273 Ttukseom-ro is Seoul Forest, not Seoul Botanic Park, which opened on June 18, 2005

Ttukseom-ro 273·37.541964, 127.038566 — Seoul Forest, not Seoul Botanic Park

The destination for Seoul Metropolitan City, Seongdong-gu, Ttukseom-ro 273, coordinates 37.541964·127.038566, is not Seoul Botanic Park in Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, but Seoul Forest. The official address of Seoul Forest is 273 Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Seongsu-dong 1-ga), and the postal code is 04770.

Seoul Forest is a city park run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government that opened on June 18, 2005, and it covers about 495,868.5㎡. Since it is a park you can enter without an admission fee, it is a good first stop for an itinerary in Seongsu-dong, but because it is a place to walk through a broad outdoor area rather than look at a single botanic garden building, you should plan your route differently.

From Ttukdo Water Purification Plant in 1908 to racetrack, golf course, and finally a forest in 2005

The Seoul Forest site was once part of the Ttukseom area, a royal hunting ground during the Joseon dynasty. Later, in 1908, Ttukdo Water Purification Plant, the first water supply source in Seoul, was established there, and in the 20th century it was used as a racetrack, golf course, and sports park. The transformation of riverside infrastructure that produced water and large-scale leisure facilities into an urban park is what Seoul Forest is today.

Seongsu-dong is close to the point where the Han River and Jungnangcheon meet, and it was long a semi-industrial district with factories and residential areas mixed together. The opening of Seoul Forest added a large green space to Seongsu-dong, and as the Suin-Bundang Line Seoul Forest Station opened and Seongsu-dong's commercial area changed, the park became the center of a pedestrian axis linking the Han River, Seongsu-dong, and Eungbongsan.

Seoul Forest is made up of the following five themed areas.

• Cultural and Arts Park
• Experiential Learning Park
• Ecological Forest
• Wetland Ecological Garden
• Han River Riverside Park

May 1, 2026 to October 27, 2026: the year Seoul Forest becomes the 'Grand Garden'

As of August 2, 2026, the 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo is underway in Seoul Forest and the Seongsu-dong area. The event runs from May 1, 2026, to October 27, 2026, and takes the approximately 150,000 pyeong scale 'Seoul Forest Grand Garden' linking Seoul Forest, the Han River, Seongsu-dong, and Ttukseom as its stage.

During the expo period, garden installations, cultural programs, food trucks, and neighborhood-linked events are added around the park. In 2026, instead of aiming only to see cherry blossom paths or tulips in spring, it is better to set aside 2 to 3 hours with the garden exhibitions around the military horse statue, lawn plaza, and community center as the main focus.

Even during construction in the first half of 2026, the deer enclosure, insect botanic garden, gallery garden, and Windy Hill were announced as available visitor facilities. For first-time visitors, it is clearest to follow these four spots in order and then exit toward Seongsu-dong rather than trying to walk a full loop around the entire park.

Deer Enclosure, Insect Botanic Garden, and Gallery Garden — the key route in 90 to 120 minutes

If you are seeing Seoul Forest in 90 to 120 minutes, it is efficient to start from the Seoul Forest Station entrance and pass Mirror Pond and the Cultural and Arts Park, then connect Gallery Garden, Insect Botanic Garden, and the Deer Enclosure. If you spend a long time stopping for photos or take a close look at the expo gardens, 2 hours and 30 minutes or more is natural.

The Deer Enclosure is the signature facility of the Ecological Forest, and the Insect Botanic Garden and Butterfly Garden are indoor viewing spots for days when an outdoor walk alone does not feel enough. A photo taken in June 2026 also shows the spotted deer at the Deer Enclosure, and since it is a facility viewed from outside the fence, it is safer not to feed the animals or put your hands inside the enclosure.

• Short walk: Mirror Pond, military horse statue, and Gallery Garden, 60 to 90 minutes
• Including the ecological area: Insect Botanic Garden and Deer Enclosure, 90 to 120 minutes
• Connecting to Seongsu-dong cafes and the Han River: at least half a day

2 minutes from Seoul Forest Station exits 3, 4, and 5, versus 11 minutes from Ttukseom Station exits 7 and 8

By subway, the Suin-Bundang Line Seoul Forest Station exits 3, 4, and 5 are the easiest. It takes about 2 minutes from the exits to reach Seoul Forest. On Line 2, it takes about 11 minutes to walk from Ttukseom Station exits 7 and 8 toward Seoul Forest, and there is also guidance that it is about 537 m from Line 2 Ttukseom Station exit 8.

By bus, choose the stop depending on which entrance you are targeting. Bus 121 stops at Seoul Forest Entrance 1, Seongdong 13 at Entrance 2, and buses 121, 2014, 2224, and 2413 at Entrance 3. When entering the park from the Seongsu-dong cafe street, use the entrance near Seoul Forest Station; when walking on to Ttukseom Hangang Park, aim for the Ecological Forest and pedestrian overpass direction to reduce the distance you have to backtrack.

If you are combining Seoul Forest and Seongsu-dong on the same day, it is convenient to see the park and the Deer Enclosure in the morning, then walk the Seongsu-dong alleys after lunch. Conversely, if you want to see the evening lights and take a stroll, you can start in Seongsu-dong, enter Seoul Forest, and finish around Mirror Pond and the military horse statue.

211-space Seoul Forest Parking Lot and 333-space Ttukseom Yusuji Public Parking Lot

The Seoul Forest Parking Lot is located at 643 Seongsu-dong 1-ga, Seongdong-gu, has 211 spaces, and operates 24 hours a day. According to the 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo information, the fee is 200 won per 5 minutes, or 2,400 won per hour. Admission to the park is free, but parking fees accumulate separately if you leave your vehicle there for a long time.

The alternative is the Ttukseom Yusuji Public Parking Lot at 23 Wangsimni-ro 11-gil. Of the 333 spaces, 11 are for disabled parking and 34 are family-preference spaces; it operates 24 hours a day and charges 150 won per 5 minutes, or 1,800 won per hour. Compared with the Seoul Forest Parking Lot, it is 600 won cheaper per hour and has 122 more spaces.

During the 2026 expo period, garden exhibitions and event visitors overlap, so on weekends it is easier to predict your timing by using Seoul Forest Station exits 3, 4, and 5 than by waiting to enter a parking lot. If you keep in mind that even after getting off right in front of the park, there is still walking distance inside to the Ecological Forest and Wetland Ecological Garden, it will help with planning your schedule.

A 24-hour free park, with indoor facilities that close on Mondays viewed separately

The Seoul Forest park itself is open year-round and 24 hours a day, and admission is free. However, operating facilities such as the Insect Botanic Garden and Butterfly Garden may follow a Monday closure schedule separate from the park's opening hours. The Visitor Center is Guideed to operate from 10:00 to 18:00 year-round, and strollers, wheelchairs, and walking aids can be rented free of charge for up to 2 hours by leaving an ID.

The main contact number is Seoul Forest Management Office, 02-460-2905, and park notices and programs can be checked on the official website, https://parks.seoul.go.kr/. In spring 2026, construction of the Forest Playground and Community Center continued until April 30, so it is also worth remembering that Seoul Forest is a park where seasonal events and facility maintenance affect the route.

Visitors using strollers or wheelchairs should first use the paved paths from the Seoul Forest Station exit toward the Cultural and Arts Park, and postpone grass and unpaved forest trails depending on the weather for easier movement. Since it is an outdoor park, water and insect repellent are practical in summer, and non-slip shoes are useful after rain.