Hwadamsup Forest

Hidden in a valley behind Konjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, the arboretum Hwadamsup is so popular in autumn that tickets for the foliage season sell out fast. The original terrain and woodland on the slopes of Nogobong were kept wherever possible to create 16 themed gardens, and the whole 5 km trail network has gentle gradients, so you can explore it with a pushchair or wheelchair.

History: named after a chairman's pen name

Hwadamsup is created and run as a public-interest project by the LG Evergreen Foundation. Hwadam means "friendly conversation" and was the pen name of the late Koo Bon-moo, chairman of the LG Group, who had a keen interest in nature and wildlife. Construction was approved in April 2006, the forest opened provisionally in 2010 and officially in June 2013. Besides being a visitor attraction it is a field station for restoring endangered plants and animals to the wild. In March 2024 a cultural complex, Hwadamchae, with a media-art hall and roof garden opened at the entrance.

What to see

• Themed gardens: about 4,000 species of native and introduced plants spread across gardens for pines, birches, mosses, rocks, maples, azaleas, hydrangeas and more.
• Sangnam Bonsai Garden: named after the pen name of Koo Cha-kyung, the group's second chairman.
• Firefly garden and ecology halls: spaces conserving fireflies, freshwater fish and Reeves' turtles.
• Monorail: a monorail loops above the forest, useful for skipping some of the climbs. Tickets are sold separately.

Good to know

• Because the trees that grew naturally along the valleys and ridges were preserved, each garden changes character depending on where you stand.
• Azaleas in spring, hydrangeas in summer and maples in autumn give the arboretum a very different look each season.
• The arboretum covers about 160,000 m². Along the trails are also areas showing typical Korean woodland, such as azalea and rose-of-Sharon gardens, wild cherry groves and oak woods.
• A chairlift runs from the car park to the entrance, saving you the first climb.

Nearby

• Everland: about 9 km away towards Yongin, easy to combine by car.

Tripto tips

• Booking: entry works by advance online reservation on the official website. Slots for the autumn foliage peak go quickly.
• Opening hours: usually 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00), closed Mondays. Hours change with the season and weather, and winter operation is announced separately, so check the website before you go.
• Admission: adults KRW 11,000, teenagers and seniors KRW 9,000, children KRW 7,000. The monorail costs KRW 5,000–9,000 (adult) depending on the section.
• Getting there: from the Konjiam Resort car park, take the chairlift or walk up to the entrance. By public transport, check onward connections from Gonjiam Station on the Gyeonggang Line.
• Time needed: 2–3 hours to walk all the trails.