Suncheon Bay Garden

An aerial view of the Suncheon Bay Ecological Park in Suncheon, a southern coastal city in South Jeolla Province

Artificial garden acts as bio-shield for southern coast

By Baek Byung-yeul

SUNCHEON, South Jeolla Province ― Suncheon is a southern coastal city in South Jeolla Province, best known for Suncheon Bay.

Enveloped by about 40 kilometers of coastline, Suncheon Bay is one of the world’s best preserved coastal marshes, with countless marine animals living in its 22.6 square-kilometer-wide mudflats. With its 5.4-square-kilometer reed field, it has also been a long-time favorite of photographers.

A windmill at the Dutch Garden of Suncheon Bay Garden

Like many natural wonders, Suncheon Bay is vulnerable to destruction by urban expansion. Thus, the city government of Suncheon developed a plan to build a massive garden to buffer between the bay and the city.

The plan has been going well so far ― the city government decided to host the International Garden Expo in 2009 and opened Suncheon Bay Garden, which showcases various garden types, in 2013. The garden garnered more than 4.4 million visitors over the six-month exposition.

The Dream Bridge, designed by artist Kang Ik-joong which connects two separated exhibition areas of Suncheon Bay Garden, over the Dongcheon River.

After successfully hosting the Suncheon Bay Garden Expo, the garden was designated as the country’s first state-run garden last month, which entitles it to financial and administrative support from the national government.

“The fundamental purpose of building an artificial garden is to protect Suncheon Bay. This is why we also call the garden an ‘eco belt,’” Kim Sung-chil, an interpreter at Suncheon Bay Garden, said.

The Suncheon Lake Garden designed by American landscape designer Charles Jencks is located at the center of Suncheon Bay Garden. Inspired by the unique topography of Suncheon, this artificial garden is a small representation of the city. The Suncheon Bay Garden was built to protect the ecosystem of the Suncheon Bay area.

The native Suncheon resident added that the garden was made possible with the cooperation between the local government and local residents.

“Before the garden was built, this area stretching 1.11 million square meters was all rice paddies. Though this place provided the local residents’ livelihood, we all agreed to make a better environment by creating an artificial garden here. And most of us are probably happy with the result.”

A bed of gold reeds covers the field between Suncheon Bay Garden and the Suncheon Bay Ecological Park. / Courtesy of Suncheon Bay Garden

A showcase of garden types

Many Koreans are familiar with only two types of large gardens ― a well-organized Western style garden such as the Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, Canada and a traditional Korean garden in a royal palace like Changdeokgung in central Seoul.

However, visitors can glimpse at every kind of garden in the world at Suncheon Bay Garden.

“Suncheon Bay Garden consists of four zones ― the arboretum, wetland, world garden and wetland zones,” Kim said.

Visitors walk down a metasequoia tree-lined road at Suncheon Bay Garden on Feb. 4. / Korea Times photos by Baek Byung-yeul

“Though it is hard to see flowers blooming in winter, the garden can easily become a resting place for both tourists and local residents.”

According to Kim, in the world garden zone, visitors can experience the traditional gardens of many countries, including neighboring countries such as Japan and China, and European, Southeast Asian and North American countries.

“When we hosted the expo two years ago, we sought advice from each country to improve the garden’s quality. Our Chinese garden, in particular, is one of the more famous ones. Chinese tourists who visit the garden always praise it,” Kim said.

The Chinese garden is one of the popular gardens.

The interpreter said the Chinese garden was inspired by the “Butterfly Lovers,” a Chinese equivalent of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” “With help from the Chinese city of Ningbo, we were able to build a garden that tells the tragic love story.”

Suncheon Lake Garden is another favorite of visitors. Designed by American landscape designer Charles Jencks, the garden is the centerpiece of the bay garden.

“The designer was inspired by the unique topography of Suncheon, which he experienced while staying here,” Kim explained.

Comprised of six cone-shaped hills and an artificial lake, the garden is a representation of the city. From the top of the 16-meter-high Bonghwa Hill located at the center of the lake, visitors can have panoramic view of Suncheon Bay Garden.

After touring the bay garden, visitors can move on to Suncheon Bay Ecological Park to take photos in front of the reed beds near the bay. The ecological park has the most beautiful sceneries and migratory birds. From the bay garden, it is about 70 minutes away on foot and 15 minutes away by the SkyCube monorail.

An economic and ecological boon

The successful management of Suncheon Bay Garden has also transformed the city dramatically in many ways.

A taxi driver in the city said the introduction of the garden breathed new life into the city.

“Before the garden was built, it was as if the whole city was sleeping, with many Suncheon residents working only in industrial complexes near the city,” the driver, surnamed Chung, said.

“But with the garden, the city was revived with the increased number of tourists. Everyone I know compliments the garden with one mouth. It really helped boost the city economically and ecologically,” Chung added.

The Suncheon city government said the city’s population has increased significantly after the expo, from the plateau of 260,000 in the 2000-2009 period to 270,000 in 2010 and 279,210 in November last year.

The government added that the increased population came from the city’s improved residential environment. According to its survey of 2,079 Suncheon residents last August, more than 90 percent of said they experienced improvements in their quality of life after the expo and 79 percent said they hope their residential environment will improve significantly for the next three years.

How to get to Suncheon

By car: It takes three hours and 30 minutes from Seoul and an hour and 40 minutes from Busan. When visiting from Seoul, drive on the Gyeongbu Expressway first, followed by the Nonsan-Cheonan Expressway and then the Suncheon-Wanju Expressway. When coming from Busan, use the Namhae Expressway.

By express bus: Almost every city provides an express bus to Suncheon. It takes up to four hours from the Seoul Express Bus Terminal.

By train: The KTX high-speed train heading to Suncheon departs from Yongsan Station in Seoul. It takes three hours and 22 minutes.

Tickets to Suncheon Bay Garden cost 4,000 won each for adults and 2,000 won each for children. The monorail tickets linking Suncheon Bay and the bay garden cost 5,000 won each. For more information about the bay garden, visit its official website, www.scgardens.or.kr, and for more Suncheon tourism information, visit tour.suncheon.go.kr/tour/.