The 2026 Seoul International Garden Show, which opened at Seoul Forest in May, has drawn more than 10 million visitors, lifting sales and foot traffic at shops around Seoul Forest and the nearby Seongsu district.
Cumulative attendance reached 10,005,899 as of the morning of the 16th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said, 139 days after the show opened at Seoul Forest on May 1. The garden show, first held in 2024 at Ttukseom Hangang Park, has drawn larger crowds each year. Last year's edition at Boramae Park was the first to pass 10 million visitors, and this year marked the second consecutive year above that mark.
The show has also energized surrounding commercial areas. From May through July, after the opening, the average daily population in the Seoul Forest and Seongsu area rose 10.2% from a year earlier. Card spending over the same period climbed 6.3% to 63.4 billion won ($45.6 million). The city said visitors to the show spent at nearby restaurants, cafes and shops.
Foreign visits rose sharply as well. The average foreign daily population in the area rose 21.2% from a year earlier over the same period, while card spending by foreigners grew 13.3%.
Spending inside the venue was also substantial. The garden market, food trucks, the Marche farmers market and stalls run with city bureaus posted combined sales of 4.2 billion won ($3 million). The city said the show expanded sales channels and revenue for the small business owners taking part, in addition to helping nearby merchants.
Programs combining autumn gardens with cultural content will continue until the show closes. Near the pond at Seoul Forest, the "Snoopy Garden," created with the Korean Committee for UNICEF, will run through the 27th of next month. It features a character walking trail, a large Snoopy photo zone, a UNICEF fundraising campaign and special merchandise events.
On the lawn at Family Plaza, the outdoor "Garden Theater" will screen films every Friday or Saturday through the 24th of next month. Eight titles, including "Secret Garden," "Pride and Prejudice," "Paddington 2," "Architecture 101" and "Wonka," will be shown free of charge. Special screenings will run for three days from the 24th to the 26th of this month during the Chuseok holiday.
From the 18th to the 20th of this month, "Seoul Stage in Autumn" will be held on the outdoor stage at Seoul Forest, with five performances over three days, including a gala concert featuring leading Korean actors, an original dance musical and a university musical showcase. At the K-Heritage Garden, the "Heritage Garden Comma Concert," which reinterprets traditional music in a contemporary style, will be held every Friday and Saturday through the 24th of next month.
Events for families were also arranged for Chuseok. Starting on the 24th of this month, the "Seoul Forest Moon-Viewing Wish" event will be held at the moonlight photo zone, and a traditional games program will open in front of the ecology learning center on the 27th.
Media art will be presented next month. Through Art Seongsu's "LG ART for YOU," held at the Mirror Pond from Oct. 2 to 11, AI artist Choi Se-hoon will unveil work reinterpreting the nature of Seoul Forest through digital media.
