Aging facilities and green spaces fully renovated into a four-seasons leisure destination with three themed zones; a hydrangea garden runs through mid-June, with cooling fog installations set for late June
Gwanak-gu (district mayor Park Jun-hee) is accelerating its vision of becoming a healing and garden city by transforming Namhyeon Art Garden, near the busy Sadang Station, into an open urban retreat for commuters and Gwanaksan visitors alike.
Located near Exit 6 of Sadang Station at 1060-1 Namhyeon-dong, the garden was established more than a decade ago and had fallen into disrepair — decking and other structures had deteriorated and tree growth had weakened, prompting calls for a comprehensive overhaul. With Gwanaksan drawing growing numbers of visitors through word of mouth on television and social media, the district redesigned the garden as a spacious, plaza-style green space to serve as a welcoming hub for hikers using the Sadang Station trail entrance.
The redesigned Namhyeon Art Garden is organized around three themes. The entrance features a "Meeting Space" centered on a circular pergola and benches; the middle section offers a "Four Seasons Space" where visitors can enjoy rotating seasonal plantings including pink velvet flowers and hydrangeas; and the far end provides a "Contemplation Space," a restful area where pine trees frame a tranquil garden setting.
The district plans to showcase a dedicated hydrangea garden within Namhyeon Art Garden through mid-June, giving Gwanaksan visitors a colorful attraction to enjoy before and after their hike.
In addition, cooling fog systems will be installed throughout the garden by the end of June, lowering the surrounding temperature by roughly 3 to 5 degrees Celsius and offering residents a comfortable escape from the summer heat.
The "Byeolbit Naerin-cheon Hydrangea Blooming Park," created last month along an approximately 130-meter stretch above Bongnim Bridge on Byeolbit Naerin-cheon stream, has also drawn strong praise from residents as a leisure spot, rest area and photography destination. The district plans to expand enjoyable, stay-worthy spaces and programming at key locations to convert foot traffic from Gwanaksan hikers into spending at nearby commercial areas, boosting sales for local businesses.
"We have renovated the aging facilities at Namhyeon Art Garden — a place beloved by so many residents — and returned it as a fresh healing space for everyday life," district mayor Park said. "We will do our utmost to build a sustainable healing and garden city in Gwanak by linking this space to a stay-and-enjoy tourism policy that lets Gwanaksan visitors linger and explore even after their hike."
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