The Garden of Morning Calm

Clément Chevallier · CC BY-SA 4.0

Korea's oldest private botanical garden, lit in winter by millions of bulbs strung through the pines.

A horticulture professor bought this hillside in 1996 meaning to make a garden that expressed the 'Korean curve' — not symmetrical, not clipped square, but following the ground the way a mountain ridge does. Twenty themed gardens run across the slope, among them the Garden Beside the House, which recreates the back yard of a rural home. The name comes from the old epithet for Korea, the land of morning calm. From December to March the whole place is lit by millions of bulbs for the light festival — the busiest time, and the coldest.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit The Garden of Morning Calm?

May (flowers) and December–February (light festival)

How much does it cost to visit The Garden of Morning Calm?

9,000–11,000 KRW depending on season

How long do you need at The Garden of Morning Calm?

2–3 hours

What are the opening hours of The Garden of Morning Calm?

08:30–19:00, until 21:00 during the light festival

Did you know

Opened in 1996, Korea's oldest private botanical garden.
About 33 hectares with more than 20 themed gardens.
The winter light festival runs from December to March.
The name comes from the old epithet for Korea, the land of morning calm.

Travel tips

In winter the garden stays open late for the lights — dress properly warm.
May is when the azaleas and peonies are at their peak.
Take the ITX to Cheongpyeong, then the Gapyeong tourist shuttle.

Source: https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/gapyeong-gun/garden-of-morning-calm-90734/

Updated: 2026-08-04