Baekdudaegan and Sejong Arboretums Surpass 6.1 Million Visitors
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
South Korea’s national arboretums—Baekdudaegan and Sejong—have become popular tourist destinations, reaching a combined 6.1 million visitors as of December. Baekdudaegan Arboretum opened in 2018 and saw visitors grow to 340,000 last year, while Sejong Arboretum, opened in 2020, drew 1 million visitors last year and was named to the ‘Korea Tourism 100’ list for multiple periods (2023–24 and 2025–26). The Korea Arboretum and Garden Management Service attributes the success to community cooperation projects: since 2019 they have contracted local farms to grow native plants, involving 98 farms last year and producing 890,000 plants, which increased farm income by 2.1 billion won and helped attract visitors. Local festivals and markets using native plants—such as the “Bongja Festival” and a flea market featuring regional artists and restaurants—also boosted attendance and generated income for farmers. Officials say they will continue improving exhibits, education, and visitor services to make the arboretums welcoming to all generations. (Bongja Festival: a local plant-themed festival)
