Baekdudaegan National Arboretum and Sejong Arboretum Selected for 'Korea Tourism 100'

The Korea Arboretum and Garden Management Corporation (hereinafter referred to as KAGMC) announced on the 3rd that the National Baekdudaegan Arboretum and the National Sejong Arboretum have both been selected for the '2025-2026 Korea Tourism 100'.

The Korea Tourism 100 is a representative tourist attraction in South Korea, jointly selected every two years by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.

Tiger 'Mugung' under protection and management at the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum. Provided by Korea National Arboretum and Garden Management Authority

The Baekdudaegan Arboretum was selected for the Korea Tourism 100 for the first time since its establishment. Located in Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, this arboretum boasts the largest scale in Asia. In particular, visitors can see over 4,000 species of native plants growing in the pristine natural environment of the Baekdudaegan mountain range, as well as the endangered Baekdusan tiger.

The world's only permanent wild plant seed storage facility, the 'Seed Vault', and Korea's only cold room, the 'Alpine House', are also operated at the Baekdudaegan Arboretum.

The Sejong Arboretum, located in Sejong City, adds significance by being selected for the Korea Tourism 100 for the second consecutive time following 2023-2024. Holding the title of Korea's first urban national arboretum, it recorded 970,000 visitors last year through night openings, social value sharing events, and educational and interpretation programs.

Interior view of the tropical greenhouse at the National Sejong Arboretum. Provided by Korea Arboretum and Garden Management Authority

The Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse, designed with the iris as its motif, is operated by separating the tropical greenhouse, Mediterranean greenhouse, and a special exhibition greenhouse that holds exhibitions with different themes each year.

Especially, the view of the Sejong Arboretum from the palace garden modeled after the Juhapru area of Changdeokgung Palace's rear garden, a royal garden from the Joseon Dynasty, is a well-known scenic spot among visitors, resembling a framed painting.

The Bonsai Garden, created to spread Korea's bonsai garden culture, is also considered a major attraction of the Sejong Arboretum.

Shim Sang-taek, Chairman of KAGMC, said, “It is meaningful that the Baekdudaegan Arboretum and Sejong Arboretum have both been named in the Korea Tourism 100. KAGMC will continue to strive to serve as a mediator to widely promote garden culture.”