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Seoul is like a paint palette. Picking out the various charms of Seoul is akin to picking out colors from the multitude of shades produced on a palette. 

As a technologically advanced city running on 5G, a modern city surrounded by skyscrapers, and a city filled with the vitality of fashionable people strutting through its busy streets, Seoul seems like a place that’s constantly on the go. However, looking closer, visitors can discover spots for relaxation nestled in between the busy cityscape of skyscrapers.

Relaxing in Seoul

Green is the color humans are most comfortable with. That’s probably one of the main reasons why most people seek out nature when they want to relax. They make short trips to the park outside their houses or to the zoos nearby. Surrounded by nature, they let the greenery wash away the built up stress and fatigue of living within the city. This summer, push aside your busy lives for just a moment and pamper yourself with all the small luxuries nature has to offer.

Park X Relaxation

A Secret Garden Within the City

Seoseoul Lake Park

A park made from an old water filtration plant, its flat trails are great for jogging and the wide, grassy fields are ideal for having outdoor picnics with family and friends.
The biggest attraction in Seoseoul Lake Park is its Mondrian Garden. It was named so because from a bird’s-eye view, the garden looks like one of Mondrian’s artworks. The stone walls from its water filtration plant days weren’t torn down but kept as part of the garden, making many visitors feel as if they’ve stepped into the very heart of the fictional “Secret Garden”.

Yongsan Park

With a 4.6km trail for jogging, a Taegeukgi Park, and a wide grassy field with 80 different species of 15,000 trees and various wildlife inhabitants (helmeted guineafowl, wild pheasant, mallard duck, geese, etc.), Yongsan Park offers plenty of things to see and do.
However, its biggest attractions are the 9 sculptures scattered out throughout the park. Due to the sculptures being made by both domestic and globally renowned artists, Yongsan Park was able to become not just a park but also a cultural art space. 

  Address :  137, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

  Admission Fee :  Free

  Hours of Operation :  Open 24 h (Open all year round)

※ Check out the various programs offered by the park in the link below.

  http://parks.seoul.go.kr/   (Korean)

Animal X Relaxation

Zoo Next to the Buildings

Seoul Grand Park

There has been much cause for celebration in Seoul Grand Park in 2018. A Siberian tiger finally gave birth to four cubs after awaiting 4 years and 7 months. The baby cubs will be available for public viewing early next year. Last year, they’ve also celebrated the birth of a baby elephant after waiting a whole 22 years.
However, Seoul Grand Park isn’t limited to just a zoo. It also features botanical and themed gardens, forests, and even a campsite, making this place a compound of therapeutic spaces. 

Children’s Grand Park

Just like its name, Children’s Grand Park first opened its doors on May 5th, 1973 on a Children’s Day. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean this place is strictly for kids. Featuring a zoo, botanical garden, and amusement park, this park is a beloved place for people of all ages. Showing off different flowers in different season, it’s also a great spot to take pictures of nature. If you’d like to take in the fresh, vitalizing energy of the forest greenery, take an early morning walk around the park as it opens at 5 am, allowing visitors to enjoy a sense of peace and quiet.

Plant X Relaxation

City’s Forest

Hongneung Arboretum

Visitors don’t have to travel far to immerse themselves in a forest full of trees. Constructed in 1922, Hongneung Arboretum is one of Korea’s first arboretums. Hongneung Arboretum is named so because the area was once the tomb of the late queen of King Gojong.
Housing a variety of domestic and international plants, it is open to the public and provides educational programs in environmental study and forestry.

Seoul Botanical Garden

This is Seoul’s first botanical garden! Being built under the theme of plant and water, this botanical garden is expected to become a major urban attraction promoting nature and culture. A bike path is also being built around the area to facilitate easier access in an eco-friendly way.

Besides these spots, there are many other green spaces located throughout the city. These small places of relaxation and leisure are a small gift, not just for the residents, but also for the visiting tourists as well. Explore and discover the many spots of greenery hidden throughout the city on your next trip to Seoul! 

For more information on Seoul's parks

  http://parks.seoul.go.kr/  (Korean)