{{short description|Park in Seoul, South Korea}} {{Infobox park | name = Seoul Forest | image = SeoulForest.jpg | image_caption = Seoul Forest | map = | map_size = | location = Ttukseom-ro, [[Seongdong District]], [[Seoul]], South Korea | nearest_city = | coordinates = {{coord|37|32|40.65|N|127|2|23.44|E|}} | mapframe-zoom = 13 | area = {{convert|1200|ha|abbr=on}} | established = June 18, 2005 | module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto |child = yes |hangul = ^서울_숲 }} }}[[File:Seoul Forest Park.jpg|thumb|One of the entrances to Seoul Forest.]] '''Seoul Forest''' ({{Korean|hangul=서울숲}}) is a large park in [[Seongdong District]], [[Seoul]], South Korea. It is open year-round, and admission is free. Seoul Forest opened in June 2005. The city government spent 235.2 billion [[South Korean won|won]] in development.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/413 | title = Seoul Forest | publisher = lifeinkorea.com }}</ref> It is the third largest park in Seoul.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.ggilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=185212|script-title=ko:도심속 낙원 서울숲/Seoul Forest, the good park in city|last = Jung|first = Seongyeol|date = 2014-07-02}}</ref> Seoul Forest is a massive park dotted with over 420,000 trees and 100 different animals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=조 |first=봉현 |date=August 3, 2021 |script-title=ko:임금의 사냥터에서 백성의 쉼터로, 서울숲공원 |url=https://www.socialfocus.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=10672 |access-date=June 18, 2024 |work=Social Focus}}</ref> This nature park is located in [[Seongsu-dong]] and covers an area of {{cvt|1,200|ha}}.
== Description == This Ecologic Park has over 40 different species of roses. This park also has fish. There are also many wetland plant species, including reeds, silver banner grass, and rose-gold pussy willows. There are different types of water plants, such as water chestnut and floating moss. Along with these sights, Seoul Forest also features as an insect garden and outdoor nature classroom for children in its Wetlands Ecological Field.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hyun Jung Kim|first1=Amber|title=Korea's Natural Wonders: Exploring Korea's Landscapes}}</ref>
=== Amenities === * Cultural Art Park<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2023 |title=Seoul Forest |url=https://english.visitseoul.net/nature/Seoul-Forest/ENP001838 |access-date=June 18, 2024 |website=visitseoul.net}}</ref> ({{convert|220,000|m2|acre|abbr=on|disp=or}}) * Hangang River Waterside Park ({{convert|33,000|m2|acre|abbr=on|disp=or}}) * Experiential Learning Park<ref name=":1" /> ({{convert|85,000|m2|acre|abbr=on|disp=or}}) * Marsh Plants Garden<ref name=":1" /> ({{convert|70,000|m2|acre|abbr=on|disp=or}}) * Ecological Forest ({{convert|165,000|m2|acre|abbr=on|disp=or}}):<ref name="visitkorea.or.kr">{{cite web |title=Seoul Forest (서울숲) |url=http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=789696|website=[[VisitKorea.or.kr]]}}</ref> It opens every 5:30~21:30 * An insect botanical garden: It opens every 10:00~17:00 (Closed every Monday) * Butterfly Garden: It opens every 10:00~17:00 (Closed every Monday)
== History == It was once a royal hunting forest, and later became Seoul's first water purification plant in 1908. In the 1940s, its surrounding area was used as an amusement park. In 1954, a race course was built in the park. In 2004, construction began to convert the park into a forest; this completed in June 2005.<ref name=":0" />
Since August 2017, [[Seongdong District]] has implemented a policy to restrict entry to large companies and franchise companies in the area of Seoul Forest Road in Seongsu-dong. Seongdong District restricted the entry of large companies, franchise headquarters, or franchise-type rest restaurants (large coffee shops), general restaurants (large buffet restaurants), bakeries, and cosmetics stores in Seongsu 1-ga 2-dong. Such measures were based on the district unit plan around Ttukseom Island and the ordinance on the designation of local community cooperation and sustainable development zones, and Seongdong District is the first to restrict entry to district unit plans and ordinances outside of central Seoul.<ref>{{Cite news |last=김 |first=기정 |date=3 July 2017 |script-title=ko:성동구, 서울숲 대기업 프랜차이즈 입점 제한 |trans-title=Seongdong District Restricts Entry of Large Enterprise Franchises in Seoul Forest |url=https://www.mk.co.kr/news/realestate/7885159 |work=The daily Newspaper. |language=Korean}}</ref>
== Transport == The park is served by [[Seoul Subway Line 2]], [[Ttukseom station]], exit 8 or [[Bundang Line]], [[Seoul-forest station]], exit 3. Buses are also widely available.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Seoul Forest |url=http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&m=0004003002017&p=en&art_id=358&lang=en |accessdate=16 November 2014 |publisher=visit seoul}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Seoul Forest}} *{{Official website|1=http://seoulforest.or.kr/english}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110425013601/http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&art_id=10705&lang=en&m=0004003002017&p=03 Seoul Forest: Official Seoul City Tourism]
{{Seoul parks}}
{{coord|37|32|40.65|N|127|2|23.44|E|display=title}}
[[Category:Seongdong District]] [[Category:Parks in Seoul]] [[Category:Urban public parks]] [[Category:Urban forests in South Korea]]