Suncheon Bay National Garden, National botanical garden in Suncheon, South Korea

Suncheon Bay National Garden is a large botanical space with extensive plant collections distributed throughout the site, including various flowering and tree species. The grounds are organized into different themed sections connected by walking paths that guide visitors through the different garden areas.

Suncheon Bay National Garden was created for the 2013 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo, held from April 20 to October 20, 2013, with 23 countries and 83 gardens taking part. After the expo it was kept as a permanent garden, and in 2015 it became South Korea's first National Garden. A second international garden expo followed in 2023, from April 1 to October 31, drawing about 9.8 million visitors.

The garden includes themed sections representing different regions of the world, each showcasing how gardeners in those places grow and arrange plants. Walking through these areas, you experience different approaches to cultivating flowers and trees across various climates and traditions.

Plan to spend several hours to explore the different areas without feeling rushed, as the grounds are large and spread out over considerable distance. The site has multiple entry points, so consider which sections you want to visit and wear comfortable walking shoes for the paths.

The Dream Bridge in the Wetland Center Zone was designed by artist Kang Ik-Jung. Its wall is covered with 145,000 drawings made by children from around the world on an old shipping container. The SkyCube, a shuttle running between the expo grounds and Suncheon Bay Ecological Park, also operates from this zone.