Garden of Morning Calm
In its own language: 아침고요수목원
A large Korean garden with themed sections and seasonal festivals
The Garden of Morning Calm is a public garden in Gapyeong, South Korea, covering 330,000 square meters and featuring 5,000 plant species. Visitors can explore themed areas and attend events throughout the year, including a winter light festival.
- Covers 330,000 square meters with 5,000 plant species
- Located in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
- Features 22 themed garden sections as of 2024
- Hosts a winter light festival and other seasonal events
- Created by Han San-kyung and opened in 1996
What is Garden of Morning Calm?
This garden is made up of 22 themed areas, each designed to highlight different aspects of Korean horticulture and landscape art. Spread over a large area, it contains a wide variety of plants—about 5,000 species in total. Visitors can walk through carefully arranged paths, ponds, and flower beds, and enjoy views that change with the seasons. The garden is known for its peaceful setting and artistic layout.
The history of Garden of Morning Calm
The idea for the garden began in 1992 with Han San-kyung, who was connected to Sahmyook University. The site chosen had once been a rocky, cleared plot, left barren after slash-and-burn farming. Han and his wife worked directly on the land, even selling their house to fund the project and living on the property during its early years. The garden opened to the public in 1996, starting with ten themed sections. Over time, it has grown to include 22 distinct areas.
What there is to see
The garden is divided into sections, each with its own theme and plant selection. Paths lead visitors through displays of native and ornamental plants, water features, and artistic landscaping. The layout is meant to reflect Korean gardening traditions and aesthetics. New sections have been added over the years, expanding the variety of plants and experiences on offer.
![500px provided description: Floral Tunnel [#floral ,#gyeonggido ,#morningcalm]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Floral_Tunnel_%2872088395%29.jpeg)
![藏報春 Primula sinensis [南韓晨靜樹木園 Garden of Morning Calm, South Korea]](https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/%E8%97%8F%E5%A0%B1%E6%98%A5_Primula_sinensis_-%E5%8D%97%E9%9F%93%E6%99%A8%E9%9D%9C%E6%A8%B9%E6%9C%A8%E5%9C%92_Garden_of_Morning_Calm%2C_South_Korea-_%2833913106756%29.jpg/960px-%E8%97%8F%E5%A0%B1%E6%98%A5_Primula_sinensis_-%E5%8D%97%E9%9F%93%E6%99%A8%E9%9D%9C%E6%A8%B9%E6%9C%A8%E5%9C%92_Garden_of_Morning_Calm%2C_South_Korea-_%2833913106756%29.jpg)
When to go
People visit the Garden of Morning Calm year-round to enjoy its plant collections and peaceful atmosphere. It hosts several festivals, with the winter light festival being especially popular. The garden is a destination for tourists and locals alike, offering changing scenery and events as the seasons shift.
Parts and collections
When it first opened, the garden had ten themed areas. Since then, more sections have been added, bringing the total to 22 by 2024. Each section has its own focus, such as certain plant types or landscape styles, giving visitors a range of experiences within the same garden.
Why Garden of Morning Calm matters
The garden’s name refers to a poetic nickname for Korea, the 'land of the morning calm.' Its design aims to express Korean gardening ideas and artistic values. It has become a well-known spot for visitors interested in plants, landscape design, and seasonal festivals.
Questions people ask about Garden of Morning Calm
Where is the Garden of Morning Calm located?
It is in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, and is a well-known spot for garden lovers and tourists.
How many plant species are in the garden?
The garden is home to around 5,000 different species of plants, displayed across its many themed sections.
When was the garden established?
The Garden of Morning Calm opened to the public on May 11, 1996, after several years of planning and development.
What special events are held at the garden?
Seasonal festivals take place throughout the year, with a popular light festival during the winter months.
What does the garden’s name mean?
The name refers to Korea’s poetic nickname, 'land of the morning calm,' and reflects its focus on Korean gardening traditions.
Good reading and sources
- Garden of Morning Calm on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Garden of Morning Calm", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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