14 Million Flock to Seoul International Garden Show; Seongsu-dong Business District Sales Also Rise 11.6%

[Financial News]  The '2026 Seoul International Garden Show,' which transformed Seoul Forest and the Seongsu-dong area into gardens, drew 14 million visitors, setting an all-time attendance record. The event is also seen as having helped boost the local economy, with card sales at nearby businesses and the area's daily living population both rising during the show.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the Seoul International Garden Show, which opened on May 1, will close on the 27th after a 180-day run. About 14 million people in total visited this year's show, 34.1% more than the event held last year at Boramae Park. Attendance at the garden show has continued to rise for three consecutive years since it drew 7.8 million visitors at Ttukseom Hangang Park in 2024. Average daily attendance was also estimated at around 78,000.
'Seoul, Green Culture' was the theme of this year's event, which expanded its footprint from Seoul Forest to Seongsu-dong, the Konkuk University area and the Han River waterfront. It created 137 gardens within Seoul Forest and along the Han River banks, and added 30 more on nearby roads and in alleys. By linking the event with corporate and institutional social-contribution activities, organizers attracted around 9 billion won in private investment, which funded the creation of 62 participating gardens. The event also ran 170 garden-related programs, drawing 210,000 participants to docent tours, hands-on activities, exhibitions and academic events.
A survey found that sales also rose at nearby businesses as attendance increased. From May to September this year, card sales in the Seoul Forest and Seongsu-dong area were up 11.6% from the same period last year, while the average daily living population rose 7.1%. The foreign living population and the number of card transactions increased by 22.9% and 38.2%, respectively. Sales venues at the show, including a garden market, food trucks and a farmers' market, generated at least 4.2 billion won in sales through October.
Visitor satisfaction was also high. In an online survey of 2,358 people conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government from the 19th to the 25th, 90.9% of respondents said they were satisfied with the show. A total of 70.8% said Seoul Forest had improved compared with before the event, and 82.8% said they intended to visit again next year.
Many of the gardens will remain as places for residents to relax even after the show ends. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to keep some of the gardens created for the event rather than dismantle them. The area to be preserved is at least 90,000 square meters.
Kim Young-hwan, director general of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Garden City Bureau, said, "This year's Seoul International Garden Show set records for the longest operating period and the highest attendance ever, while average daily attendance also rose significantly, confirming the public's keen interest in garden culture." He added, "We will carefully manage the gardens and facilities so the show's achievements remain part of residents' daily lives for a long time, and work to make Seoul a 'Garden City' where everyone can enjoy gardens close to home." [email protected] Seong Chorong, Staff Reporter

[email protected] Seong Chorong Reporter