2026 Seoul International Garden Expo: What to Expect from the Largest Green Event in Asia?

Translation result. [Herald Economy — Senior Reporter Park Jong-il] Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited Seoul Forest, the site of the 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo that opens May 1, at 2 p.m. on the 25th for an on-site inspection.

The Seoul International Garden Expo, launched in 2015 to promote garden culture in parks and urban spaces, drew more than 10 million visitors last year and has become one of Seoul’s signature “ten-million-seller” initiatives.

This year, organizers are targeting 15 million visitors. The Expo will run for a record 180 days through Oct. 27 and will be the largest to date, featuring 167 gardens across a total area of 90,000 m² (about 22.2 acres / roughly 969,000 sq ft).

That day, Mayor Oh inspected the Expo site and reviewed the Seoul Forest Han River bus dock—scheduled to begin operating in June during the Expo—among other facilities. He urged officials to make careful preparations to present “Garden City Seoul” to the world and to ensure visitor safety.

Mayor Oh said, “Because the Expo will run for about 180 days, we will thoroughly assess crowd management, heatwave and extreme-heat response measures, and rest-area provisions.” He added, “We will prepare rigorously so the 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo enhances the quality of life for Seoul residents and promotes Green Seoul’s identity globally, helping to establish a ‘green culture’ that attracts attention beyond the city.”