Namhae Garden Art Village Created by 20 Horticultural Artists: A 50,000-Pyeong Garden Community Next to German Village

From the 2006 agreement to the opening on May 15, 2009: a village created by 20 horticulturists

Namhae Horticultural Art Village is a garden village where 20 horticultural experts, gathered around the Korean Palm Garden Research Association, created their own homes and gardens as individual works of art. With infrastructure support from Namhae County and KRW 10 billion in private investment, the village was established over three years following a business agreement signed in December 2006 and opened on May 15, 2009.

The approximately 50,000-pyeong site contains 20 houses and private gardens. Individual house lots range from 100 to 400 pyeong, while house sizes vary from 15 to 52 pyeong. The key feature is that this is not simply a space displaying landscaping, but a village where horticulturists live and tend their gardens. It is also introduced as an example of local contribution, with 5% of annual admission revenue donated to Namhae County.

How to read a walk through 20 garden homes beginning at the entrance on Yesul-gil 39

The location listed in the official Namhae Culture and Tourism guide is 39 Yesul-gil, Samdong-myeon, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. The telephone number is 055-867-4702, and the official website is https://www.housengarden.net. Since the address 62 Yesul-gil is sometimes provided as the address of a café inside the village, it is safer to set the navigation destination to “Namhae Horticultural Art Village” or 39 Yesul-gil to avoid confusing it with the visitor entrance.

The gardens are organized around themes such as fragrance, palm trees, sculptural stone-and-plant arrangements, topiary, vegetables, windmills, spas, and flower-covered roofs. Since this is a village that includes private residential spaces, visitors should not cross fences or designated paths and should tour along the open walking trails, ponds, viewing decks, octagonal pavilions, fountains, and greenhouses.

Visiting from 09:00 to 18:00, closed every Monday, and arriving before ticket sales end

Tourism information lists visiting hours as 09:00–18:00, with admission closing at 17:00, one hour before closing. The regular closing day is Monday, although exceptions may apply on public holidays and during peak season. It is advisable to call the main number, 055-867-4702, before departure to confirm whether the site is operating that day.

The Namhae County cultural tourism guide lists guided tours at Namhae Horticultural Art Village as operating Wednesday through Monday from 10:00 to 17:00, with Tuesday as the day off. This may differ from the Monday closing information for the overall visitor facility, so visitors planning to take a guided tour should call to confirm the guide’s operating days separately from general admission availability.

• General visiting hours: 09:00–18:00
• Admission closes: 17:00
• Regular closing day: Every Monday; exceptions may apply on public holidays and during peak season
• Inquiries: 055-867-4702

Admission based on KRW 5,000 for adults and separate reservations for experiences with 20 or more participants

Individual admission fees recently quoted by ticket sellers and tourism guides are KRW 5,000 for adults, KRW 3,000 for teenagers and military personnel, KRW 2,000 for children, and KRW 4,000 for visitors aged 65 or older. However, Namhae County tourism map materials list separate group rates for groups of 20 or more along with the adult, teenager, and child rates, so it is best to confirm the applicable standard and number of visitors before payment.

Activities including handmade chocolate making, wood art, transfer-cup making, and leathercraft have been advertised, and groups of 20 or more must make a reservation by phone. The experience room is said to require visitors to arrive at least one hour and 30 minutes before the admission cutoff, so on days when admission closes at 17:00, the available activity time ends earlier.

• Adults: KRW 5,000
• Teenagers and military personnel: KRW 3,000
• Children: KRW 2,000
• Age 65 and older: KRW 4,000
• Group experiences: Telephone reservation required for 20 or more participants

A 12-minute walk from Mulgeon Village Bus Stop, free parking at the entrance, and options for traveling without a car

Visitors arriving by car can use the parking lot at the entrance to Namhae Horticultural Art Village, which tourism information describes as free. Since tourist sites in Namhae are relatively far apart, traveling by car is more convenient if you plan to combine this visit with German Village and the Mulgeon-ri Bangjo Eoburim Forest.

Bus passengers can walk approximately 12 minutes after getting off at Mulgeon Village Bus Stop, or about 17 minutes from Naedongcheon or Hwaam bus stops. Bus routes and operating times may vary by season and day of the week, so check Namhae County bus schedules immediately before departure. It is also advisable to decide on the return bus time first and then allocate time for sightseeing.

• Parking: Entrance parking lot available; listed as free
• Bus stop: Approximately 12 minutes on foot from Mulgeon Village Bus Stop
• Alternative stops: Approximately 17 minutes on foot from Naedongcheon or Hwaam bus stops
• German Village: Approximately 3 minutes by car, about 0.5 km

A half-day in Samdong-myeon connecting German Village, 0.5 km away, with Mulgeon-ri Bangjo Eoburim Forest

The Korea Tourism Organization’s Namhae travel itinerary places German Village about 3 minutes by car and approximately 0.5 km from Namhae Horticultural Art Village. Accordingly, an efficient order is to walk through the gardens and use the cafés and facilities at Namhae Horticultural Art Village in the morning, then explore German Village’s history of settlement by dispatched miners and nurses in Germany, along with its architectural scenery.

Adding Mulgeon-ri Bangjo Eoburim Forest allows visitors to see both the coastal forest created to block the sea and the coastal scenery of Samdong-myeon. The Korea Tourism Organization proposes Namhae Horticultural Art Village, German Village, and Mulgeon-ri Bangjo Eoburim Forest as part of the same area on a two-night, three-day Namhae itinerary. If you plan to explore the gardens carefully and take photographs, it is better to allow at least 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours for Namhae Horticultural Art Village.

Preparing for wheelchair and stroller visits with slopes and outdoor routes in mind

The Korea Tourism Organization’s accessible tourism information indicates accessible restrooms, designated accessible parking spaces, no step at the main entrance, wheelchair rentals, stroller rentals, an accessible elevator, and a nursing room. However, Namhae Horticultural Art Village is a large outdoor garden village, and the terrain and surfaces differ from garden to garden, so it cannot be assumed that every section will have the same level of accessibility.

Wheelchair and stroller users should call 055-867-4702 before visiting to ask about rental availability, flat routes accessible on the day, and the location of accessible parking. Since the official materials do not confirm whether foreign-language assistance is always available, visitors who have difficulty receiving information in Korean should prepare a translation app and reconfirm the garden’s visitor rules on site.

• Accessible restrooms and designated parking spaces indicated
• No step at the main entrance indicated
• Wheelchair and stroller rentals indicated
• Checking outdoor slopes and surfaces for the day’s route is recommended