse, resembling iris petals, first

Following the Four Seasons Flower Path from the Visitor Center leads to the Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse. The glass greenhouse, with a maximum height of 32 m and a total area of 9,815㎡, was designed around the motif of the three petals of the iris, a plant representing Korea's temperate central region. It consists of the Mediterranean Greenhouse, Tropical Greenhouse, and Special Exhibition Greenhouse.

The Mediterranean Greenhouse displays plants from Mediterranean climates, including baobab trees, bottle trees, Canary Island date palms, and Wollemi pines. In winter or on rainy days, when you want to focus on indoor exhibits rather than seasonal changes in outdoor plants, it is better to visit the greenhouse first and schedule the outdoor gardens for the remaining time. Even for a quick greenhouse-only visit, allow at least 40 minutes to account for the changes in elevation inside and time to read the exhibit information.

How to connect the Korean Traditional Garden and Bonsai Garden along the official 1-km, one-hour route

First-time visitors can reduce backtracking by following the official recommended Course 1. Rated Level 1 out of four difficulty levels, this route is approximately 1 km and takes about one hour. It starts at the Visitor Center and continues in order through the Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse, Korean Traditional Garden, Bonsai Garden, Children's Garden, and Living Garden.

If you have more than two hours, it is suitable to use the 1-km course as a base and add whichever of Cheongnyujiwon, Wildflower Garden, or Maple Garden has a seasonal exhibition underway. Trying to see all 65 ha in a short time can make both the greenhouse and outdoor gardens feel indistinct, so a one-hour visit is best divided among six key points, while a two- to three-hour visit can combine the greenhouse with the traditional garden and wetland-style areas.

Transfer from Osong Station on B1 or B2 to Route 221; the stop to use is National Sejong Arboretum

Travelers arriving by train can take BRT B2 or B1 from Osong Station, transfer to Route 221 at the Government Complex Sejong North stop, and get off at the National Sejong Arboretum stop. From Daejeon Station, the official guidance recommends taking BRT B1, transferring to Route 221 at the Korea Development Institute (KDI) stop, and getting off at the same destination stop.

Route 221 passes Sejong Express Bus Terminal, Sejong City Hall, the Office of Education and City Council, the Korea Development Institute, the North National Research Complex, Sejong Lake Park, and the north side of the Government Complex. In particular, get off at the National Sejong Arboretum stop, not the National Sejong Arboretum (Research Building) stop, as it is closer to the Visitor Center. For safety, check bus arrival times for the day through the Sejong Special Self-Governing City Transportation Information System.

• From Osong Station: BRT B1 or B2 → Government Complex Sejong North → transfer to Route 221
• From Daejeon Station: BRT B1 → KDI → transfer to Route 221
• Get off at: National Sejong Arboretum stop

Pets, food, and scooters are restricted; the garden shop is open from 09:30 to 17:40

Pets other than guide dogs may not enter the arboretum. Fruit and soup-based foods, tripods and collecting tools, sports equipment such as balls and badminton gear, bicycles and kick scooters, drones, cooking equipment, and alcoholic beverages are also restricted. Food may be consumed only in designated areas, and smoking and drinking are prohibited throughout the site; cooking and camping are not allowed.

Souvenirs and plant-related products can be purchased at the gift shop and garden center on the first floor of the Visitor Center, as well as at the Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse pop-up store. The garden shop is open from 09:30 to 17:40, so on winter days when the arboretum closes at 17:00, it is better to move your afternoon schedule earlier rather than visit just before finishing your sightseeing. Assistance dogs for visitors with disabilities may accompany their handlers as an exception under applicable law.

A half-day linked with Sejong Lake Park by Route 221: reading the cityscape beyond the arboretum

National Sejong Arboretum is easy to combine with Sejong Lake Park in one itinerary. Because Route 221 passes both the National Sejong Arboretum and Sejong Central Park stops and Sejong Lake Park, public transportation users can use the same route. A recommended Korea Tourism Organization itinerary also suggests Sejong Lake Park, National Sejong Arboretum, BOK Art Center, and Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge as an approximately 6.34-km urban travel route.

Because this arboretum was newly created in 2020, it is better suited to travelers who want to view the planned city's public green spaces together with large greenhouse and garden design than to those expecting the age of an old forest. Since the exhibition gardens are spread widely across the 65 ha site, visitors with mobility difficulties should contact the main phone number, 044-251-0001, before entering to ask about same-day mobility assistance and amenities.