Seoul International Garden Expo to expand to Maeheon Citizens' Forest this fall

The 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo, which opened in May at Seoul Forest in Seongdong-gu, will expand this fall to Maeheon Citizens' Forest in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu. The autumn edition will carry the theme "Citizens' Garden," with residents taking part directly in everything from garden design to day-to-day operations.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said construction on the gardens will begin Saturday ahead of the autumn event, scheduled to run Oct. 1–27 at Maeheon Citizens' Forest.

The work, set to wrap up Sept. 16, will create more than 50 gardens featuring competition-selected works alongside contributions from companies, autonomous districts and civic gardeners.

The autumn event marks an expanded edition of the 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo. The city is currently carrying out preliminary work, including the installation of electrical and irrigation systems, site preparation and upgrades to aging facilities.

The city also plans to run citizen-participation programs — including gardening workshops — so residents can build gardens themselves, share experiences and connect with one another.

During the expo, a "Garden Market" will offer plants, gardening supplies and decorative accessories for purchase. Forest-themed gardening experiences and wellness programs will also be available as part of a broader garden culture program.

To minimize disruption to visitors during construction, the city will install partial fencing only along active work zones, keeping restricted areas to a minimum. Informational banners will be posted at major entrances and around construction zones, and the city plans to enforce slow-speed rules for construction vehicles and tighten safety management in work areas.

Kim Young-hwan, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Garden City Bureau, said the city would "do everything in its preparation so that Maeheon Citizens' Forest can be reborn as a new space where residents enjoy garden culture in their daily lives, while minimizing inconvenience and safety risks during construction."