{"id":1366,"date":"2026-05-14T07:34:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T22:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comeonkorea.com\/?p=1366"},"modified":"2026-06-23T15:41:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T06:41:35","slug":"korean-traditional-garden-aesthetics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comeonkorea.com\/en\/korean-traditional-garden-aesthetics\/","title":{"rendered":"Strolling Korea’s Gardens, the Beauty of Biwon, Anapji and Soswaewon"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a guide for international travelers who want to understand the aesthetics of the Korean traditional garden and visit three of the most representative sites in person: the Huwon (Secret Garden) of Changdeokgung Palace, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (Anapji) in Gyeongju, and Soswaewon Garden in Damyang. From the historical background and key features of each garden to reservation methods, bus numbers and fares, closing days, and verified nearby restaurants \u2014 this article contains only concrete facts so detailed that you could print it out and follow it step by step. All fee and time information is accurate as of June 2026.<\/p>\n

Understanding the Basics of the Korean Garden<\/h2>\n

\"Donggung<\/p>\n

The starting point of the Korean garden is the idea of “not altering nature.” The existing terrain and waterways are preserved as they are, and human intervention is kept to a minimum. This is what sets it apart from Japanese gardens, which recreate nature in miniature, and Chinese gardens, which create grandeur with strange rocks and artificial mountains. The key technique is chagyeong (\u501f\u666f, Borrowed Scenery)<\/strong> \u2014 drawing the mountains, sky, and valleys beyond the wall into the garden as part of it. So with a Korean garden, if you only look within the walls you’ve seen only half of it; the moment you sit in a pavilion and gaze outward is when it becomes complete.<\/p>\n

\n

A Quick Comparison of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese Gardens<\/strong><\/p>\n