How to Explore Ulsan’s Taehwagang River, Transformed from a River of Death into an 830,000㎡ Riverside Garden
Taehwagang National Garden is an 835,452㎡ riverside ecological garden spanning Jung-gu and Nam-gu. It became South Korea’s second national garden on July 12, 2019. Admission is free, and the garden is open 24 hours, but check the separate access conditions for the information center, Milky Way Road, and parking lots.
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Why the Riverside of the Industrial City of Ulsan Became Korea’s Second National Garden on July 12, 2019
Taehwagang National Garden is a waterside ecological garden created on a total of 835,452㎡ of riverside land spanning Jung-gu and Nam-gu in Ulsan. During the rapid industrialization of the 1970s and 1980s, the Taehwagang River suffered deteriorating water quality due to domestic sewage and factory wastewater. However, after undergoing river purification and ecological restoration, it was designated Korea’s second national garden on July 12, 2019.
The garden’s defining feature is that the river is incorporated into the garden’s structure rather than being treated as a backdrop outside it. Ulsan Tourism introduces Taehwagang National Garden as Korea’s first waterside ecological garden, explaining that its conversion of the constraints of a river into garden scenery, along with the achievements of citizen-led ecological river restoration, provided the basis for its designation as a national garden.
How to Plan Your Route Within 3 Minutes, Starting at the Information Center at 154, Taehwagang-gukgajeongwon-gil
For address searches, the Taehwagang National Garden Information Center at 154 Taehwagang-gukgajeongwon-gil, Jung-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City, is the most practical destination. The official FAQ states that the entire garden is an open-access facility that can be entered from any riverside terrace, but first-time visitors are better off deciding on their walking direction at the information center while also checking the locations of restrooms, exhibitions, and guided-tour registration.
Get off at the “Taehwagang National Garden” or “Donggang Hospital” bus stops. From the Ulsan Intercity and Express Bus Terminal, the officially listed routes are numbers 417, 523, 713, 723, 763, 1115, 1733, and 9001; from Ulsan Station, KTX, they are 523, 1733, 5001, 5003, and 5004; and from Taehwagang Station, they are 523, 713, 763, 1115, 1733, and 9001. From the “Taehwagang National Garden” stop, the guided-tour registration center is about a three-minute walk away.
The Difference Between the 24-Hour Garden, the 09:00–18:00 Information Center, and Galaxy Road, Open from Sunset to 23:00
Taehwagang National Garden itself is free to enter, with no admission restrictions, so visitors may come and go freely 24 hours a day. Early-morning riverside walks and evening visits are therefore possible, but the information center’s promotional, exhibition, and garden-tour services are available from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The main inquiry number is 052-229-3147, while the garden operations office can be reached at 052-229-7561–7566.
If you have a specific nighttime destination, remember Galaxy Road’s separate operating hours. Galaxy Road operates daily only from sunset until 23:00. Conversely, there are no days when the entire garden is closed, so it is important not to confuse “open year-round with ongoing access” and “operating hours for individual facilities.” The official website is https://www.ulsan.go.kr/s/garden/main.ulsan.
A 90–150-Minute Riverside Route Connecting Sipridaesup, Galaxy Road, and Taehwaru
For first-time visitors, the easiest route to understand is to start at the information center, walk through the garden areas along the Taehwagang River, head toward Sipridaesup, and add Galaxy Road if the timing is right. Within the national garden are viewing points such as the Taehwagang Observatory and Sipridaebatgyo Bridge, while the long bamboo forest and garden scenery stretching along the Taehwagang River form the site’s central landscape.
If you include a garden tour, allow more time for walking. Tours last an average of 50 minutes, accommodate 20–30 people per session, and are free of charge. They run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the final departure at 15:30. Same-day applications are not accepted; reservations must be confirmed by calling the information center at 052-229-3147 at least three days before the visit. Accordingly, allow around 90 minutes for a simple walk and at least two hours for a visit that includes a guided tour.
From 215 Spaces in Auxiliary Lot 1 to 248 Spaces on the Riverside Terrace, Choose Parking Based on Your Destination
If you are driving, choose a parking lot according to the area you plan to visit rather than simply looking for “one free parking lot.” The officially listed Auxiliary Parking Lot 1 is in front of 129-1 Taehwagang-gukgajeongwon-gil, Jung-gu, and has 215 spaces in total—37 large-vehicle spaces and 178 standard spaces—and charges a fee. Auxiliary Parking Lot 2 at 1468 Sinjeong-dong, Nam-gu, has 447 spaces—43 for large vehicles and 404 standard spaces. Auxiliary Parking Lot 3, beneath Gukgajeongwon Bridge at 1 Mugeo-dong, Nam-gu, has 123 spaces—27 for large vehicles and 96 standard spaces. All three lots charge a fee.
Near the information center, other options include Taehwagang National Garden 5 Public Parking Lot with 208 spaces, the on-street public parking lot from Taehwaru to Myeongjeongcheon with 274 spaces, and the on-street public parking lot from Myeongjeongcheon to Gusan Samhogyo with 212 spaces. To see the scenery on the Nam-gu side, consider the Taehwagang Riverside Terrace Public Parking Lot at 1512-2 Sinjeong-dong, with 248 spaces—6 for large vehicles and 242 standard spaces. Free options include the Taehwagang Observatory parking lot at 223 Namsan-ro with 28 spaces, Samho Coastal Public Parking Lot at 105-1 Mugeo-dong with 175 spaces, and Cavepia at 306 Namsan-ro with 55 spaces.
Flat Paths and Multilingual Signage: Accessibility to Know Before Visiting with a Wheelchair or Stroller
The official FAQ describes Taehwagang National Garden as a fully open garden that can be freely entered and exited from any point along the river. A December 2025 visit report by the policy press corps introduced flat paths with almost no small steps, which may be useful when planning wheelchair and stroller routes around the information center and along the main walking paths.
However, the paving conditions and slopes may vary across the outdoor garden’s 835,452㎡ area. If you use a mobility aid, it is safer to call the information center at 052-229-3147 before departure to ask about construction, events, flooding restrictions, and recommended entrance locations on the day of your visit. The official brand guidelines provide English, Chinese, and Japanese logotypes to support foreign-language labeling, but it is advisable to confirm separately whether tours are offered in foreign languages on site.
Spring Flower Festivals and Autumn Chrysanthemums: Why You Should Decide on Your Walking Goals First on Event Days
The way Taehwagang National Garden is enjoyed varies with the season’s events. Photographs of the Taehwagang Spring Flower Festival reported by Yonhap News in May 2019 show that large-scale flower plantings are a major feature of the riverside garden, while the official Ulsan City website separately posted photographs of chrysanthemums at the national garden in autumn 2024. If flowers are your main reason for visiting, check that year’s event schedule and planting areas before setting out.
If your goal is a riverside and bamboo-forest walk, it is simpler to prioritize Sipridaesup and the riverside walking paths rather than centering your route on the event venue. The nighttime illumination at Galaxy Road is open only from sunset to 23:00, so it is possible to take a garden tour during the day and return to see the illuminated section in the evening, but you should allow half a day, including time for a meal and travel between areas.
Travelers Taehwagang National Garden Suits—and Those It Does Not
Free admission, 24-hour access, convenient access from public transportation stops, and free guided tours of up to 50 minutes are favorable conditions for travelers who manage their schedules and budgets carefully. Official bus routes are provided from Ulsan Station, KTX; Taehwagang Station; and the intercity and express bus terminal, so the garden is accessible even without a rental car.
However, the garden is different from tourist attractions designed for viewing consecutive indoor exhibitions or consuming only the main highlights in a short time. Because the garden covers 835,452㎡, trying to see many areas in one visit involves considerable walking, and Galaxy Road at night is available only after sunset. On days with heavy rain or a possibility of riverside restrictions, it is best to call 052-229-3147 first to ask about operating conditions.
Before You Go
- Address
- 154 Taehwagang-gukgajeongwon-gil, Jung-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City
- Hours
- The entire garden is freely accessible 24 hours a day. Information center: 09:00–18:00. Galaxy Road: daily from sunset to 23:00.
- Closed
- The entire garden is open year-round.
- Admission
- Free
- Phone
- Taehwagang National Garden Information Center: 052-229-3147; Garden Operations Office: 052-229-7561–7566
- Official site
- https://www.ulsan.go.kr/s/garden/main.ulsan
- Transport
- Get off at the “Taehwagang National Garden/Donggang Hospital” bus stop. From Ulsan Station: routes 523, 1733, 5001, 5003, and 5004; from Taehwagang Station: routes 523, 713, 763, 1115, 1733, and 9001. From the “Taehwagang National Garden” stop, the information center is about a three-minute walk away.
- Parking
- Multiple paid parking lots. Auxiliary Lot 1: 215 spaces; Auxiliary Lot 2: 447 spaces; Auxiliary Lot 3: 123 spaces. The Taehwagang Observatory lot with 28 spaces, Samho Coastal lot with 175 spaces, and Cavepia with 55 spaces are free.
- Time needed
- Allow 90–150 minutes for a walk. A garden tour lasts an average of 50 minutes.
- Accessibility
- Some main walking paths have been described as flat, but conditions may vary throughout the outdoor garden, so contacting the information center in advance is recommended. English, Chinese, and Japanese logotypes are provided.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
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