30 Most Beautiful Private Gardens in Korea... Half Are Located in Jeonnam-Gwangju

Competition Among 184 Gardens... 15 Including Ssangsanjae in Gurye Make the List

Cultivating Garden Culture as a Tourism Asset to Prevent Regional Decline

An analysis has revealed that half of the 30 private gardens selected as the most beautiful nationwide are located in Jeonnam-Gwangju.

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special City announced that 15 private gardens from the region were included in the "2026 Beautiful Private Gardens of Korea Top 30," selected by the Korea Forest Service and the Korea Arboretum and Garden Institute, marking the highest number nationwide.

A total of 184 private gardens across the country participated in this year's selection. In Jeonnam-Gwangju, 22 out of 34 registered private gardens applied, and following documentation review, evaluation by external experts, and an online vote involving over 20,000 citizens, 15 gardens were finally selected.

In the biennial selection of beautiful private gardens, the Jeonnam-Gwangju region increased its number from 10 in 2024 to 15 this year.

The selected gardens are categorized into five types based on their characteristics. The "Gardens Embracing Elegance and Sentiment" category includes Banya Garden and Ssangsanjae in Gurye, Carmel Garden in Boseong, and Solmaeum Garden in Hwasun. In the "Gardens for Enjoying Countryside Romance" category, Dreaming Garden in Yeosu and Mongber in Hampyeongcheongji were selected.

In the "Gardens with Art and Culture" category, Artist's Garden in Suncheon, Hadam Garden in Goheung, and Sani Garden in Haenam were chosen. The "Gardens Offering Rest and Recovery" category includes Healing Park Ssukseom Ssukseom in Goheung, Seongrim Garden and Dreaming Forest Seonyuwon in Boseong, and Haneulbit Arboretum in Jangheung. Jukhwakyung in Damyang and Mount Mudeungsan Bau Garden in Hwasun were included in the "Gardens with Special Themes" category.

This accomplishment aligns with policy efforts to nurture privately created gardens as regional tourism assets, rather than simply personal spaces. The Unified Special City has supported private garden enhancement projects and festivals and pioneered the nation's first "Pretty Garden Contest," discovering 68 outstanding gardens. Of these, 15 were registered as private gardens.

The selected gardens will receive plaques for "Korea's Beautiful Private Garden" from the Korea Forest Service and the Korea Arboretum and Garden Institute, and will benefit from promotional support via the official website and other channels. The Unified Special City also plans to continue supporting private garden enhancement projects and festivals by accepting relevant applications in 2027.

Moon Miran, Head of Forest Recreation at the Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special City, stated, "It is meaningful that gardens registered and managed through public-private cooperation are being recognized nationwide. We will support private gardens so that they become spaces of relaxation and healing for citizens and serve as tourism assets to address regional decline."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.