A promotional poster for the Seoul Garden Traveler program / Courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan Government
In the manicured expanse of Seoul Forest, the modern bustle of the Korean capital is being traded for the rhythmic pace of the Joseon Dynasty.
Under the shade of sprawling oaks and meticulous flower beds, foreign visitors are increasingly seen donning gat — the iconic black-rimmed horsehair hats of Joseon Dynasty aristocrats — while following guides dressed as traditional noblemen and ladies.
The "Seoul Garden Traveler" is an immersive docent program launched by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to introduce international residents and tourists to the distinct "pungnyu," or the traditional art of appreciating nature with leisure and poetic flair. The initiative, which returned this month following a highly successful pilot at Boramae Park last year, transforms a standard park stroll into a cultural time capsule.
Through May 31, participants can join these English language tours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The experience is designed to be tactile: Visitors choose between a gat or a baessi-meoritdi, a traditional embroidered headband, before winding through the highlights of the Seoul International Garden Show. Along the way, the program pivots from botanical facts to hands-on heritage, including the crafting of pressed flower bookmarks featuring participants’ names in Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, or the assembly of "norigae" keychains using traditional knotting techniques.
The program has already drawn 383 participants from countries including Belgium, Mexico and the United States. For many, the appeal lies in the cinematic quality of the experience.
"I’ve wanted to wear a gat ever since watching K-dramas," said Leah, a visitor from the U.S. "I feel like a character in a movie."
Beyond the guided tours, the Mung Garden area offers a more solitary retreat through the Forest Music Appreciation sessions. Here, visitors can borrow retro cassette players and headsets to listen to music while gazing at the park’s lake — a nod to the analog nostalgia currently gripping Seoul’s youth culture.
"We want our international visitors to go beyond just looking at the gardens," said Son Sun-hee, head of Seoul city’s Parks and Leisure Division. "We want them to meet the quiet beauty and the sense of ease that defines K-garden culture."
In a city that rarely slows down, program shows that sometimes the best way forward is to look back.
Source: Korea Times News
